Systems and techniques are described for tsunami detection and warning using coastal radar systems designed primarily for the real-time mapping of ocean surface currents. These radar systems are configured to detect an approaching tsunami in the system's “near field,” i.e., the near-shore region over which the radar system observes the sea surface.

An illustrative example embodiment of a detector device includes a plurality of transmitters and a controller that controls the transmitters to transmit respective signals defined at least in part by a sequence of 2N pulses within a period. N is an integer greater than 1. A first one of the transmitters transmits 2N first signal pulses within the period. Each of the 2N first signal pulses have a first phase. A second one of the transmitters transmits 2N second signal pulses within the period. Each of the 2N first signal pulses is simultaneous with one of the 2N second signal pulses. N second signal pulses have a phase shift of 180° relative to the first phase. Others of the second signal pulses have the first phase. The N second signal pulses having the phase shift are immediately adjacent each other in the sequence.

An illustrative example embodiment of a detector device includes a plurality of transmitters and a controller that controls the transmitters to transmit respective signals defined at least in part by a sequence of 2N pulses within a period. N is an integer greater than 1. A first one of the transmitters transmits 2N first signal pulses within the period. Each of the 2N first signal pulses have a first phase. A second one of the transmitters transmits 2N second signal pulses within the period. Each of the 2N first signal pulses is simultaneous with one of the 2N second signal pulses. N second signal pulses have a phase shift of 180° relative to the first phase. Others of the second signal pulses have the first phase. The N second signal pulses having the phase shift are immediately adjacent each other in the sequence.

Integrated circuits may include a constant false alarm rate (CFAR) detection circuit, which may identify targets among clutter and noise in a range-Doppler map. The CFAR detection circuit may compute power values for each cell in the range-Doppler map and scan the range-Doppler map cell by cell. For this purpose, the CFAR detection circuit may compute a target value for a cell-under-test and surrounding cells and a noise value for one or more regions in local proximity of the cell-under-test on the range-Doppler map. For example, the CFAR detection circuit may perform a two-dimensional filtering to compute the target value and compute a sum of accumulated power values weighted by predetermined coefficients. The predetermined coefficients may taper at edges of the range-Doppler map and/or at edges of the regions. The CFAR detection circuit may declare a target based on a comparison of the target value and noise value.

Radar transmitter includes a plurality of transmit antennas that transmit a plurality of transmission signals using a multiplexing transmission, and a transmission circuit. The transmission circuit applies phase rotation amounts corresponding to combinations of Doppler shift amounts and code sequences to the plurality of transmission signals. Each of the combinations of the Doppler shift amounts and the code sequences has at least one different from other combination. The number of multiplexes of the code sequence corresponding to at least one of the Doppler shift amounts in the combinations is different from the number of multiplexing of code sequences corresponding to the remaining Doppler shift amounts.

Radar transmitter includes a plurality of transmit antennas that transmit a plurality of transmission signals using a multiplexing transmission, and a transmission circuit. The transmission circuit applies phase rotation amounts corresponding to combinations of Doppler shift amounts and code sequences to the plurality of transmission signals. Each of the combinations of the Doppler shift amounts and the code sequences has at least one different from other combination. The number of multiplexes of the code sequence corresponding to at least one of the Doppler shift amounts in the combinations is different from the number of multiplexing of code sequences corresponding to the remaining Doppler shift amounts.

An illustrative example embodiment of a detector device includes a plurality of transmitters and a controller that controls the transmitters to transmit respective signals defined at least in part by a sequence of 2N pulses within a period. N is an integer greater than 1. A first one of the transmitters transmits 2N first signal pulses within the period. Each of the 2N first signal pulses have a first phase. A second one of the transmitters transmits 2N second signal pulses within the period. Each of the 2N first signal pulses is simultaneous with one of the 2N second signal pulses. N second signal pulses have a phase shift of 180° relative to the first phase. Others of the second signal pulses have the first phase. The N second signal pulses having the phase shift are immediately adjacent each other in the sequence.

An illustrative example embodiment of a detector device includes a plurality of transmitters and a controller that controls the transmitters to transmit respective signals defined at least in part by a sequence of 2N pulses within a period. N is an integer greater than 1. A first one of the transmitters transmits 2N first signal pulses within the period. Each of the 2N first signal pulses have a first phase. A second one of the transmitters transmits 2N second signal pulses within the period. Each of the 2N first signal pulses is simultaneous with one of the 2N second signal pulses. N second signal pulses have a phase shift of 180° relative to the first phase. Others of the second signal pulses have the first phase. The N second signal pulses having the phase shift are immediately adjacent each other in the sequence.

For tracking a target, a method receives a first target signal reflected by a target for a first transmitter/receiver pair. The method receives a second target signal reflected by the target for a second transmitter/receiver pair or transmitter signal characteristics for a transmitter of the first transmitter/receiver pair. The method determines Doppler frequencies based on the first target signal and the second target signal or the transmitter signal characteristics. The method determines a target position and a target velocity vector for the target based on the Doppler frequencies.

For tracking a target, a method receives a first target signal reflected by a target for a first transmitter/receiver pair. The method receives a second target signal reflected by the target for a second transmitter/receiver pair or transmitter signal characteristics for a transmitter of the first transmitter/receiver pair. The method determines Doppler frequencies based on the first target signal and the second target signal or the transmitter signal characteristics. The method determines a target position and a target velocity vector for the target based on the Doppler frequencies.