Abstract:
1. A pulse-echo system comprising a transmitter for transmitting a narrow pulse of radio frequency energy, a receiver for receiving said pulse after reflection from a reflecting object, said receiver being of the superheterodyne type and comprising an intermediate frequency amplifier consisting of a plurality of amplifier stages and having a narrow frequency pass band, means for producing a gating pulse adjustable in timing and having a width sufficiently narrow to provide the desired definition or resolution, said gating pulse and said transmitted pulse having substantially the same width, said narrow frequency pass band being so narrow as to seriously distort or widen a pulse as narrow as said gating pulse if passed through the intermediate frequency amplifier, means for applying said gating pulse to said receiver at a point preceding the narrow pass band stages of said intermediate frequency amplifier to make said receiver effective to pass signal to said narrow pass band stages only during the application of said gating pulse, and means for obtaining distance information that is a function of the phasing or timing of said gating pulse whereby the distance to the reflecting object is obtained.