A Matched-filter based method in the Synthetic Aperture Radar Images Using FMCW radar

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel processing method that combines stretch processing with matched filtering in FMCW radar to achieve optimal SNR and high-quality SAR images at low sampling rates.

Contribution

It develops a new architecture enabling matched filtering on stretch processed signals, improving image quality and SNR in FMCW SAR systems.

Findings

Higher image quality in simulations

Achieves optimal SNR with low sampling rate

Demonstrates bigger gain compression

Abstract

The stretch processing architecture is commonly used for frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) radar due to its inexpensive hardware, low sampling rate, and simple architecture. However, the stretch processing architecture is not able to achieve optimal Signal to Noise ratio (SNR) in comparison to the matched-filter architecture. In this paper, we aim to propose a method whereby stretch processing can achieve optimal SNR. Hence, we develop a novel processing method to enable applying a matched filter to the output of the stretch processing. The proposed architecture achieves optimal SNR while it can operate on a low sampling rate. In addition, the combination of the proposed radar architecture and SAR technique can generate high-quality images. To evaluate the performance of the proposed architecture, four scenarios are considered. Simulation is carried out based on these scenarios. The simulation results show that the proposed radar demonstrates the ability to generate an image with higher quality over stretch processing. This proposed radar can also bring a bigger gain compression.