July 2012 | NTIA Technical Report TR-12-487
The Rabbit Ears Pulse-Envelope Phenomenon in Off-Fundamental Detection of Pulsed Signals
Frank H. Sanders
Abstract: When radiofrequency pulse envelopes are observed away from their fundamental frequency their shapes differ from those at their fundamental frequency. Off-fundamental pulse envelopes tend to exhibit spikes at their rising and falling edges with lower-amplitude energy between the spikes. This phenomenon, called the rabbit ears effect, is described in this NTIA Report. Examples of rabbit ears pulse envelopes are provided in a mathematical simulation and from measurements of off-fundamental pulse envelopes of two models of 5 GHz weather radars. Morphologies of rabbit ears pulses are examined. A method is provided for using this effect to determine the durations and bandwidths of chirped pulses in bandwidth-limited measurement systems. Implications for off-fundamental detection of pulsed signals for dynamic frequency selection (DFS) algorithms are considered.
Keywords: radar spectrum; chirped pulses; dynamic frequency selection (DFS); off-fundamental signal detection; pulsed radiofrequency (RF) signals; rabbit ears
For technical information concerning this report, contact:
Frank H. Sanders
Institute for Telecommunication Sciences
(303) 497-7600
fsanders@ntia.doc.gov
To request a reprint of this report, contact:
Lilli Segre, Publications Officer
Institute for Telecommunication Sciences
(303) 497-3572
LSegre@ntia.gov
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