DISPERSIVE DELAY LINES

Matched Filters for Signal Processing

Spectrum Analysis Radar Pulse Chirp Z Transforms

Expansion-Compression
Variable Delay Adaptive Bandpass
Filter
 INTRODUCTION
Dispersive delay lines historically evolved as matched filters for linear fm waveforms in military radar pulse ex­
pansion and compression systems. Today, with Andersen's SAW and IMCON technology, a large range of para­
meters are available which make possible new approaches to signal processing. In addition to expanding the
performance of radar pulse expansion and compression systems, Andersen's dispersive delay lines provide new
capabilities in spectrum analysis, variable delay systems and adaptive bandpass filtering systems. Because of
the low cost high volume production benefits of the SAW technology, dispersive delay lines are now available at
costs compatible with commercial solid state radars.
Definitions
The most common dispersive delay lines are charac­
terized by a linear group delay versus frequency
characteristic. Key performance parameters for lin­
ear dispersive delay lines are defined with the aid of
Figures 1-4.
Transfer Function
The transfer function has an amplitude versus fre­
quency characteristic which is essentially flat over
the bandwidth of interest. The phase characteristic
is parabolic resulting in the linear group delay versus
frequency characteristic. The amplitude and group
delay characteristic are shown in Figure 1. The in­
dicated parameters are defined as follows:
Impulse Response -
Expa nded Pulse
The impulse response h(t) of the dispersive delay
line is the inverse Fourier transform of its transfer
function. This is a signal of time duration ∆t with the
instantaneous frequency f varying linearly through­ out
the signal over the frequency range ∆f centered at f0 as
shown in Figure 2. This waveform is often referred to
as the expanded pulse.
Matched Filter Response -
Compre ssed Pulse
A matched filter optimizes the signal to noise ratio in
a communication receiver and has the property that
its transfer function is the complex conjugate of
the Fourier transform of the signal to be received
The matched filter for the impulse response h(t) of a
dispersive filter is then an identical filter of opposite
dispersive slope. The matched filter response, as
shown in Figure 3, is a compressed pulse of sin x/x
shape.
Pulse Compression Ratio -
Time Bandwidth Product
The compressed pulse is characterized by the Pulse
Compression Ratio or Time Bandwidth Product, N,
of the dispersive delay line. N is the ratio of the ex­
panded pulse length ∆t: to the compressed pulse
width 1/∆f or the product of the dispersive bandwidth
and the time dispersion of the filter. The ratio of the
amplitude of the compressed pulse to that of the
expanded pulse is √N. Thus, N is the signal to noise
improvement realized in using a matched filter for
the detection of a linear fm signal.
Weighted Matched Filter Response
Often the compressed pulse sidelobe level of -13.2db
characteristic of a sin x/x pulse is not adequate and
greater sidelobe suppression is required. The side­
lobe levels can be reduced into the -30 to -50db
range by the use of an appropriate external weighting
function. Figure 4 illustrates the effect of Hamming
Weighting which can theoretically provide -42db
sidelobes. As a result of Hamming Weighting, the
compressed pulse is widened by about 50% and the
compression gain is degraded by 1.35db. When the
expanded pulse is gated prior to pulse compression
and for low values of N (i.e. less than 100) Fresnel
sidelobes can be present. These sidelobes are
located approximately ±∆t/2 from the center of the
compressed pulse and limit the amount of side lobe
reduction possible. The level of the Fresnel side­
lobes is approximately 20 log N + 3 db below the
peak of the compressed pulse.
Equivalent weighting can be realized by multiplying
the expanded pulse by a time function whose ampli­
tude characteristics are the inverse Fourier trans­
form of W (w). This characteristic can be incorpo­
rated directly into the device design eliminating the
need for an external filter.
Insertion Loss
Insertion loss for a dispersive delay line is normally
defined for a cw input signal and is typically in the
30 to 50 db range. When the device is used for pulse
expansion and the input impulse signal bandwidth
equals ∆f, the peak output signal level is approxi­
mately 10 fog N db below the cw insertion loss. In
pulse compression, the compressed pulse peak level
is 10 log N db greater than the cw reference loss
level.
TYPES OF DEVICES AND RANGE OF PER FORMANCE
Andersen manufactures two types of dispersive
delay lines: IMCON and SAW. Performance param­
eters encompass the bandwidth range from a
100KHz to 200 MHz with time bandwidth products of
up to 25,000. These products are fabricated with
acoustic delay line technology. Computer design
techniques and patented acoustic amplitude and
phase correction techniques allow the ultimate in
performance in production devices.
IMCON's are reflection mode delay lines fabricated
on steel acoustic media and are most suited for the
applications requiring dispersions of greater than
50µsec at center frequencies below 30 MHz with
bandwidths of .5 to 12MHz. Time dispersions of
600µs can be realized in a single device and units
have been cascaded to produce time dispersions of
10ms with a 25,000 time bandwidth product.
IMCON's offer superior sidelobe performance to any
other approach. Units have been fabricated on a pro­
duction basis with close in compress ion pulse
sidelobes of - 48dB. For most IMCON designs, the
sidelobes decrease in amplitude monotonically over
the time interval extending ∆t on either side of the
central lobe of the compressed pulse.
SAW dispersive delay lines are most suited for the
lower dispersion (< 100µs), w ide bandwidth applica­
tions. These devices utilize surf ace acoustic wave
technology on the surface of piezoelectric sub·
strates. Two fabrication approaches are employed
depending on performance requirements.
 The first approach uses non-uniform interdigital
(ID) transducers in a conventional SAW configura­
tion. For dispersions of less than 10µs, this approach
offers very low cost high volume production poten­
tial. However, sidelobe levels are limited to around
- 30dB. In many requirements, a zero temperature
coefficient quartz substrate can be used allowing a
high degree of performance stability over large
temperature ranges.
The second SAW approach is a surface wave im­
plementation of IMCON (sometimes called RAC)
which is most useful for the larger timeband width
products. It also provides better sidelobe perfor­
mance than the interdigital approach.
The range of achievable parameters is plotted in
Figure 5 for SAW and IMCON devices. Those chara­
teristics contained within the solid lines can be
realized with a single device. Increased dispersion
and time bandwidth product can be achieved by
cascading units. Figure 6 tabulates the character­
istics of several IMCON and SAW devices in current
production.

Non-Linear Devices
The design techniques outlined above have been used to provide nonlinear time versus frequency
characteristics. Such characteristics are advantageous in certain radar applications for minimizing signal to noise
degradation.

Subsystems
Andersen offers dispersive delay line subsystems for any of the applications cited in the next section. These
systems are hybrid assemblies including all the necessary electronics to perform pulse expansion, pulse
compression, and sidelobe reduction.

FIGURE 6
APPLICATIONS
Radar Pulse Expansion Compressi on
Figure 7 presents the block diagram for a typical
pulse compress ion system. The spectrum inverter
shown in the receiver channel allows the use of the
same slope dispersive filter for both expansion and
compression. In some instances, it is possible to
time share one filter for both functions. The weight­
ing filter is typically either Hamming or Taylor. In
many instances, the weighting is designed into the
dispersive filter by tappering its amplitude response.
Figure 8 shows systems performance for a Dl-
15·6·100-211A dispersive filter (see page 7).
Chirp Z Transform - CZT
Figure 11 shows the schematic of a system for per­
forming Chirp Z Transforms. The output signal is the
discrete Fourier Transform (DFT) of the input signal
including both amplitude and phase information. The
system operates in a manner similar to the compres­
sive receiver shown in Figure 10. The additional
mixer and dispersive delay line are necessary to pro­
vide the output signal with the proper phase char­
acteristic. The input signal is sampled over the time
period ∆t and the frequency resolution of the output
signal is 1/∆t.

Variable Delay Systems

The linear delay versus frequency characteristics of
a dispersive filter can be employed to make con­
tinuously variable delay lines as shown in Figure 9.
If the input signal is bandlimited to less than M/2.
then a relative variable delay of ∆t/2 can be realized
with the system shown by varying the control
frequency fv. fv can be derived from a VCO or a
frequency synthesizer depending on accuracy
requirements.

Spectrum Analysis
A linear dispersive delay line is an extremely valu­
able tool in spectrum analysis since its linear time
delay versus frequency characteristics can be used to
perform discrete Fourier transforms in real time.
Andersen's IMCON and SAW devices offer increased
processing capability in those applications requiring
fast analysis and wide bandwidth.

Compressive Receiver (Microscan Receiver)

Figure 10 shows a schematic representation of a
compressive receiver. The input signal f(t) is multi­
plied by the impulse response of a positive slope dis­
persive delay line of bandwidth ∆f and dispersion ∆t.
This signal is then passed through a negative slope
delay line with bandwidth 2∆f and dispersion 2∆t. The
output signal is proportional to |F(w)| the magnitude of
the Fourier transforms of f(t) where w =2πt/s. If f(t) is a
cw signal at wo, the output is a compressed pulse of
width l/∆f corresponding to a frequency increment of
1/(s∆f) = 1/ ∆t. The pulse occurs at a relative time of
wos/2π and has an amplitude proportional to that of
f(t). If f(t) has many frequency components, the output
signal contains series of sin x/x pulses, one for each
frequency component within ∆f with amplitude
proportional to the amplitude of that frequency
component and time location proportional to the
frequency. The frequency resolution of the system is
1I/∆t and the number of frequency components that
can be resolved is ∆f/(1/∆t) or N.
Cross Correlation and Auto Correlation
Digital approaches for performing correlation are
complex and slow. By using Chirp Z Transforms, the
cross correlation of two arbitrary wideband signals
can be performed in a purely analog manner in real
time. The block diagram of Figure 12 depicts such a
means of performing cross correlation. If g(t) is re­
placed by f(t) , then the system will produce the auto
correlation function of f(t).

Adaptive Bandpass Filters

Since the CZT provides a time replica of the Fourier
transform, adaptive filtering can be performed by
multiplying a CZT output with a time function and by
retransforming the result as show in Figure 13. If g(t) is a
pulse generator, selective passband and stop and
filtering can be performed by varying the width and
polarity of the pulses. The center frequency of the effect
is determined by the relative time location of the pulse.