Mitigating illumination gradients in a SAR image based on the image data and antenna beam pattern

1. A method for mitigating illumination gradients in a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) image, comprising:

providing pixel values associated with a SAR image of a target;

determining a correction for the pixel values based on information indicative of a beam pattern used by a SAR antenna apparatus to illuminate the target, and also based on the pixel values; and

applying said correction to the pixel values to produce corrected pixel values.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the beam pattern information represents an actual beam pattern used to illuminate the target.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the beam pattern information represents an approximation of an actual beam pattern used to illuminate the target.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said determining includes providing, based on said first-mentioned pixel values, profile pixel values that define an illumination profile of the SAR image, and wherein said determining includes fitting the profile pixel values to a mathematical representation of said beam pattern to produce fitted pixel values, and including using the fitted pixel values together with said first-mentioned pixel values to produce the corrected pixel values.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein said fitting includes minimum mean-squared error fitting.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein said determining includes applying a pixel value filter operation to said first-mentioned pixel values to produce said profile pixel values.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein said determining includes producing intermediate pixel values based on the fitted pixel values, and wherein said producing includes normalizing pixel values and inverting pixel values.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein said first-mentioned applying includes combining said intermediate pixel values with said first-mentioned pixel values to produce the corrected pixel values.

9. The method of claim 6 , wherein the pixel value filter operation is a median filter operation, and the profile pixel values are median values associated with respective groups of said first-mentioned pixel values.

10. The method of claim 6 , wherein said first-mentioned pixel values define a pixel value array having range and azimuth dimensions, wherein said last-mentioned applying includes applying the pixel value filter operation with respect to one of said dimensions, and wherein said mathematical representation has associated therewith an illumination gradient that is oriented in the other of said dimensions.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein said one dimension is said range dimension and said other dimension is said azimuth dimension.

12. The method of claim 6 , wherein said first-mentioned pixel values define a pixel value array having range and azimuth dimensions, wherein said last-mentioned applying includes applying the pixel value filter operation with respect to one of said dimensions, and wherein said first-mentioned applying includes applying said correction with respect to the other of said dimensions.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein said one dimension is said first dimension and said other dimension is said second dimension.

14. The method of claim 4 , wherein said determining includes producing intermediate pixel values based on the fitted pixel values, and wherein said producing includes normalizing pixel values and inverting pixel values.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein said applying includes combining said intermediate pixel values with said first-mentioned pixel values to produce the corrected pixel values.

16. An apparatus for mitigating illumination gradients in a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) image, comprising:

an input for receiving pixel values associated with a SAR image of a target;

a corrector coupled to said input and configured to determine a correction for said pixel values based on information indicative of a beam pattern used by a SAR antenna apparatus to illuminate the target, and also based on the pixel values; and

said corrector configured to apply said correction to the pixel values to produce corrected pixel values.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein said corrector is configured to provide, based on said first-mentioned pixel values, profile pixel values that define an illumination profile of the SAR image, wherein said corrector is further configured to fit the profile pixel values to a mathematical representation of said beam pattern to produce fitted pixel values, and wherein said corrector is further configured to use said fitted pixel values together with said first-mentioned pixel values to produce said corrected pixel values.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein said corrector is configured for production of intermediate pixel values based on said fitted pixel values, and wherein said production includes normalizing pixel values and inverting pixel values.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein said corrector is configured to combine said intermediate pixel values with said first-mentioned pixel values to produce said corrected pixel values.

20. A SAR system, comprising:

a SAR receiver configured to receive SAR signals and produce in response thereto pixel values associated with a SAR image of a target;

an apparatus for mitigating illumination gradients in said SAR image, including an input coupled to said SAR receiver, and a corrector coupled to said input;

said corrector configured to determine a correction for said pixel values based on information indicative of a beam pattern used by a SAR antenna apparatus to illuminate the target, and also based on the pixel values; and

said corrector configured to apply said correction to the pixel values to produce corrected pixel values.