Range and Doppler measurement of targets for medium PRF radars is handicapped by folding and blind regions. This requires use of multiple PRFs and a resolver algorithm. The aim of the thesis is to develop various algorithms for the task and estimate their performance. Four different range and Doppler resolver algorithms and a test software is developed by using Matlab &reg / GUI and their performances due to the selected radar parameters in a multi- target environment are examined.

Les travaux présentés dans cette thèse portent sur l'étude et la réalisation d'un système d'imagerie SAR (synthetic aperture radar) exploitant deux techniques provenant des communications numériques: la configuration MIMO et les signaux OFDM. Dans la première partie de cette étude, différentes méthodes de focalisation des signaux reçus pour la configuration MIMO sont proposées afin de mesurer l'impact de la configuration MIMO sur la robustesse du système d'imagerie SAR par rapport aux bruits. Par ailleurs, on mesure aussi l'impact de la configuration MIMO sur la résolution en azimut. Finalement, un système expérimental est développé au sein du laboratoire afin de confirmer les résultats obtenus par simulation. Dans la deuxième partie de cette étude, une méthode de réduction de l'ambiguïté en distance est proposée et validée par simulation. Cependant, l'utilisation de signaux classiques de type \textit{chirps} montre ses limites pour la réduction de l'ambiguïté en distance. Ainsi, une méthode de conception de signaux OFDM est développée afin de résoudre ce problème. Une dernière étude sur les signaux OFDM est mené dans le cadre de son utilisation dans la configuration MIMO pour l'imagerie SAR. L'impact des signaux OFDM sur la résolution azimutale ainsi que sur les différents paramètres de qualité images est étudié. / The work presented in this thesis focuses on the design and implementation of a SAR system operating with two Digital Communications technology: MIMO configuration and OFDM signals. In the first part of this study, various methods for focusing received signals for MIMO configuration are proposed in order to measure the impact of the MIMO configuration on the robustness. In addition, the impact of the MIMO configuration on the azimuth resolution is measured. Finally, an experimental system is developed in order to validate the results obtained by simulation. In the second part of this study, a range ambiguity suppression method is proposed and validated by simulation. However, the use of conventional chirp signals showed the limits of its use for the range ambiguity suppression. Thus, a design method of OFDM signals is developed in order to solve this problem. The last study on the OFDM signals is carried out in the context of its use with the MIMO configuration. The impact of the OFDM signals on the azimuth resolution and the imaging quality parameters are studied.

In this thesis, a method of optimization of nonuniform pulse repetition interval for pulse Doppler radars is investigated. PRI jittering technique is used for the selection of inter-pulse intervals. An environment with white Gaussian noise and clutter interference is defined and applying generalized likelihood ratio test, a sufficient statistic function for the detection of the target is derived. The effect of jitter set selection on range and Doppler ambiguity resolution and clutter rejection is investigated. Jitter sets for Doppler ambiguity resolution are investigated by the minimization of the sufficient statistic function value at other estimated target velocities. Jitter sets for range ambiguity resolution are investigated by minimization of the number of ambigous hits at other estimated ranges. The clutter rejection properties of jitter sets are evaluated by defining a constraint function on zero velocity clutter rejection. The problems stated are solved using MATLAB with genetic algorithms. It is observed that there is a trade off between Doppler ambiguity resolution and clutter rejection properties of jitter sets. Low jitter values are needed for good clutter rejection. The performance of jitter sets are optimized according to range ambiguity resolution and clutter rejection properties by defining cost functions. It is observed that good range ambiguity resolution and clutter rejection can be achieved by an optimized PRI jittering technique. Finally, the effects of quantization of Doppler filter coefficients and target returns using improvement factor as the performance criterion are evaluated.