Co-prime Coded DDM MIMO Radar Velocity Ambiguity Resolution

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing MIMO automotive radar systems face challenges in accurately detecting the position and movement of objects due to velocity ambiguity caused by overlapped Doppler spectrums from multiple transmitters, particularly in dynamic drive scenes, limiting the number of transmitters that can be used and resulting in poor angular resolution and high false detection rates.

Innovation Solution

A co-prime coded (CPC) Doppler Division Multiplexing (DDM) MIMO radar system is implemented, using co-prime based zero-radial velocity frequency spacing and progressive phase coding to disambiguate overlapped Doppler spectrums, allowing for the construction of a larger virtual array and improved angular resolution by associating Doppler peaks with their corresponding transmitters through CPC decoding.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If multiple transmitters are used in DDM MIMO radar system, then angular resolution is improved, but velocity ambiguity occurs due to overlapped Doppler spectrums

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveangular resolutionVSAvoidvelocity detection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The Doppler spectrum is segmented into distinct regions for different transmitters using co-prime coded frequency offsets. Each transmitter's Doppler spectrum is separated into its own frequency region, preventing overlap and enabling unambiguous velocity detection while maintaining the benefits of multiple transmitters for angular resolution

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Frequency offsets are applied to the transmitted waveforms from different transmitters according to co-prime coding sequences. This parameter change in the frequency domain creates separated Doppler spectra for each transmitter, resolving the velocity ambiguity problem while allowing multiple transmitters to operate simultaneously

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Length of stationary object

If the number of transmitters is increased, then virtual array aperture is enlarged, but Doppler spectrum overlap worsens velocity ambiguity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevirtual array apertureVSAvoidvelocity information accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of stationary objectVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The problem is moved from the time domain to the frequency domain by applying co-prime coded frequency offsets. This dimensional change allows multiple transmitters to operate simultaneously without Doppler spectrum overlap, enabling larger virtual arrays without velocity ambiguity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Reliability

If co-prime coded frequency offsets are applied, then Doppler spectrum separation is achieved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveDoppler spectrum disambiguationVSAvoidsignal processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Complex hardware modifications are replaced with software-based signal processing. The co-prime coded frequency offsets are applied through digital signal processing and correlation algorithms, achieving Doppler spectrum separation without additional physical components or complex hardware changes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 CPC DDM MIMO radar system achieves better sensitivity, finer angular resolution, and a lower false detection rate by effectively separating Doppler spectrum signals from multiple transmitters, enabling the use of more transmitters within the limited Doppler spectrum and improving target detection accuracy in dynamic environments.

Implementation Method 1

Radar systems may be used to detect the range, velocity, and angle of nearby targets

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRadar: Radar

Implementation Method 2

Jansen FG: 'Automotive Radar Doppler division MIMO with velocity ambiguity resolution capabilities$', 2019 16th European radar conference (EURAD) full, EUMA, 3 October 2019, PP 245 - 248 discloses a Doppler division based MIMO technique, in which transmitted signals are orthogonal iced with frequency offsets on the Doppler dimension

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDoppler effect: Doppler Effect

Data Source

PatentEP4009074B1Co-prime coded (CPC) doppler division multiplexing (DDM) MIMO radar method and system
Publication Date: 2024.01.10 NXP USA INC
  • EP4009074B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4009074B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4009074B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A co-prime coded DDM MIMO radar system, apparatus, architecture, and method are provided with a reference signal generator (112) that produces a transmit reference signal; a plurality of DDM transmit modules (11) that produce, condition, and transmit a plurality of transmit signals over which each have a different co-prime encoded progressive phase offset from the transmit reference signal; a receiver module (12) that receives a target return signal reflected from the plurality of transmit signals by a target and generates a digital signal from the target return signal; and a radar control processing unit (20) configured to detect Doppler spectrum peaks in the digital signal, where the radar control processing unit comprises a Doppler disambiguation module (25) that is configured with a CPC decoder to associate each detected Doppler spectrum peak with a corresponding DDM transmit module, thereby generating a plurality of transmitter-associated Doppler spectrum peak detections.