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Title: Signal source position-determining process
Claims: I claim: 1. A process of resolving the ambiguity inherent in the use of target-finding systems employing a target signal-receiving antenna array coupled to a phase meter, said array being a multi-lambda array characterized by the use of at least one pair of antennas having a baseline spacing substantially greater than the wave length of the target signal, the process comprising the steps of: establishing theoretically predetermined date relative to the rate at which the phase difference between the antennas of the multi-lambda array varies with a monotonic 360.degree. azimuthal variation in the relative positions of said array and said target, said predetermination inherently provided a plurality of rate of exchange lobes each defining a variation in phase difference between 360.degree. and 0.degree. with each lobe demonstrating an abrupt 360.degree. phase difference discontinuity transition to its next successive lobe, monotonically varying the angular attitude of said array baseline relative to said target, phase tracking said target-signal during a known incremental portion of said angular attitude variation to provide measured phase difference data as well as phase rate-of-change data and lobe discontinuity data, and matching said provided data with said predetermined data, the true bearing of the target signal being determined by degree of consistency between the provided data and the predetermined data. 2. The process of claim 1 wherein said phase tracking is applied to chronologically-successive increments of said attitude variations and said phase difference data provides measurements of the increase and decrease of the phase difference for each increment. 3. The process of claim 2 further including the steps of: computing all possible angular bearings of said target signal indicated by said provided data, said bearing computations including said lobe discontinuity data for the purpose of maintaining chronologically sequential consistency between said bearing computations. 4. The process of claim 3 wherein said means for computing said possible bearings employs a plurality of solutions each based upon the following equation: ##EQU25## where: A is a possible bearing angle of the target .phi. is a phase measurement k is an integer relating each phase measurement to the possible angular bearings of the target signal, said k having values of k.sub.o, .+-. 1, .+-.2, .+-.(n -1) n is the factor by which the baseline length of the array exceeds the wavelength of the received signal and a is an integer representing said lobe discontinuity data. 5. The process of claim 4 wherein said lobe discontinuity data (a) is an integer designating the number of lobe changes occuring during the incremental variation of the target signal and array relative positions. 6. The process of claim 5 wherein said phase tracking data is provided iteratively and with sufficient frequency to statistically substantiate the consistency between true bearing and the predetermined bearing. 7. The process of claim 1 wherein said monotonic variation is accomplished by a relative rotational movement between the array and the target signal, the azimuthal changes produced by said movement being iteratively measured for enabling a determination of the phase rate of change based upon measured data. 8. The process of claim 7 wherein said true bearing is resolved by a rotational movement of no less than 180.degree. and by resolving the relationship -n.ltoreq.a+k.ltoreq.n-1 where: n is the factor by which the baseline array exceeds the wavelength of the received signal, a is an integer representing said lobe discontinuity data, and k is an integer relating each phase measurement to the possible angular bearings of the target signal. 9. The process of claim 7 wherein right-left aspects of the target are determined by the comparing of the direction of the rotational movement and the manner in which the phase measurements change during the rotational movement. 10. The process of claim 7 wherein the true bearing is resolved by a rotational movement less than 180.degree. and by comparing the measured phase rate of change with the theoretical phase rate of change provided by the relationship; ##EQU26## where: A is a possible bearing angle of the target .phi. is a phase measurement, k is an integer relating each phase measurement to the possible angular bearings of the target signal, said k having values of k.sub.o, 1, 2, (n-1) n is the factor by which the baseline length of the array exceeds the wavelength of the received signal and a is an integer representing said lobe discontinuity data. Other info: Inventors: Pentheroudakis, Panajiotis S. (Glendale, CA, US) Application Number: 460870 Filing Date: 1974-04-15 Publication_date: 1976-01-27 Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy (Washington, DC) Primary Class(es): 342/424 701/218 Other Classes: US Patent Ref:
Other Refs: Primary Examiner: Farley, Richard A. Assistant Examiner: Berger, Richard E. Attorney: Sciascia; R. S., Critchlow; P. N. |
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