MIMO Radar Antenna Layout for Low-Sidelobe Beam Steering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing radar systems face challenges in accurately determining azimuth and elevation angles for precise lane assignment and target relevance assessment, particularly when using the MIMO principle, which can result in distorted side lobes and reduced detection performance.
Innovation Solution
A compact MIMO radar device with vertically offset transmitting antennas positioned closer together than receiving antennas, enabling beam steering on the transmitting side to minimize side lobes and enhance detection range, and allowing operation in multiple modes including standard and beam steering methods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If transmitting antennas are positioned at large distances apart to achieve narrow directional patterns, then beam steering capability is improved, but numerous distorting side lobes occur and detection accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions transmitting antennas vertically offset with respect to receiving antennas arranged in a horizontal plane. This vertical offset creates a three-dimensional antenna configuration where transmitting antennas are arranged along the vertical axis while receiving antennas remain in the horizontal plane. This dimensional change allows the system to achieve beam steering capability without requiring large horizontal separations between transmitting antennas, thereby reducing the formation of distorting side lobes while maintaining angular resolution capability.
2Measurement precision
If multiple transmitting antennas are used to improve azimuth angle estimation, then angle estimation accuracy is improved, but device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the vertical dimension by offsetting transmitting antennas vertically with respect to the horizontally arranged receiving antennas. This allows multiple transmitting antennas to be positioned within a compact horizontal footprint while still providing sufficient spatial separation to achieve accurate azimuth angle estimation through MIMO processing and beam steering operations.
3Reliability
If transmitting antennas are vertically offset with respect to receiving antennas, then side lobes are minimized and detection performance is improved, but antenna configuration complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the antenna system into two distinct functional groups: receiving antennas arranged in a horizontal plane for signal reception and angle estimation, and transmitting antennas positioned with vertical offset for radar signal transmission and beam steering. This segmentation allows each antenna group to be optimized for its specific function while simplifying the overall configuration and signal processing architecture.
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 solution provides improved angle estimation and detection performance by reducing side lobes and increasing the range of the radar system, while maintaining a compact design and enabling adaptive directional control.
Implementation Method 1
radar radiation is emitted by a transceiver unit, including a plurality of receiving antennas and a plurality of transmitting antennas... Reflected radar radiation is received by the transceiver unit
Implementation Method 2
beam steering (TX beam steering) on the transmitting side may be used. In this case, the transmitters are simultaneously activated and with the aid of TX phase shifters, it is possible to influence the resulting directional pattern
Data Source
AI summary
A radar device including a transceiver unit that includes a plurality of receiving antennas and a plurality of transmitting antennas, a distance between at least two transmitting antennas being shorter than a greatest distance of distances between two receiving antennas, the transmitting antennas being vertically offset with respect to the receiving antennas. The radar device further includes a control unit, which is configured to activate the transceiver unit in order to operate the transceiver unit with the aid of a transmitting-side beam steering method.