Sub-pulse extended chirp scaling: a new browsing imaging algorithm for airborne and spaceborne SAR

This paper presents the sub-pulse extended chirp scaling (SPECS) algorithm, a new browsing quick-look algorithm. Different from other quick-look algorithms, SPECS needs no FIR filtering and down-sampling to reduce the data rate, and introduces a method of processing small block data which consist sub-aperture and sub-pulse data, the computing amount is reduced greatly. The principle and processing course are introduced in this paper. And a comparison with other quick-look algorithms is carried out, which shows the advantages of SPECS. Some simulation and processing results are presented in this paper to demonstrate the validity and advantages of SPECS algorithm. On PC platform, SPECS algorithm can process the echo signal in real-time with about 8 time resolution goes down in both range and azimuth direction.