Resolution Threshold Analysis of the Microwave Radar Coincidence Imaging

Abstract

The resolution of the microwave radar coincidence imaging (MRCI) can break the diffraction limit, which has been validated by experiments. However, there is still no theoretical analysis. In this article, the resolution of the MRCI is theoretically analyzed using the orthogonal subspace projection algorithm based on the space spanned by the discrete reference radiation mode. First, a target location estimate (TLE) method using the data from the nonfocusing radar array of the MRCI system is proposed to estimate the target position assisted by the equivalent detection method. The estimation precision of the TLE method is approximately equal to the 3-dB beamwidth of the coherent transmitting radar array with the same aperture; hence, the imaging plane can be obtained. Then, the equivalent internal noise (generated by the error of the target distance estimation, i.e., the location of the imaging plane) is theoretically analyzed. Finally, the imaging resolution threshold of the MRCI system is theoretically analyzed. The relationship between the resolution threshold and the factors (such as the deployment of the transmitting radar array, the distance between the target and the radar array, and the signal-to-noise ratio of the imaging system) is summarized. The proposed estimation method and the analyses of the MRCI system are validated through a set of simulations and experiments.