Agile Radar Target Detection via Adaptive Data Length Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional FM-CW type electronically agile radars face challenges in accurately detecting targets at short and long distances due to limitations in resolution, where phase information extraction using FFT results in inadequate target distance and bearing precision, leading to overlapping reflections and difficulty in distinguishing multiple targets.
Innovation Solution
A target detecting apparatus is designed with a transceiver section producing beat signals, a reception data unit, a data length determining unit, a short time data extracting unit, a phase information producing unit, and a target detecting unit, which divides the measuring region into search areas based on distance, adjusting the data length and number of time series for each area to enhance resolution, allowing for precise detection of target distance and bearing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If phase information extraction using FFT is used in conventional FM-CW radar, then the circuit structure is simplified, but target distance and bearing precision deteriorate, leading to overlapping reflections and difficulty in distinguishing multiple targets
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the measuring region into multiple search areas based on distance from the vehicle. Each search area has customized data length and number of time series parameters, allowing optimized resolution for different distance ranges. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by applying different processing configurations to different spatial regions, improving precision without requiring complete system redesign.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically adjusts the data length and number of time series based on the search area distance. For near-field search areas, longer data lengths are used to improve distance resolution, while for far-field areas, different parameters are optimized for bearing resolution. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to maintain high precision across all ranges while using a single FFT-based circuit structure.
2Ease of operation
If uniform data processing is applied to all search areas, then processing is simplified, but resolution of target distance and bearing deteriorates at specific ranges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different data lengths and time series counts to different search areas based on their distance from the vehicle. Near-field areas receive processing parameters optimized for distance resolution, while far-field areas receive parameters optimized for bearing resolution. This localized optimization maintains processing simplicity through automated assignment while achieving high precision in each specific region.
3Measurement precision
If longer data length is used to improve resolution, then target detection precision improves, but processing time and computational load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by using different data lengths for different search areas rather than uniformly using the maximum data length for all areas. Only the near-field search areas require longer data lengths for distance resolution, while far-field areas can use shorter data lengths since bearing resolution is more critical there. This partial application of long data processing reduces overall computation time while maintaining necessary precision where required.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The apparatus effectively adjusts the resolution of target distance and bearing based on the target's distance from the vehicle, enabling clear detection of targets at both short and long ranges, improving collision prevention and target recognition accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
a transceiver section producing a beat signal indicating a difference in frequency between a first signal transmitted into a measuring region and a second signal received from the measuring region
Implementation Method 2
A frequency of the signal S1 is constantly increased in an up period and then constantly decreased in a down period... a mixing process is performed for the signals S1 and S2 transmitted and received at the same time to obtain a beat signal S3 having a component which indicates an absolute difference in frequency (i.e., beat frequency Fb) between the signals S1 and S2
Implementation Method 3
transmission waves reflected on a target are received as reception signals in a plurality of antenna elements (array antenna) arranged in a certain rule
Implementation Method 4
Among the pieces of reception data of channels, there are time differences (or phase differences). The time differences are determined by a direction of a target from each antenna element, a positional relationship among the antenna elements, and a frequency of the reception signal received in each antenna element
Data Source
AI summary
A target detecting apparatus mounted on a vehicle has an electronically agile radar detecting a beat signal indicating a difference in frequency between transmission and reception signals and producing a time series of N reception data from the beat signal, a determining unit determining search areas placed at different ranges of distance from the vehicle while considering a running state of the vehicle and determining a data length for each search area, an extracting unit extracting (N−M+1) time series of short time data, respectively, having the data length corresponding to M reception data from the N reception data for each search area, a producing unit producing phase information from the short time data for each search area, and a detecting unit determining a target distance and a target bearing from the phase information and detecting a target from the target distance and the target bearing.