A PRICISE PHASE-PRESERVING IMAGE

FORMATION ALGORITHM FOR TOPSAR DATA

PROCESSING

#Wei Yang, Dalu Liu

School of Electronics and Information Engineering, BeiHang University, Beijing, China
yangweigigi@sina.com

Abstract—This paper concentrates on the image formation
algorithm for TOP (Terrain Observation by Progressive Scans)
mode data processing, which ensures both the quality of
focusing and the phase accuracy. Based on the three-step
processing schedule, the de-rotation operation is adopted to
conquer the overlap in azimuth frequency domain, and the
antenna sweep rate is discussed in tail. Moreover, the classic
focusing kernel is applied for range and azimuth compressing.
Furthermore, phase and compression-gain compensation
function is given, which is implemented after deramp
operation. Finally, the simulation results justify the
effectiveness and precision of the proposed phase-preserving
algorithm.
Index Terms —SAR, TOPS, phase preserving, compression-
gain compensation
I. INTRODUCTION
Space-borne synthetic aperture radar (SAR) has played a
significant roles in both civil and military applications. Due
to the wide-swath observation requirement of application,
TOPS (Terrain Observation by Progressive Scans) have been
developed, which have been realized in TerraSAR-X and
Sentinel-1 satellite[1-2]. As a state-of-the-art imaging mode,
the scalloping effect in SAR image is mitigated compared to
the classical scanSAR mode, which improves the SAR
quality obviously and suits for wide-swath interferometry
applications[3]. However, TOPS data processing is
complicated caused by azimuth-beam steering. Strip-map
processors have been adapted to process TOPS data by
adding a pre- and/or post processing steps, which is
employed to deal with the double folding in both time and
frequency domain[4]. Moreover, a novel image formation
algorithm has been developed, namely Baseband Azimuth
Scaling (BAS), which enables a better process efficiency[5].
However, as a sub-aperture algorithm, sub-data combination
is needed in BAS algorithm. By avoiding the sub-data
combination operation, Three-Steps algorithm has been
proposed, which is suitable for TOPS data focusing[6].
Nevertheless, phase-preserving problem is not studied in
Three-Steps algorithm. In order to satisfy the phase-
preserving requirement of interferometry applications, a
precise phase preserving algorithm is addressed in this paper
in detail.
II. SIGNAL MODEL
This section presents the geometry of the TOPS mode
of space-borne SAR. Based on the geometry of TOPS mode,
the signal model is also illustrated.
A. Geometry of TOPS
The geometry of TOPS mode is shown in Fig.1, Rrs
represents the distance form rotation point to satellite, and
Rrg represents the distance form rotation point to ground[6].
As for TOPS mode, the rotation point is located above the
satellite, and operates with an azimuth antenna beam steering
form backward to forward which has a opposite direction
compared the sliding spotlight mode. The angle velocity of
azimuth antenna beam steering is affected by the distance
between rotation point and satellite, and the longer the
distance is, the slower the angle velocity is. Due to the beam
steering, the Doppler history are different for the targets
located at different azimuth position, which bring some
difficult for image formation. So, the image formation
algorithm has to be modified to accommodate the variety of
Doppler center frequency, and ensure the accuracy of
imagery phase.
ωϕ
Rrs < 0
Rrg < 0
A1 A2 A3
XL XS XR
Fig.1 Geometry of TOPS mode.

978-1-4673-7297-8/15/$31.00 2015
c IEEE 428
 B. Signal characteristic The de-rotation phase compensation function is given
The angle velocity of azimuth antenna beam steering by formula (4).
can be described as follow: H1 ( t ) = exp { j ⋅ ʌ ⋅ f rotation ⋅ t 2 } (5)
vs Where
vϕ = (1)
Rrs 2vs2
f rotation = (6)
Where vs is the velocity of satellite. And, assuming n point λ Rrs
target located at an arbitrary position along azimuth direction, It should be noticed that the satellite velocity is used in
which corresponds to an azimuth time t0 that the antenna formula (5), or the signal will not overlap after de-rotation
beam center illuminates the target. So, the Doppler centre operation in azimuth direction, which means the difficult in
frequency of the target is: azimuth weighting and the defocusing for the targets located
f d ( t0 ) = frotation ⋅ t0 (2) in azimuth edge.
Where frotation is the antenna sweep rate. Due to variety of t0, After the de-rotation operation, the overlap in Doppler
domain is conquered. The classical focus kernel can be
the Doppler center frequency also changes with azimuth
implemented, for example, the Range Doppler[7], Chirp
position of target.
Scaling[8] and so on. During the focusing operation, range
The azimuth resolution is also defined by the angle
cell migration correction (RCMC), range compression,
velocity of azimuth antenna beam steering vϕ , and is second range compression (SRC), and hyperbolic phase
independent on the range of azimuth steering angle. remove is finished, and a quadric phase should be
L ª
ρ a = ⋅ «1 − vϕ
( Rrs − Rrg ) º» (2)
compensation in Range Doppler domain, which is caused by
de-rotation.
2 « vg »¼
¬ ­ f2 ½
H 2 ( t ) = exp ® j ⋅ ʌ ⋅ a ¾ (7)
Where L is length of azimuth antenna, vg is satellite ground ¯ f rotation ¿
velocity. And, the slower the vϕ is, the better the azimuth Where f a is the azimuth frequency.
resolution is. Finally, in order to avoid image aliasing in azimuth, the
deramp operation is applied [6], the Deramp phase is given
C. Signal model
by formula (8).
Basis on the analysis above, the signal model can be
°­ f 2 °½
derived as follow: H 3 ( t ) = exp ® j ⋅ ʌ ⋅ a ¾ (7)
§ · °¯ f p °¿
¨ vs ⋅ t ⋅ Rrg / Rrs − vs t0 ¸ § 2r (t; r ) · With the operation of de-rotation, focusing and deramp
Sig (τ , t − t A ; r ) = rect ¨ ¸ ⋅ p ¨τ − ¸
¨¨ λ ¸¸ © c ¹ operation, a precise focused image can be obtained after
⋅r (3)
© L ¹ azimutth FFT. However, in order to ensure radiation and
­° 2 phase accuracy for SAR image applications, phase and
§ 2r (t; r ) · ½° ­ 4ʌr (t; r ) ½
⋅ exp ®− jʌb ¨τ − ¸ ¾ ⋅ exp ®− j ¾ compression-gain should be compensated by formula (8)
°¯ © c ¹ °¿ ¯ λ ¿ and formula (9) respectively.
Where p ( ⋅) is envelop of linear frequency modulation H phase ( t ) = exp { j ⋅ ʌ ⋅ f p ⋅ t 2 } (8)
signal, c is light velocity, τ is the range fast time, t is the §v ·
2

azimuth slow time, r is the slant range, b is the signal H gain ( t ) = ¨ e ¸ (9)
frequency modulation rate, λ is wavelength. © vs ¹
Where ve is the equivalent satellite velocity, and f p is
calculated by
III. IMAGING ALGORITHM
2vs2
In this section, the image algorithm is derived with fp = (10)
three-steps, namely, de-rotation, focusing and deramp λ Rrg
operation. Moreover, the phase preserving and compression- The flowchart of phase-preserving TOPS image
gain of the imaging algorithm are analyzed in detail. Finally, formation algorithm is shown in Fig.2.
the flowchart of algorithm is given.
Due to the azimuth antenna beam steering, the Doppler
bandwidth is wider than frequency, which will result in the
overlap of Doppler frequency. This phenomenon not only
affects the azimuth resolution, but also introduces some
“ghost target” along azimuth direction. In order to deal with
this problem, there are two methods. One method is the sub-
aperture processing, for example, the BAS algorithm[5].
The other one is to adopt de-rotation operation, for example,
the three-step algorithm. In this paper, the derivation of
algorithm is based on three-step algorithm.
Fig.2 Flowchart of phase-preserving TOPS image formation algorithm

2015 IEEE 5th Asia-Pacific Conference on Synthetic Aperture Radar(APSAR) 429

 IV. SIMULATION are given. Finally, simulation results justify the precision of
In order to verify the accuracy of the proposed the proposed algorithm.
phase-preserving algorithm, echo of three point target
that locate in near range, mid range and far range is ACKNOWLEDGMENT
simulated and processed. This work is supported by the Fundamental Research
The simulation parameters are given in Table I. Funds for Central Universities under Grant No.YWF-15-
TABLE I. Simulation Parameters GJSYS-063.
Parameters Values
Height (km) 600
REFERENCES
Wavelength (m) 0.03
Incidence angle (deg) 30 [1] A. Meta, P. Prats, U Steinbrecher, J. Mittermayer and R.
Pulse repetition frequency(Hz) 6000 Scheiber. “TerraSAR-X TOPSAR and scanSAR comparison,”
Pulse width (ȝs) 30 EUSAR’08, Friedrichshafen, pp.277-280, 2008.
Antenna length (m) 4.0 [2] N. Miranda, B. Rosich, and C. Putignano, “The sentinel-1
Bandwidth(MHz) 25 data processor and operational products,” International
Sampling rate(MHz) 35
geoscience and remote sensing symposium, Germany,
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Fig.3 illustrates the response contour plot of point [3] P. Prats, R., Scheiber, L. Marotti, S. Wollstadt, and A.
targets. And, Table Τ demonstrates the corresponding Reigber, “TOPS interferometry with TerraSAR-X,” IEEE
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the proposed algorithm. Note that the rectangular window is 3179-3188, 2012.
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(c) Far range

Fig.3 contour plot of point target.

TABLE II. Quality measurement results

Near
TOPS mode Mid range Far range
range
Resolution(m) 14.00 14.13 14.30
Azimuth PSLR(dB) -13.25 -13.25 -13.26
ISLR(dB) -10.18 -10.19 -10.19
Resolution(m) 5.31 5.32 5.32
Slant Range PSLR(dB) -13.23 -13.19 -13.18
ISLR(dB) -10.06 -10.00 -10.01
Phase error (deg) 0.8 0.2 0.6
compression-gain (dB) 0.05 0.05 0.06

V. CONCLUSION
This paper addresses a precise phase-preserving
algorithm for TOPS data processing based on the three-step
algorithm. The effects on the phase resulted from de-
rotation and deramp operation are analyzed. Moreover, the
rules for de-rotation factor and dermap factor selection are
illuminated as well. Based on the analysis, phase
compensation function and compression-gain compensation

430 2015 IEEE 5th Asia-Pacific Conference on Synthetic Aperture Radar(APSAR)