Delay Generated Offset: A Direction Sensitive Pulse-Coherent Doppler Detection Technique

An offset-frequency (heterodyne) direction sensitive coherentpulsed Doppler detection method requiring a single digitally synthesized phase-shiftable oscillator and a single mixer is described. Less stringent demands are imposed on hardware in obtaining offset-frequency stability and rejection of internally generated electrical clutter, as compared with the conventional offset method employing two oscillators. Simplification of hardware and postdetector signal processing as compared with the quadrature method (two parallel homodyne detectors) is anticipated. This technique has direct application in medical ultrasonics and is generally applicable to sonar and radar systems.