Cascade millimeter wave radar system

Abstract

The utility model relates to the technical field of millimeter-wave radars, in particular to a cascade millimeter-wave radar system, which comprises a cascade radar subsystem and a power supply module, and is characterized in that the cascade radar subsystem comprises a transmitting antenna, a receiving antenna, a cascade radar radio frequency front-end module, a radar control module, a data acquisition module, a DSP signal processing module and an upper computer module; when in use, the transmitting antenna transmits continuous signals, the receiving antenna receives echo signals, the cascade radar radio frequency front-end module is composed of four radar chips and is responsible for modulation receiving, frequency mixing, filtering amplification and other functions, and finally outputs CSI2 data streams, so that the data acquisition module completes data synchronization and integration, the DSP signal processing module processes the data, and the cascade radar radio frequency front-end module outputs the CSI2 data streams. And the radar control module sends an output result to the upper computer module through a TCP (Transmission Control Protocol), and performs parameter configuration on the cascade radar radio frequency front-end module through an SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface) protocol, so that high distance and azimuth resolution are realized, network data transmission is performed, and real-time configuration and real-time detection are realized.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of millimeter-wave radar technology, and in particular to a cascaded millimeter-wave radar system. Background Technology

[0002] Millimeter-wave radar uses millimeter waves to scan and perceive the environment around a vehicle, enabling the detection and tracking of traffic targets. It has broad prospects in driver assistance and traffic monitoring applications. Among the most important performance indicators of millimeter waves are range resolution, azimuth resolution, and field of view. Currently, mainstream millimeter-wave radar uses the MIMO (Multiple-Input Multiple-Output) radar virtual array method. For millimeter-wave radar systems, improving range resolution can be achieved by increasing the radar signal bandwidth, but improving the azimuth resolution requires increasing the antenna aperture. MIMO radar utilizes a multi-transmitter, multi-receiver antenna structure to effectively form a virtual large-aperture array, thereby improving high azimuth resolution.

[0003] Currently, existing millimeter-wave radar systems mainly use a single radar chip, and implement system configuration and data transmission through RJ48 or RS485 protocols. This is only suitable for a single system and not for multi-system scenarios, thus reducing the azimuth resolution and range resolution of the radar signal. Utility Model Content

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a cascaded millimeter-wave radar system, which solves the problem that existing millimeter-wave radar systems mainly use a single radar chip and use RJ48 or RS485 protocols to achieve system configuration and data transmission. This system is only suitable for a single system and not for multi-system scenarios, thus reducing the azimuth resolution and range resolution of radar signals.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, this utility model provides a cascaded millimeter-wave radar system, including a cascaded radar subsystem and a power supply module. The power supply module is connected to the cascaded radar subsystem. The cascaded radar subsystem includes a transmitting antenna, a receiving antenna, a cascaded radar RF front-end module, a radar control module, a data acquisition module, a DSP signal processing module, and a host computer module. The transmitting antenna is connected to the cascaded radar RF front-end module, the receiving antenna is connected to the cascaded radar RF front-end module, the cascaded radar RF front-end module is connected to the data acquisition module, the cascaded radar RF front-end module is connected to the radar control module, the data acquisition module is connected to the DSP signal processing module, the DSP signal processing module is connected to the radar control module, and the radar control module is connected to the host computer module.

[0006] The cascaded radar radio frequency front-end module includes a control front-end circuit, which includes chips U0, U1, U2 and U3. Chip U0 is electrically connected to chip U1, chip U2 and chip U3 are electrically connected to each other.

[0007] The radar control module includes a front-end control submodule and a DTU submodule. The front-end control submodule is connected to the cascaded radar radio frequency front-end module, the DTU submodule is connected to the front-end control submodule, the DTU submodule is connected to the DSP signal processing module, and the DTU submodule is connected to the host computer module.

[0008] The front-end control submodule includes a level conversion circuit, which includes chips IC1, IC2, IC3 and IC4. Chip IC1 is electrically connected to chip IC4; chip IC2 is electrically connected to chip IC1; chip IC3 is electrically connected to chip IC4; and chip IC3 is electrically connected to chip IC2.

[0009] The power module includes a 220V AC input circuit, an AC / DC conversion circuit, and an LDO voltage regulator circuit. The 220V AC input circuit is connected to the AC / DC conversion circuit, and the AC / DC conversion circuit is connected to the LDO voltage regulator circuit.

[0010] This utility model discloses a cascaded millimeter-wave radar system. In operation, the transmitting antenna transmits continuous FMCW signals in TDM-MIMO mode. The receiving antenna consists of 16 antennas that receive echo signals. The cascaded radar RF front-end module comprises four radar chips, responsible for generating, modulating, and receiving FMCW signals, demodulating echo signals, mixing, filtering, and amplifying them, ultimately outputting a CSI2 data stream. This enables the data acquisition module to synchronize and integrate the data. The DSP signal processing module performs 2DFFT, CFAR, and DOA processing on the data. The radar control module sends the results output by the DSP signal processing module to the host computer module via TCP and configures the parameters of the cascaded radar RF front-end module via the SPI protocol. By increasing the antenna array size, high range and azimuth resolution, as well as long-range target detection, are achieved. Network data transmission is also enabled, allowing for real-time configuration and detection. Attached Figure Description

[0011] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the prior art, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below.

[0012] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a cascaded millimeter-wave radar system according to this utility model.

[0013] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the cascaded radar radio frequency front-end module of this utility model.

[0014] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the DTU submodule of this utility model.

[0015] Figure 4 This is a circuit diagram of the control front-end circuit of this utility model.

[0016] Figure 5 This is a circuit diagram of the level conversion circuit of this utility model.

[0017] In the diagram: 1-Cascaded radar subsystem, 2-Power supply module, 3-Transmitting antenna, 4-Receiving antenna, 5-Cascaded radar RF front-end module, 6-Radar control module, 7-Data acquisition module, 8-DSP signal processing module, 9-Host computer module, 21-220V AC input circuit, 22-AC / DC conversion circuit, 23-LDO voltage regulator circuit, 51-Control front-end circuit, 61-Front-end control sub-module, 62-DTU sub-module, 611-Level conversion circuit. Detailed Implementation

[0018] The embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below. Examples of the embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and intended to explain the present invention, but should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

[0019] Please see Figures 1 to 5 , Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a cascaded millimeter-wave radar system according to this utility model; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the cascaded radar radio frequency front-end module of this utility model; Figure 3 This is a structural schematic diagram of the DTU submodule of this utility model; Figure 4 This is a circuit diagram of the control front-end circuit of this utility model; Figure 5 This is a circuit diagram of the level conversion circuit of this utility model.

[0020] This invention provides a cascaded millimeter-wave radar system, including a cascaded radar subsystem 1 and a power module 2, wherein the power module 2 is connected to the cascaded radar subsystem 1. The power module 2 is used to supply power to the cascaded radar subsystem 1.

[0021] The cascaded radar subsystem 1 includes a transmitting antenna 3, a receiving antenna 4, a cascaded radar RF front-end module 5, a radar control module 6, a data acquisition module 7, a DSP signal processing module 8, and a host computer module 9. The transmitting antenna 3 is connected to the cascaded radar RF front-end module 5, the receiving antenna 4 is connected to the cascaded radar RF front-end module 5, the cascaded radar RF front-end module 5 is connected to the data acquisition module 7, the cascaded radar RF front-end module 5 is connected to the radar control module 6, the data acquisition module 7 is connected to the DSP signal processing module 8, the DSP signal processing module 8 is connected to the radar control module 6, and the radar control module 6 is connected to the host computer module 9. The transmitting antenna 3 uses 12 uniformly arrayed antennas, each spaced 0.5 wavelengths apart. The transmitting antenna 3 is responsible for transmitting continuous FMCW signals to the cascaded radar RF front-end module 5 in TDM-MIMO mode. The receiving antenna 4 uses 16 uniformly arrayed antennas, each spaced 0.5 wavelengths apart. The receiving antenna 4 is responsible for receiving echo signals. The cascaded radar RF front-end module 5 is responsible for generating, modulating, and receiving FMCW signals, as well as demodulating, mixing, filtering, amplifying, and sampling the echo signals, outputting four channels of CSI2 data. The radar control module 6 configures the parameters and transmits signals to the cascaded radar RF front-end module 5. The data acquisition module 7 synchronizes and integrates the CSI2 data stream output by the cascaded radar RF front-end module 5 and sends it to the DSP signal processing module 8. The DSP signal processing module 8 is responsible for performing 2DFFT, incoherent accumulation, CFAR detection, static clutter removal, and DOA detection on the acquired sampled data, and finally transmitting the 3D point cloud information to the radar control module 6 via the RS232 protocol. The radar control module 6 then uploads the data to the host computer module 9 via a TCP connection. The host computer module 9 is responsible for receiving the uploaded point cloud data information and performing clustering, target identification, and target tracking algorithms on the point cloud data information to achieve target detection.

[0022] Secondly, the cascaded radar RF front-end module 5 includes a control front-end circuit 51, which includes chips U0, U1, U2, and U3. Chips U0 and U1 are electrically connected, U2 and U3 are electrically connected, and U0 and U3 are electrically connected. Chip U0 is the main chip RadarMaster, which is responsible for generating a common local oscillator signal FMCW_SYNCOUT. That is, the internal signal synthesizer generates a 19-20.25GHz FMCW synchronization signal and transmits it to chips U1, U2, and U3. FMCW_SYNCOUT is divided into FMCW_SYNC1 and FMCW_SYNC2 by two splitters. FMCW_SYNC1 is provided to chips U0 and U1, and FMCW_SYNC2 is provided to chips U2 and U3. Each millimeter-wave radar chip quadruples the FMCW_SYNC signal to generate an FMCW signal of 76-81 GHz. By designing traces of identical length, the transmission delay of all FMCW_SYNC signals is made the same, ensuring consistent initial phase across all chips. Furthermore, chip U0 generates synchronization signals SYNC_OUT and SYNC_IN, shared with chips U1, U2, and U3, for controlling the transmission and deactivation of the FMCW signal. It uses a 40 MHz crystal oscillator to generate the OSC_CLKOUT clock signal, shared with chips U1, U2, and U3, ensuring operation from a single clock source. Chips U0, U1, U2, and U3 all output one CSI2 data channel and communicate with the radar control module 6 via SPI.

[0023] Furthermore, the radar control module 6 includes a front-end control submodule 61 and a DTU submodule 62. The front-end control submodule 61 is connected to the cascaded radar RF front-end module 5, and the DTU submodule 62 is connected to the front-end control submodule 61, the DSP signal processing module 8, and the host computer module 9. The front-end control submodule 61 receives configuration data sent by the DTU submodule 62 and configures the parameters of the radar chip in the cascaded radar RF front-end module 5 via the SPI protocol. The DTU submodule 62 receives detection result data output by the DSP signal processing module 8 and sends it to the host computer module 9, and also receives configuration data from the host computer module 9 and sends it to the front-end control submodule 61.

[0024] Therefore, the front-end control submodule 61 includes a level conversion circuit 611, which includes chip IC1, chip IC2, chip IC3 and chip IC4. Chip IC1 is electrically connected to chip IC4; chip IC2 is electrically connected to chip IC1; chip IC3 is electrically connected to chip IC4; and chip IC3 is electrically connected to chip IC2. The model of chip IC1 is ARM STM32F103C8T6. Chip IC1 is connected to resistor R1, crystal oscillator X1, capacitors C1, C2, C3, and C4, and switch S1. The reset signal output by chip IC1 passes through chip IC2, then through a driving circuit composed of transistor Q1, and finally to chip IC3 to achieve reset. Chip IC1 communicates bidirectionally with the four radar chips in the cascaded radar RF front-end module 5 via the SPI bus, achieving communication based on the different addresses of different radar chips. Chip IC2 is a level conversion chip, and chip IC2 is connected to capacitors C6 and C7. Chip IC3 is a 4G module chip, and chip IC3 is connected to transistor Q1, capacitor C5, chip IC4, and chip IC2. Chip IC4 is a SIM card.

[0025] Then, the power module 2 includes a 220V AC input circuit 21, an AC / DC conversion circuit 22, and an LDO voltage regulator circuit 23. The 220V AC input circuit 21 is connected to the AC / DC conversion circuit 22, and the AC / DC conversion circuit 22 is connected to the LDO voltage regulator circuit 23. The 220V AC input circuit 21 receives 220V AC power, which is converted to DC power by the AC / DC conversion circuit 22, and then regulated by the LDO voltage regulator circuit 23 to finally provide 5V, 3.3V, 1.8V, and 1.2V DC voltages.

[0026] This utility model discloses a cascaded millimeter-wave radar system. In use, the transmitting antenna 3 transmits continuous FMCW signals in TDM-MIMO mode, the receiving antenna 4 consists of 16 antennas to receive echo signals, and the cascaded radar RF front-end module 5 consists of four radar chips, responsible for generating, modulating and receiving FMCW signals, demodulating echo signals, mixing and filtering amplifying, and finally outputting a CSI2 data stream. This enables the data acquisition module 7 to complete data synchronization and integration. The DSP signal processing module 8 performs 2DFFT, CFAR, DOA and other processing on the data. The radar control module 6 sends the results output by the DSP signal processing module 8 to the host computer module 9 via TCP and configures the parameters of the cascaded radar RF front-end module 5 via the SPI protocol. By increasing the antenna array, high range and azimuth resolution and long-range target detection are achieved, and network data transmission is performed, enabling real-time configuration and real-time detection.

[0027] The above-disclosed embodiments are merely one or more preferred embodiments of this application and should not be construed as limiting the scope of this application. Those skilled in the art can understand that implementing all or part of the above embodiments and making equivalent changes in accordance with the claims of this application still fall within the scope of this application.

Claims

1. A cascaded millimeter-wave radar system, characterized in that, It includes a cascaded radar subsystem and a power module, wherein the power module is connected to the cascaded radar subsystem; The cascaded radar subsystem includes a transmitting antenna, a receiving antenna, a cascaded radar RF front-end module, a radar control module, a data acquisition module, a DSP signal processing module, and a host computer module. The transmitting antenna is connected to the cascaded radar RF front-end module, the receiving antenna is connected to the cascaded radar RF front-end module, the cascaded radar RF front-end module is connected to the data acquisition module, the cascaded radar RF front-end module is connected to the radar control module, the data acquisition module is connected to the DSP signal processing module, the DSP signal processing module is connected to the radar control module, and the radar control module is connected to the host computer module.

2. The cascaded millimeter-wave radar system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The cascaded radar RF front-end module includes a control front-end circuit, which includes chips U0, U1, U2 and U3. Chip U0 is electrically connected to chip U1, chip U2 and chip U3 are electrically connected.

3. The cascaded millimeter-wave radar system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The radar control module includes a front-end control submodule and a DTU submodule. The front-end control submodule is connected to the cascaded radar RF front-end module, the DTU submodule is connected to the front-end control submodule, the DTU submodule is connected to the DSP signal processing module, and the DTU submodule is connected to the host computer module.

4. A cascaded millimeter-wave radar system as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The front-end control submodule includes a level conversion circuit, which includes chips IC1, IC2, IC3 and IC4. Chip IC1 is electrically connected to chip IC4; chip IC2 is electrically connected to chip IC1; chip IC3 is electrically connected to chip IC4; and chip IC3 is electrically connected to chip IC2.

5. A cascaded millimeter-wave radar system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The power module includes a 220V AC input circuit, an AC / DC conversion circuit, and an LDO voltage regulator circuit. The 220V AC input circuit is connected to the AC / DC conversion circuit, and the AC / DC conversion circuit is connected to the LDO voltage regulator circuit.

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