METHOD AND DEVICE TO MEASURE RANGE Russian patent published in 2000 - IPC

FIELD: radio engineering, radiolocation, radio navigation, radio measurement, acoustics and optics. SUBSTANCE: method measuring range by measurement of difference of phases of emitted and received periodic signals lies in setting of specified phase difference ϕ₀ of emitted and received signals by change of frequency of emitted signal, in measurement of set value of frequency of generator, in multiple change of specified phase difference for certain values Δϕ_i, in measurement of specified values f_i of frequency of generator and in computation of total phase difference ф_i per each value of frequency f_i ( phase and frequency characteristic ) by formula ф_i= 2πn+ϕ(y)0

, where n is value rounded off to integral number and ϕ(y)i is main value of specified phase difference preset per i-th measurement. Linear component is isolated from phase and frequency characteristic from which range l covered by part of signal having main energy along specified path and by periodic components whose parameters are used to compute differences of ranges covered by signal along main and other paths is found. To measure absolute coordinates of objects there is set reference mark whose absolute coordinates are known, signal returned by it is received and absolute coordinates of object/objects are found with use of ranges between objects and reference mark computed by phase and frequency characteristic. Device for realization of method incorporates generator with voltage-controlled frequency connected to output of device, phase comparator whose first input is connected to output of generator, whose second input is connected to input of device, frequency meter connected to output of generator and computer linked to frequency meter and determining range connected by means of bus for reception-transmission of digital information to frequency meter and multifunctional programmed controller whose input is connected to output of phase comparator and whose output is linked to input controlling frequency of generator. Processor and computer are fitted with program realizing algorithm of measurement of phase and frequency characteristic and of range with usage of operations of connection and disconnection of input of generator to output of phase comparator, aid measuring initial frequency of generator, changing sign of transmission factor of signal from output of phase detector to input of generator. EFFECT: expanded functional capabilities of method and device. 5 cl, 5 dwg