Pulse compression technique is a signal processing method used in radar and sonar systems to improve the resolution and detection capability of pulses. By transmitting a long-duration modulated pulse, then compressing the received echo into a shorter-duration pulse, this technique improves the signal-to-noise ratio and allows finer resolution of targets.
The process involves encoding the pulse with a specific modulation pattern, such as frequency or phase coding, then using a matched filter on the receiver to compress the pulse in time.
The pulse compression method involves the transmission of a long pulse that is modulated with a specific coding, such as linear frequency modulation (chirp) or phase coding (binary phase shift keying). When the Echo is received, a matched filter correlates the received signal with the transmitted code, effectively compressing the pulse into a much shorter pulse.
This method allows the advantages of both long pulses, which have high energy and better signal-to-noise ratios, and short pulses, which provide high resolution.
Pulse compression in sonar works on the same principles as in radar, using long coded pulses to achieve high-resolution detection of underwater objects. In sonar systems, pulse compression improves object detection by allowing the transmission of long pulses that can travel farther and be more easily distinguished from background noise.
The received echoes are then processed to compress the pulse duration, enabling precise distance measurement and detailed imaging of underwater features. This technique is particularly useful in applications such as underwater mapping, navigation and object detection
