MIMO Imaging Array for Incident-Angle Resolved Radar Verification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current technologies lack a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) imaging array and method for incident angle resolved images of automotive radar integration components, which are necessary for accurate and efficient verification, especially in the context of autonomous vehicles.

Innovation Solution

A MIMO imaging array and method utilizing a redundant array of transmit and receive antennas with a controller that selects pairs based on desired incident angles, forming distortion and alias minimized images, and reconstructing images from densely sampled arrays, allowing for high accuracy and efficiency in capturing incident angle dependent reflections.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a redundant array of transmit and receive antennas is used to create incident angle resolved images, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveincident angle resolution accuracyVSAvoidantenna array complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The antenna array is segmented into multiple transmit and receive antenna pairs, where each pair is selectively activated based on the desired incident angle. This segmentation allows the system to achieve high measurement precision by using only the necessary antenna pairs for each measurement, rather than requiring all antennas to be active simultaneously, thereby managing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically selects and configures transmit and receive antenna pairs based on the desired incident angle for each image reconstruction. This dynamic configuration allows the redundant array to adapt to different measurement requirements, achieving high measurement precision while managing device complexity by activating only the necessary antenna elements for each specific measurement task.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Measurement precision

If a selection scheme based on desired incident angle is implemented, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveincident angle accuracyVSAvoidimage creation time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-configures the redundant antenna array with multiple transmit and receive antenna pairs positioned to cover a range of incident angles. This preliminary arrangement allows for rapid selection and activation of the appropriate antenna pairs when a specific incident angle measurement is required, reducing the time penalty associated with the selection scheme while maintaining high measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If transmit and receive antennas are disposed at approximately the incident angle from one another, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveincident angle resolutionVSAvoidantenna positioning complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The antenna pairs are positioned with local quality optimized for specific incident angles, where each transmit and receive antenna pair is disposed at approximately the desired incident angle from one another. This localized optimization allows high measurement precision to be achieved for each specific angle without requiring the entire array to be complex, as each local pair is independently optimized for its specific measurement function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

4Measurement precision

If a densely sampled array is used for image reconstruction, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of substance increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage reconstruction accuracyVSAvoiddata processing load
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts and uses only the necessary signal data from the densely sampled antenna array for image reconstruction. By selectively processing data from the activated transmit and receive antenna pairs rather than all possible pairs, the system achieves high measurement precision through dense sampling while reducing the processing load by extracting only the relevant data subsets needed for each specific incident angle measurement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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

Ensures high accuracy and efficiency in creating incident angle resolved images, enabling effective verification of automotive radar components by minimizing distortion and aliasing while tolerating small gaps in antenna distribution.

Implementation Method 1

a redundant array of transmit and receive antennas is provided

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic radiation: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

the transmit and receive antennas are disposed such that the transmit and receive antennas are approximately at the incident angle from one another from the respective specular point

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpecular reflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP3771924B1Multiple input multiple output imaging array and corresponding imaging method
Publication Date: 2024.02.14 ROHDE & SCHWARZ GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3771924B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3771924B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3771924B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A multiple input multiple output imaging array for incident angle resolved images with respect to a device under test is provided. The multiple input multiple output imaging array comprises a redundant array of transmit and receive antennas and a controller. In this context, the controller is configured to implement a selection scheme, wherein the selection scheme selects the respective transmit and receive antenna pairs used to create the corresponding image.