Signal processing devices and networks

According to an axiom employed with respect to electronic warfare (EW) behavior, system effectiveness increases directly with the amount of information recovered from an intercepted signal. The evolution in EW signal processing capability has proceeded accordingly. After an initiation of EW systems as broadband receivers, the most significant advance was related to the development of digital instantaneous frequency measurement (DIFM) devices. The use of such devices provides significant improvements regarding signal identification and RF measurement to within a few MHz. An even more accurate processing device, the digital RF memory (DRFM), allows frequency characterization to within a few Hz. This invention was made in response to the need to process coherent pulse signals. Attention is given to the generic EW system, the modern EW system, and the generic receiver function for a modern EW system showing typical output signals.