Direct digital synthesizer architecture in multichannel, dual-polarization weather radar transceiver modules

The Atmospheric Radar Research Laboratory (ARRC) of the University of Oklahoma is building a teamwork-oriented, cylindrical, dual-pol, phased array radar, and this paper addresses the hardware development of the waveform generation and digital receiver portions of the project (namely, a digital transceiver). Direct Digital Synthesizers (DDS) are being utilized to generate digital waveforms for the radar. DDSs will allow for smooth communication between array nodes and efficient beamsteering in this application so long as a synchronization technique ensures the operation of an accurate master clock. The paper describes a synchronous technique for generating waveforms over multiple channels of the radar and the architecture of each channel´s transmitter is examined. The functions, utilization, and synchronization scheme of DDSs in this application are also discussed. Finally, a digital receiver solution is explored. Combining these two ideas introduces a low-cost, custom digital transceiver with a small form factor. This transceiver has been designed and built at the ARRC and utilizes waveform generators and digital receivers to be used in multi-channel radar platforms.