🔍 Key Concepts

• Pulse-modulated RADAR uses short bursts of RF energy and then listens for echoes between pulses • A video detector in RADAR converts the RF echo signal into a baseband (video) signal that can be displayed • Different detector types (discriminator, ratio, diode, infinite impedance) are designed for different kinds of modulation (FM vs AM vs pulse)

💭 Think About

• Ask yourself: which of these detector types is most commonly associated with simple amplitude detection of pulses rather than frequency or phase information? • Which detector type is standard in basic AM radio receivers and also widely used in simple rectification of RF signals? • Which options (discriminator, ratio) are typically linked with FM (frequency modulation) rather than with simple pulse amplitude detection?

✅ Before You Answer

• Identify which detector types are primarily used for FM detection—these are less likely to be used as a simple video detector in a pulse RADAR • Recall which detector type consists essentially of a rectifying element plus a load, producing a baseband output proportional to the RF envelope • Eliminate any detector types that require complex tuned circuits to respond to frequency deviation rather than amplitude envelope