A micro-programmable correlator for real-time radar processing

Abstract

This paper presents a novel design of a multibit, digital correlator for incoherent scatter radar observations. By utilizing bit-slice microprocessor elements and internal control by microcode instructions, a high-speed arithmetical preprocessor has been developed. Arithmetical and control operations are separated to obtain increased speed performance. The arithmetical part is optimized for complex auto/cross correlation processing and has an effective rate of 24·10 6 multiplications/sec. Input data has 8-bit accuracy in integer format. The processor includes, at input, a 2-ported buffer memory for storing single/multiple channel inputs. Processing results are temporarily stored in a 4 K word high-speed memory before transferred to a general-purpose computer. Processing speed can be increased by adding up to 3 slave processors thus achieving direct parallel processing. Internal hardware is available for interface with standard CAMAC modules.