Improving the accuracy of coordinate measurements of a multi-position passive meter for continuous radiation sources
Abstract
Background
Correlation processing of signals in a passive multi-position meter is based on the fact that the cross-correlation function is recovered from the received signal realizations at different positions according to the primary parameter—delay—and the current measurement of the primary parameter—the signal arrival time delay relative to the reference—is determined from the position of its maximum on the delay axis. For signals with a wide spectrum, the width of the main lobe of the cross-correlation function is small, and it is not difficult to perform this measurement within the required accuracy. For signals with a narrow spectrum, the width of the main lobe of the cross-correlation function becomes so wide that accurately measuring delay readings becomes very difficult. Additionally, with limited accumulation time, the potential accuracy of correlation measurements for signals with a narrow spectrum decreases. All these factors make the use of correlation meters challenging for narrow-spectrum signals and make the problem pressing.
Aim
To improve the accuracy of coordinate measurements of a multi-position passive meter for continuous radiation sources by means of correlation processing of narrow-spectrum signals with unknown parameters.
Methods
A method is used for improving the accuracy characteristics of passive multi-position meters when receiving narrow-spectrum signals, based on transforming the original signal spectrum to narrow the main lobe of the autocorrelation or cross-correlation function of the received signal.
Results
The considered method reduces the root-mean-square error in determining the location of a narrow-spectrum signal source by more than 10 dB.
Conclusion
The considered method for improving the accuracy characteristics of passive multi-position meters when receiving narrow-spectrum signals, based on transforming the original signal spectrum in order to narrow the main lobe of the autocorrelation or cross-correlation function of the received signal, can be successfully applied in the design of passive multi-position measurement systems.