FFT-Based Correlation for Automotive Radar Complexity Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Radar systems face complexity in computing correlation values over a selection of delays, which hinders their performance in determining range and velocity of objects effectively, especially in vehicular applications where multiple transmitters and receivers are used.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a Fourier transform operation to convert signals into the frequency domain, allowing for reduced complexity in correlation processing by performing correlations in the frequency domain, thereby enhancing the throughput and accuracy of radar systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If correlation processing is performed in the time domain for each delay, then measurement precision for range and velocity is improved, but device complexity and computational load increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the correlation processing from the time domain to the frequency domain using Fast Fourier Transform (FFT). This dimensional change allows the system to compute correlations for multiple delays simultaneously through frequency domain multiplication, reducing computational complexity while maintaining measurement precision for range and velocity determination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple correlation computations into a single frequency domain operation. By transforming both the transmitted signal and received signal to the frequency domain and performing element-wise multiplication, the system merges what would otherwise be separate time-domain correlation computations into one unified operation, significantly reducing device complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple transmitters and receivers are used to improve radar coverage and resolution, then adaptability and measurement capability are improved, but device complexity and system cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal correlation processing architecture that handles multiple transmitters and receivers through a single frequency domain correlation engine. The system uses virtual radar concepts where multiple transmitter-receiver pairs are processed through shared computational resources, allowing the same hardware to serve multiple radar functions without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A radar system including a transmitter configured for installation and use with the radar system and configured to transmit radio signals. The transmitted radio signals are defined by a spreading code. The radar system also includes a receiver configured for installation and use with the radar system and configured to receive radio signals that include transmitted radio signals transmitted by the transmitter and reflected from objects in an environment. The receiver is configured to convert the received radio signals into frequency domain received samples. The receiver is also configured to correlate the frequency domain received samples to detect object distance.