A simple stimulus generator for testing single-channel monopulse processor

Abstract

The monopulse antenna tracking system is the preferred choice where higher pointing accuracy is required because of its inherent advantages. There are three possible configurations for realizing monopulse tracking system. One of the configurations is called single channel monopulse tracking system as it requires only one down converter chain. In this configuration, the sum and both (AZ/EL) error signals are combined to reduce the required number of down converters. A single channel monopulse processor is vital subsystem of a single channel monopulse tracking system which extracts the pointing error information from the IF signal. During the development, these processors need to be tested for its functionality in the laboratory which requires a stimulus generator. The stimulus generator generates an IF signal which mimics the real time signal and can be used for debugging and functional verification. This paper presents a simple approach for realizing a stimulus generator for single channel monopulse processor. A stimulus generator has been developed using this approach and has been used for laboratory testing of a single channel monopulse processor. The tested single channel monopulse processor has been successfully integrated with the earth station antenna tracking chain at NRSC, Hyderabad, India and used for tracking the LEO satellites.