FMCW Waveform Encoding for Echo and Reflection Discrimination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sensing apparatuses, such as radar and LiDAR, struggle to differentiate between primary reflections and echoes of electromagnetic energy, leading to misinterpretation of object distance and velocity due to the inability to discriminate between different sets of transmitted EM signals.
Innovation Solution
The use of frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) radar and LiDAR sensors that encode unique identifiers into each set of transmitted EM signals, allowing the apparatus to associate specific received sets with specific transmitted sets by recognizing phase changes, thereby distinguishing primary reflections from echoes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional sensing apparatus transmits electromagnetic energy without unique identifiers, then the system is simpler, but the apparatus cannot differentiate between primary reflections and echoes leading to measurement errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by encoding unique identifiers into the transmitted electromagnetic signals before transmission. This allows the system to pre-establish a reference for distinguishing primary reflections from echoes, enabling accurate measurement without complex real-time processing
Solution Approach 2:
The unique identifier acts as an intermediary element that mediates between the transmitted signal and the received reflection. By incorporating this intermediary identifier into the signal structure, the system can reliably associate transmitted signals with their corresponding reflections, resolving the measurement ambiguity
2Measurement precision
If the system processes multiple sets of electromagnetic energy without association, then the processing is simpler, but the system cannot accurately identify object location and velocity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the electromagnetic energy into distinct sets, each tagged with a unique identifier. This segmentation allows the processing system to handle each set independently and efficiently, while still achieving accurate object identification through the associated identifiers
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a copy of the transmitted signal structure including the unique identifier, and uses this copy to match against received reflections. This copying approach enables accurate association without requiring complex processing of the entire signal waveform
3Reliability
If the sensing apparatus uses FMCW with unique identifiers, then primary reflections and echoes can be distinguished, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the FMCW signal generation and unique identifier encoding into a unified transmission process. By combining these functions, the system achieves reliable discrimination between primary reflections and echoes while minimizing the increase in overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes parameter changes in the FMCW signal (frequency modulation) combined with unique identifiers to create distinguishable signal patterns. This allows reliable echo discrimination through parameter analysis rather than complex signal processing
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
This approach enables accurate identification of object location and velocity by correctly associating received EM energy with transmitted energy, reducing errors and improving the precision of autonomous vehicle navigation systems.
Implementation Method 1
receiving pulses of a first set of electromagnetic energy at the sensing apparatus based on the pulses of the first burst of electromagnetic energy being reflected off of an object at a location
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure is directed to the transmission and reception of sets of very high frequency electromagnetic (EM) signals in ways that allow a sensing apparatus to discriminate between different sets of transmitted EM signals. Here a sensing apparatus may sequentially transmit different sets of EM signals. Each of these different sets of signals may include an encoded identifier that uniquely identifies each respective signal set of the different sets of signals. Each of these signal sets may include several pulses of a particular frequency with a same relative phase relationship followed by pulses that have a different phase relationship. These changes in phase may be used to encode the unique identifiers into the different sets of transmitted EM energy and these identifiers may be used by a sensing apparatus to associate specific received sets of EM energy with specific sets of transmitted EM energy.