High-frequency assembly, radar system and method for operating a high-frequency system

Abstract

The invention relates to the monitoring and detecting of a phase difference between a plurality of mutually coupled transceivers. For this purpose, according to the invention a high-frequency signal is coupled out of each of the transmission paths of the transceivers, the frequency of the outcoupled high-frequency signals is divided by a predefined factor, and the signals having the divided frequencies are compared in order to detect a phase difference.

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] title

[0003] High-frequency arrangement. Radar system and method for operating a high-frequency system

[0004] Technical area

[0005] The present invention relates to a high-frequency arrangement and a method for operating such a high-frequency arrangement. The present invention further relates to a radar system having such a high-frequency arrangement.

[0006] background

[0007] Modern radar systems, such as those used for environment detection in motor vehicles, typically utilize multiple transmit and receive channels. Cascading multiple transceivers is particularly suitable for this purpose. In addition to digital signals, a high-frequency signal can also be exchanged as a reference signal. In this context, a stable phase relationship between the reference signals at all transceivers is essential for reliable angle estimation by the radar system.

[0008] The document DE 10 2018 117 688 A1, for example, describes a radar method in which a high-frequency signal is transmitted from the transmission path of a first channel to a second transmission unit.

[0009] Disclosure of the invention

[0010] The present invention provides a high-frequency arrangement, a radar system, and a method for operating a high-frequency arrangement having the features of the independent patent claims. Further advantageous embodiments are the subject of the dependent patent claims.

[0011] Accordingly, the following is provided: A radio-frequency arrangement with multiple transceivers and a calibration device. The multiple transceivers comprise a first transceiver and at least one second transceiver. The first transceiver is designed to extract a first radio-frequency signal from a transmission path of the first transceiver and to divide a frequency of the extracted first radio-frequency signal by a predetermined integer value. The divided first radio-frequency signal can then be provided as a first intermediate frequency signal. Each of the second transceivers is designed to extract a second radio-frequency signal from a transmission path of the respective second transceiver and to divide a frequency of the extracted second radio-frequency signal by the predetermined integer value. The divided second radio-frequency signals can then be provided as second intermediate frequency signals.The calibration device is designed to detect a phase difference between the first intermediate frequency signal and a second intermediate frequency signal from one of the second transceivers.

[0012] Furthermore, it is planned:

[0013] A radar system with a high-frequency arrangement according to the invention, wherein the plurality of transceivers are each designed to generate a radar signal and to transmit the generated radar signals in the respective transmission paths.

[0014] Finally, it is planned:

[0015] A method for operating a radio-frequency system with multiple transceivers, wherein the multiple transceivers comprise a first transceiver and at least one second transceiver. The method comprises a step of extracting a first radio-frequency signal from a transmission path of the first transceiver, dividing a frequency of the first radio-frequency signal by a predetermined integer value, and providing the divided first radio-frequency signal as a first intermediate frequency signal. The method further comprises a step of extracting a second radio-frequency signal from a transmission path of the respective second transceiver and dividing the respective extracted second radio-frequency signal by the predetermined integer value. The divided second radio-frequency signal(s) can then be provided as second intermediate frequency signals.Finally, the method comprises a step of detecting a phase difference between the first intermediate frequency signal from the first transceiver and a second intermediate frequency signal from a second transceiver.

[0016] Advantages of the invention

[0017] The present invention is based on the finding that in high-frequency systems with multiple cascaded transmitting units, the signals emitted by the transmitting units should be coordinated with one another. For this purpose, it is particularly desirable to provide a fixed, as precisely as possible, phase relationship between the signals of the individual transmitting units. Especially if reference signals are provided at the individual transmitting units for this purpose, on the basis of which the individual transmitting units generate their transmission signals, there is a risk that phase drift may occur during operation due to internal or external influences, such as temperature fluctuations or the like. This can cause the phase relationships between the individual transmitting units to shift.

[0018] It is therefore an idea of ​​the present invention to take this finding into account and to create a concept for a high-frequency system with several transmitting units or transceivers, in which variations in the phase relationships between the transmitting signals in the individual units can be easily detected and, if necessary, compensated.

[0019] By reducing the frequency of the high-frequency signals in the transmission paths by a predetermined factor, a signal with an intermediate frequency can be obtained. Such an intermediate frequency signal enables easier routing of the signals on a printed circuit board substrate and the distribution of the signals on boards without the need for a special high-frequency substrate.

[0020] The phase difference of the high-frequency signals in the transmission paths of the transceivers can be easily derived from the phase difference of two intermediate frequency signals by multiplying the phase difference of the intermediate frequency signals by the predetermined value that was used to reduce the coupled transmission signals.

[0021] By continuously or regularly monitoring such phase differences, it is possible to identify and account for variations in the phases of the individual transceiver transmission signals. For example, the identified phase differences can be considered in subsequent signal processing. Additionally or alternatively, it is also possible to at least partially compensate for the identified phase differences using suitable measures. Alternatively, the operational behavior of the radio-frequency arrangement can be evaluated or classified based solely on the detected phase difference.

[0022] According to one embodiment, the predetermined integer value for dividing the frequencies of the first radio-frequency signal in the first transceiver and the second radio-frequency signals in the second transceiver(s) is greater than or equal to two. For example, a fixed value in the range between 2 and 32 can be selected. In principle, however, deviating integer values ​​for dividing or reducing the frequency of the radio-frequency signals are also possible.

[0023] According to one embodiment, the radio-frequency system is designed to perform signal processing using the detected phase offset(s). In particular, downstream processing of signals associated with the radio-frequency signals from the first and second transceiver(s) can take the detected phase offsets into account. For this purpose, for example, signals associated with the transmission signals of the transceivers can be further processed in a digital domain, and the respective detected phase offsets can be included in the processing in order to compensate for the phase offsets. For example, in a radar system, such processing can include the evaluation of radar echoes that are attributable to the transmitted transmission signals as radar signals.

[0024] According to one embodiment, the first transceiver is designed to provide a reference signal with a predetermined frequency. This reference signal can be used, on the one hand, to generate a transmission signal within the first transceiver. Furthermore, the reference signal can also be provided to the at least one second transceiver. Accordingly, the at least one second transceiver is designed to generate a transmission signal using the reference signal from the first transceiver. In this way, both the frequencies and phase responses of the transmission signals in the individual transceivers can be synchronized with one another.

[0025] According to one embodiment, the calibration device is arranged in the first transceiver. In such a configuration, the generation of the reference signal for the basis for generating the transmission signals and the monitoring of the phase deviation in the individual transceivers take place in the same transceiver.

[0026] According to an alternative embodiment, the calibration device is arranged in one of the second transceivers. With such a configuration, the generation of the reference signal and the monitoring of the phase deviations can take place in different transceivers. In particular, it is possible to provide a calibration device in several or all of the second transceivers. The transceivers with a calibration device can then receive both the reference signal and the first intermediate-frequency signal from the first transceiver, generate a transmission signal in the corresponding second transceiver using the reference signal, derive the second intermediate-frequency signal from this transmission signal, and determine the phase difference between the first and second intermediate-frequency signals therefrom.

[0027] According to one embodiment, the calibration device is designed to adjust a phase shift in the transmission paths of the first transceiver and / or the second transceiver using the detected phase offset(s). For example, phase shift elements can be provided in the respective transmission paths of the transceivers, which can be adjusted using the detected phase differences between the reference signal and the calibration signal. In this way, identified phase differences can be compensated even before the transmission signals are transmitted.

[0028] According to one embodiment, the multiple transceivers, i.e., the first transceiver and the at least one second transceiver, are implemented as monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMIC) or as a system-on-chip (SoC). This allows for particularly compact high-frequency circuits to be realized. Furthermore, the individual transceivers can be arranged on a common printed circuit board substrate.

[0029] According to one embodiment of the radar system, the plurality of transceivers are each configured to receive radar echoes. Accordingly, the radar system can be configured to process the received radar echoes using the detected phase offset(s). In particular, the individual transceivers can receive radar echoes, process them, and convert them into a digital domain. The detected phase difference can then be taken into account during further processing of the digital signals.

[0030] The above embodiments and further developments can be combined with one another as desired, where appropriate. Further embodiments, further developments, and implementations of the invention also include combinations of features of the invention not explicitly mentioned above or described below with respect to the exemplary embodiments. In particular, those skilled in the art will also add individual aspects as improvements or additions to the respective basic forms of the invention.

[0031] Short description of the drawings

[0032] Further features and advantages of the invention are explained below with reference to the figures. These show:

[0033] Fig. 1: a schematic representation of a block diagram of a high-frequency arrangement according to an embodiment;

[0034] Fig. 2: a schematic representation of a block diagram of a radio frequency arrangement with a first and a second transceiver according to an embodiment;

[0035] Fig. 3: a schematic representation of a block diagram of a radio-frequency arrangement according to an embodiment with a plurality of second transceivers; and Fig. 4: a flowchart underlying a method for operating a radio-frequency arrangement according to an embodiment.

[0036] Description of embodiments

[0037] Figure 1 shows a schematic block diagram of a high-frequency arrangement 1 according to one embodiment. Such a high-frequency arrangement 1 can be used, for example, for a radar system in which high-frequency radar signals are generated and emitted, and reflections of these radar signals are subsequently received and evaluated as radar echoes in order to detect objects in the field of view of the radar sensor.

[0038] The radio-frequency arrangement 1 according to Figure 1 can comprise two or more transmitting units or transceivers. The radio-frequency arrangement 1 comprises at least a first transmitting unit or a first transceiver 10 as well as one or more additional, second transmitting units or transceivers 20. Although the term "transceiver" is preferably used in the present invention, depending on the application, these can also be pure transmitting units. The individual transceivers 10, 20 can each have multiple transmit and / or receive paths.

[0039] Each transmit / receive path of a transceiver 10, 20 can be coupled to a corresponding antenna A1, A2, or a corresponding antenna system. Thus, the radio-frequency signals generated in the transceivers 10, 20 can be transmitted via the corresponding antennas A1, A2. If necessary, the antennas A1, A2, or the antenna systems can also receive radio-frequency signals and forward the received signals to the corresponding transceivers 10, 20 for further processing.

[0040] The evaluation of the high-frequency signals of the processed received high-frequency signals can be performed, for example, by a processing device 40. In the case of a radar system, the processing device 40 can, for example, evaluate the received radar echoes in conjunction with the transmitted high-frequency signals in order to determine information about possible objects in the field of view of the radar sensor. In order to synchronize the signal generation or processing of the high-frequency signals in the transmission and reception paths in the first transceiver 10 and the second transceiver(s) 20, the first transceiver 10 can provide a suitable reference signal R to the second transceiver(s) 20. For example, this can be a reference signal with an intermediate frequency, on the basis of which both the first transceiver 10 and the second transceiver(s) 20 can generate their high-frequency signals synchronously.For example, the desired high-frequency signal can be generated from the reference signal R by multiplying the frequency by a factor n. This can lead to a phase drift in the individual transmission paths of the transceivers 10, 20 during operation for various reasons, such as temperature fluctuations or similar. These drifts can be caused, on the one hand, by phase errors in the transmission paths of the reference signal between the first transceiver 10 and the second transceivers 20, or, on the other hand, by individual properties of the individual transmission paths, for example in the phase shifters, the amplifier elements, or similar. Therefore, the following describes a concept for identifying and, if necessary, compensating for such drifts or variations in the phase response of the transmission paths of the individual transceivers 10, 20.

[0041] To monitor a phase deviation between transmission paths in the individual transceivers 10, 20, high-frequency signals can be extracted from the respective transmission paths of the transceivers 10, 20 and compared with each other. For this purpose, a calibration device 30 can be provided, for example. Such a calibration device 30 is preferably provided in the first transceiver 10 or one of the second transceivers 20. Thus, the extracted high-frequency signal from a transmission path of a transceiver can be used directly within the respective transceiver 10 or 20 with the calibration device 30, while the remaining extracted signals must be provided to the calibration device 30 via corresponding connections.

[0042] The high-frequency signals extracted from the transmission paths can first be reduced in frequency by a predetermined division. For example, the frequency of the extracted high-frequency signals can be divided by a predetermined value, such as an integer value between 2 and 32, to obtain an intermediate frequency signal with a correspondingly lower frequency. Such an intermediate frequency signal with a lower frequency can then be exchanged more easily between the transceivers 10, 20. In particular, the requirements for the high-frequency cables and / or circuit board substrates required for this purpose are reduced.

[0043] In the example shown in Figure 1, for example, an intermediate frequency signal K2 is output from the second transceiver 20 to the first transceiver 10. This intermediate frequency signal K2 from the second transceiver 20 can be compared with a correspondingly reduced frequency intermediate frequency signal from the first transceiver 10. Based on this comparison, the calibration device 30 can determine a phase difference between the phase of the radio-frequency signal in a transmission path of the first transceiver 10 and the radio-frequency signal in a transmission path of the second transceiver 20. This detected phase difference can be output as an output signal O. For example, a voltage signal corresponding to the phase difference can be output. Furthermore, any other signals for specifying the phase difference are of course also possible.The output signal O can, for example, be output to any external entity as an analog or digital signal for further processing. Alternatively, it is also possible to use the detected phase difference internally within the calibration device, or to make appropriate adjustments within the transceiver 10 based on the detected phase difference.

[0044] For example, the detected phase difference between the radio-frequency signals in a transmission path of the first transceiver 10 and the radio-frequency signals in a transmission path of the second transceiver 20 can be provided to the processing device 40. The processing device 40 can then incorporate the information of this phase difference into the processing. For example, the evaluation of received radar echoes can be adjusted according to the detected phase difference. It is also possible, for example, for the processing device 40 to use the information of the phase difference O to adjust the generation of the radio-frequency signals in the transmission paths of the individual transceivers 10, 20 accordingly.In this way, for example, the detected phase differences can be incorporated into the generation of the high-frequency signals, potentially at least partially compensating for the detected phase difference. Additionally or alternatively, it is also possible to influence and, if necessary, compensate for the phase difference using a phase shifter or similar device in the transmission paths.

[0045] Furthermore, it is also possible, for example, to monitor the detected phase difference to determine whether or not radar system 1 is still within specified specifications. For example, if a predetermined threshold for the phase difference is exceeded, this can be signaled. Thus, this case can be used when using or evaluating information from high-frequency system 1, in particular, for example, from detected objects of a radar system, to evaluate the accuracy and / or reliability of the detected objects.

[0046] Figure 2 shows a schematic representation of a block diagram of a radio-frequency arrangement 1 with a first transceiver 10 and a second transceiver 20. To simplify understanding of the inventive concept, only the components relevant to each transmission path are shown. Furthermore, suitable components for additional transmission paths and / or reception paths can, of course, also be provided in the transceivers 10, 20.

[0047] For example, a frequency generator 11 can be provided in the first transceiver 10, which provides a reference signal R for generating the high-frequency signals. This reference signal R can be increased by appropriate multiplication by a predetermined factor n in the component 12. This generates a high-frequency signal with a desired frequency, which can be amplified in an amplifier 13 and then output. For example, the high-frequency signal can be emitted via an antenna or an antenna arrangement. Furthermore, any desired further components for modulation or the like can of course also be provided in the transmission paths. In particular, for example, a phase shifter 14 can be provided in each of the transmission paths, which can modify the phase response of the transmission signal accordingly if necessary.The reference signal R generated by the frequency generator 11 can also be provided to one or possibly several second transceivers 20. Thus, these additional transceivers 20 can also generate a radio-frequency transmission signal in the transmission paths based on this reference signal R. Due to various causes, such as temperature-related drift or the like, it is possible that the phase relationship between the radio-frequency signal in a transmission path of the first transceiver 10 and the radio-frequency signal in a transmission path of the second transceiver 20 changes over time. To detect such a change in the phase relationship, the concept described below can be applied, for example.

[0048] To determine the phase relationship between the radio-frequency signal in a transmission path of the first transceiver 10 and a radio-frequency signal in a transmission path of a second transceiver 20, a first radio-frequency signal can be extracted from the corresponding transmission path of the first transceiver 10. For this purpose, a suitable extraction element 15 can be provided, for example. The frequency of this first radio-frequency signal can be reduced in frequency using a suitable divider 16. For this purpose, the frequency of the extracted first radio-frequency signal can be divided by a fixed factor k. Thus, an intermediate frequency signal is available at the output of this divider 16, the frequency of which is lower by a factor of k than the frequency of the radio-frequency signal in the transmission path of the first transceiver 10 to be monitored. This first intermediate frequency signal can be fed to a calibration device 30.

[0049] In the same way, a high-frequency signal can also be extracted from a transmission path of a second transceiver 20. This extracted high-frequency signal can also have its frequency reduced by a factor of k and be provided to the calibration device 30 as a second intermediate frequency signal. Preferably, an integer factor k in the range between 2 and 32 can be selected for reducing the frequency of the high-frequency signals. The calibration device 30 compares the two intermediate frequency signals K1 and K2 and determines a phase difference between the two intermediate frequency signals K1 and K2. For example, an IQ mixer can be used for this purpose. In principle, however, any other concepts for determining the phase difference are also possible, such as a phase detector or a time-to-digital converter (TDC).The calibration device 30 can then output an output signal O, which corresponds to the detected phase difference between the first intermediate-frequency signal K1 and the second intermediate-frequency signal K2. This can, for example, be a signal with a voltage value that corresponds to the phase difference. Alternatively, however, any other signals for specifying the phase difference are also possible. If the frequency of the extracted transmission signals for the intermediate-frequency signals is divided by the value k, the phase difference between the radio-frequency signals in the monitored transmission path of the first transceiver 10 and the monitored transmission path of the second transceiver 20 results from k times the detected phase difference between the two intermediate-frequency signals K1 and K2.

[0050] Figure 3 shows a schematic block diagram of a radar system 1 with a first transceiver 10 and a plurality of second transceivers 20-i. If more than one second transceiver 20 is used, the intermediate frequency signals K2-i of all second transceivers 20-i can, for example, be provided to the first transceiver 10.

[0051] For example, the intermediate frequency signals K2-i of the second transceivers 20-i can be provided to a combiner 31. This combiner 31 can, for example, be provided within the calibration device 30. Alternatively, it is also possible to provide the combiner 31 outside the calibration device 30. In particular, the combiner 31 can also be provided outside the first transceiver 10. Thus, only the output signal of the combiner 31 needs to be provided to the calibration device 30, thereby reducing the number of inputs at the calibration device 30. The combiner 31 can, for example, be implemented using passive structures or other components to combine the input signals into one signal.In this case, a second transceiver 20-i can output a corresponding intermediate frequency signal K2-i corresponding to the high-frequency signal of a transmission path, while no intermediate frequency signal is output in the remaining transmission paths during this time period. Thus, a second intermediate frequency signal K2-i is compared with the intermediate frequency signal of the first transceiver 10 via the combiner 31 in order to determine the respective phase difference. If the intermediate frequency signals of all transmission paths are provided to the combiner 31 according to a predetermined scheme, for example, one after the other, the individual phase differences can also be determined accordingly.If the high-frequency arrangement 1 is, for example, a radar system or similar device in which useful signals are transmitted at predetermined time intervals, while a pause is provided between these useful signals, the phase difference can be determined within these pauses between the transmission of the useful signals. For example, the phase differences of all transmission paths to be monitored can be determined in a pause between the transmission of two useful signals. Alternatively, it is also possible to determine only one phase difference or a portion of the phase differences in a pause between the transmission of two useful signals.

[0052] To reduce the number of required connections between the individual transceivers, in particular the first transceiver 10 and the second transceivers 20, it is also possible for all intermediate frequency signals K2-i to be transmitted via a common connection, with an intermediate frequency signal K2-i from a second transceiver 20-i being transmitted alternately in a suitable multiplex mode. In principle, however, any other concepts for exchanging the intermediate frequency signals K2-i are also possible.

[0053] In the examples described above, the calibration device 30 is provided in the first transceiver 10, which also provides the reference signal R. Furthermore, it is also possible to provide the calibration device 30 in one or more of the second transceivers 20-i, i.e., a transceiver that receives the reference signal R from another transceiver. In this case, in addition to the reference signal R, the first transceiver 10 also provides the first intermediate frequency signal K1 of a transmission path of the first transceiver 10.

[0054] In addition to the previously described configuration, in which all phase differences are determined by means of a calibration device 30 in one of the transceivers 10, 20, any other configurations are also possible. For example, a ring-shaped arrangement is also possible, in which a phase difference between at least one transmission path of a transceiver 10, 20 and a transmission path of a transceiver 10, 20 adjacent in the ring is determined in each transceiver. Any other concepts and arrangements are of course also possible. Figure 4 shows a flowchart underlying a method for operating a radio-frequency arrangement 1 according to one embodiment. The method can in principle be applied to any radio-frequency arrangements, such as the radio-frequency arrangement 1 described above.Accordingly, the statements made previously in connection with the described high-frequency arrangements 1 also apply to the method described below. Likewise, any components may be provided in the previously described high-frequency arrangements 1 as may be required to implement the method described below.

[0055] In step S10, a first radio-frequency signal is decoupled from a transmission path of a first transceiver 10. In step S11, the frequency of the first radio-frequency signal is divided by a predetermined value k, and in step S12, the divided first radio-frequency signal is provided as a first intermediate frequency signal K1.

[0056] In step S20, a second radio-frequency signal is then extracted from a transmission path of the second transceiver 20, and in step S21, the frequency of the extracted second radio-frequency signal is divided by the predetermined value k. Finally, in step S22, the divided second radio-frequency signal is provided as a second intermediate-frequency signal K2.

[0057] In step S30, a phase difference between the first intermediate frequency signal K1 and the second intermediate frequency signal K2 is then detected.

[0058] Subsequently, in a further step S40, for example, the information on the detected phase difference between the first intermediate-frequency signal K1 and the second intermediate-frequency signal K2 can be used to compensate for the detected phase difference. For example, phase shifters in the respective transmission paths can be adjusted accordingly. Alternatively, it is also possible, for example, to determine a malfunction when a predetermined threshold value for the detected phase difference is exceeded and to output a corresponding signal. If necessary, it is also possible to adapt the further processing of the signals, in particular received signals, for example radar echoes, using the detected phase differences. Furthermore, any desired further measures can of course also be carried out using the detected phase differences.

[0059] In summary, the present invention relates to monitoring and detecting a phase difference between a plurality of transceivers coupled to one another.

[0060] For this purpose, it is proposed to extract a high-frequency signal from each of the transceivers' transmission paths, to divide the frequency of the extracted high-frequency signals by a predetermined factor, and to compare the signals with the divided frequencies in order to detect a phase difference.

Claims

Claims 1. A radio-frequency arrangement (1), comprising: a plurality of transceivers (19, 20), wherein the plurality of transceivers (10, 20) comprise a first transceiver (10) and at least one second transceiver (20); and a calibration device (30); wherein the first transceiver (10) is designed to extract a first radio-frequency signal from a transmission path of the first transceiver (10), divide a frequency of the extracted first radio-frequency signal by a predetermined integer value (k), and provide it as a first intermediate frequency signal (K1); wherein each of the second transceivers (20) is designed to extract a second radio-frequency signal from a transmission path of the respective second transceiver (20), divide a frequency of the extracted second radio-frequency signal by the predetermined integer value (k), and provide it as a second intermediate frequency signal (K2);and wherein the calibration device (30) is designed to detect a phase difference between the first intermediate frequency signal (Kl) from the first transceiver (10) and a second intermediate frequency signal (K2) of a second transceiver (20); 2. High-frequency arrangement (1) according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined integer value (k) for dividing the frequencies of the first high-frequency signal and the second high-frequency signals is greater than or equal to two.

3. High-frequency arrangement (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the high-frequency arrangement (1) is designed to carry out signal processing using the detected phase offset(s).

4. The radio-frequency arrangement (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first transceiver (10) is configured to provide a reference signal (R) having a predetermined frequency; and wherein the at least one second transceiver (20) is configured to generate a transmission signal using the reference signal (R) from the first transceiver (1).

5. High-frequency arrangement (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the calibration device (30) is arranged in the first transceiver (10).

6. High-frequency arrangement (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the calibration device (30) is designed to set a phase shift in the transmission paths of the first transceiver (10) and / or the second transceiver (20) using the detected phase offset(s).

7. High-frequency arrangement (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the first transceiver (10) and the at least one second transceiver (20) are designed as a monolithic integrated microwave circuit, MMIC, or system-on-chip, SoC.

8. Radar system, with a high-frequency arrangement (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the first transceiver (10) and the at least one second transceiver (20) are each designed to generate a radar signal and to transmit it in the respective transmission paths.

9. Radar system according to claim 8, wherein the first transceiver (10) and the at least one second transceiver (20) are each configured to receive radar returns, and wherein the radar system is configured to process the received radar returns using the detected phase offset(s).

10. A method for operating a radio-frequency arrangement with a plurality of transceivers (10, 20), wherein the plurality of transceivers (10, 20) comprise a first transceiver (10) and at least one second transceiver (20), comprising the steps: Decoupling (S 10) a first radio frequency signal from a transmission path of the first transceiver (10); Dividing (Si l) the first high-frequency signal by a predetermined integer value (k); Providing (S12) the divided first high-frequency signal as the first intermediate frequency signal (Kl); Decoupling (S20) a second radio frequency signal from a transmission path of a second transceiver (20); Dividing (S21) the respective decoupled second high-frequency signal by the predetermined factor (k); Providing (S22) the respective divided second radio-frequency signal as a second intermediate frequency signal (K2); and Detecting (S30) a phase difference between the first intermediate frequency signal (Kl) from the first transceiver (10) and a second intermediate frequency signal (K2) of the second transceiver (20).

11. The method according to claim 10, comprising a step (S40) for adapting the transmission path in the first transceiver (10) and / or the transmission path of the second transceiver (20) using the detected phase difference.

12. Method according to claim 10 or 11, comprising a step of outputting a signal for an error message if the detected phase difference exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

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