Discontinuous Radar Transmission for Frequency-Crossover Interference

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Solution Overview

Problem

Radar systems experience interference due to frequency chirps crossing or coming close to each other, leading to a raised noise floor that reduces range and accuracy, and existing interference suppression methods are inadequate.

Innovation Solution

A method for suppressing interference by transmitting a frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) radar signal, monitoring adjacent frequencies for interference, and pausing transmission during a calculated cross-over time duration to avoid interference, while using filtering and prediction to compensate for missing data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If radar transmission continues during frequency cross-over, then system productivity is maintained, but interference occurs raising the noise floor and reducing measurement precision

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveradar transmission continuityVSAvoidrange and accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary monitoring of adjacent frequencies to detect interfering radar signals before they enter the receive bandwidth. By estimating the cross-over time duration in advance, the system can pause transmission proactively, preventing interference from degrading measurement precision while maintaining overall productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system rapidly estimates the cross-over time duration by determining the relative frequency gradient between transmitted and interfering signals. This allows the system to quickly calculate and execute the optimal pause duration, rushing through the interference period efficiently without unnecessarily interrupting transmission for extended periods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #21Skipping (Rushing through)

2Measurement precision

If radar transmission is paused to avoid interference, then measurement precision is maintained, but system productivity decreases due to transmission interruptions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverange and accuracyVSAvoidradar transmission continuity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies partial action by pausing transmission only for the estimated cross-over time duration rather than for the entire interference event. This calculated partial pause is sufficient to avoid interference while minimizing productivity loss, avoiding both premature and excessive interruptions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors adjacent frequencies to detect the presence and movement of interfering signals. This feedback mechanism allows real-time adjustment of the pause timing, ensuring transmission is paused only when necessary and for the optimal duration, thereby balancing precision maintenance with productivity preservation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Object-affected harmful factors

If existing interference suppression methods are used, then some interference mitigation is achieved, but device complexity increases and computational burden increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinterference suppressionVSAvoidprocessing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts and removes the harmful interference by simply pausing transmission during the cross-over period, rather than attempting to filter or process through the interference. This extraction approach is computationally lightweight compared to complex signal processing methods, reducing device complexity while effectively suppressing interference.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses a simple, computationally inexpensive pause mechanism rather than complex interference suppression algorithms. This disposable-like approach of temporarily stopping transmission is far less complex than continuous signal processing methods, achieving interference mitigation with minimal computational burden.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Data Source

PatentEP3779499B1Discontinuous radar transmission for interference mitigation
Publication Date: 2025.07.30 MAGNA ELECTRONICS SWEDEN AB
  • EP3779499B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3779499B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3779499B1 patent drawingFigure 5A~5E

AI summary

A radar transceiver (400) comprising a transmit branch (450, 455, TX) arranged to transmit a radar signal at a frequency F(t), and a receive branch (RX, 405, 410, 420, 430, 460) arranged to receive a radar signal, wherein the receive branch comprises an interference monitoring circuit (430) configured to monitor frequencies adjacent to the frequency F(t) for interference, and to generate a control signal (440) if interference is detected at the adjacent frequencies, wherein the transmit branch is arranged to be paused in response to the control signal (440).