A new class of polyphase spreading codes for digital pulse compression radar systems

In this paper an algorithm for generating the new class of P(n, k) polyphase codes is presented. The P(n, k) codes are particularly attractive in system employing digital signal processing because when using these codes the favorable correlation properties of typical analogue NLFM signals can be most efficiently combined with the advantages offered by digital signal processing. The significant advantages of the investigated P(n, k) codes over conventional polyphase codes are lower autocorrelation sidelobes and an increased tolerance of Doppler shifts and precompression bandwidths limitations. The primary disadvantage of the P(n, k) codes is a slight loss in range resolution. Results of extensive simulations discussed in this paper show that P(n, k) codes are favorable alternatives to conventional polyphase codes and therefore strongly increase the variety of candidate signals for high resolution wideband channel estimation, for example, encountered in pulse compression radars