Acquisition Processing And Control - APAC3

Interface Unit (click picture for larger view)

FEATURES

Data compression is performed within the PC so raw data can be optimally processed after collection.

Data can be used many times over for different analyses that might otherwise require very different signal processing characteristics.

External triggering allows operation in periodic noise environments.*

ACQUISITION

Number of channels:	3, I and Q (more channels available at lower specification)
Resolution:	12 bit
Trigger:	Internal or external
Sampling:	Simultaneous sampling of all channels
Sampling control:	Control over number of channels, number and position of range gates, range resolution, up to a maximum of 8k samples per transmitter pulse
Transmitter Control:	RF burst length, trigger I/O, Phase flip, Mode switch
Receiver Control:	LO blanking, Receiver gain, Mode switch.
Diurnal switching:	Scheduled with automatic time-of-year correction *
Parameter Editor:	Simple operating parameter editing, local and remote

SPECIAL NOTES

DMA buffer swap allows processing, analysis and display of previous data set while collecting next data.

Acquisition trigger is time stamped to allow accurate processing when using irregular triggering. *

Receiver gain would normally be fixed, with the Data Acquisition system changing gain on a pulse to pulse basis if required, Other gain regimes are possible on request.

PROCESSING

Signal averaging:	Coherent integration can be selected for fixed interval trigger. Extrapolating low pss filtering/FFT can be used for external triggering * Filter and integration characteristics are software selectable after data collection (allowing adaptive/optimum filter)
Other processing:	Sea scatter removal, and other similar data filtering

ANALYSIS

FCA:	Standard fit
SCA, DAE:	Hardware permitting
Other analyses:	As requested

DISPLAY

IDL 5.5 based Display and Analysis suite

SYSTEM CHARACTERISTIC

PC(2):	2.8 GHZ Pentium 4 or similar with at least 512 MB RAM
Operating System:	Linux and Windows 2000
Languages used:	C, C++, IDL5
Removable Mass Storage:	Optional USB flash/HDD units, firewire drives or JAZ drives as required
Radar Control:	Text or Menu based, local and remote
Network:	Ethernet between PC's with options available for remote access
Suitability:	Suits new 3 channel MF transceiver based radar systems
	Suits upgrading of existing 3 channel data acquisition systems, while retaining the existing transmitter / receiver
Mechanical:	2 x free standing PC's plus Interface Unit, Can be 19" rack mounted if required

Design and manufacture of atmospheric radar systems