MIMO Radar Signal Processing With Bin-Rejection Masking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Radar devices, particularly MIMO types, face challenges in accurately estimating target information due to high memory requirements and Doppler ambiguity, which limits precise angle estimation and increases memory capacity needs.
Innovation Solution
A radar signal processing device and method that includes a pre-acquisition unit for performing fast Fourier transforms, digital beamforming, and peak extraction to create a bin-rejection mask, and a normal-acquisition unit for determining Doppler components and virtual channel vectors using signals with different pulse-repetition intervals, reducing memory capacity and ambiguity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a MIMO radar device processes signals from multiple transmission antennas, then the ability to distinguish multiple targets is improved, but Doppler ambiguity occurs resulting in inaccurate velocity component information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the signal processing into distinct functional units: a pre-acquisition unit that processes signals during a first period to identify stationary objects, and a normal acquisition unit that processes signals during a second period to measure moving targets. This segmentation allows the system to separate and eliminate clutter from stationary objects before velocity measurement, thereby resolving Doppler ambiguity and improving measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The pre-acquisition unit performs preliminary processing by identifying and masking range bins corresponding to stationary objects (clutter) before the normal acquisition unit performs velocity measurement. This preliminary action of creating a bin-rejection mask removes harmful clutter components from the signal, preventing Doppler ambiguity in subsequent velocity measurements of moving targets.
2Measurement precision
If the radar device performs comprehensive signal processing to extract all target information, then measurement accuracy is improved, but high memory capacity is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and processes only the necessary signal components at appropriate times. The pre-acquisition unit extracts clutter information from stationary objects and creates a bin-rejection mask, which is then used by the normal acquisition unit to focus processing only on relevant moving targets. This selective extraction reduces the volume of data that needs to be stored and processed, thereby reducing memory capacity requirements while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
By performing preliminary clutter identification and mask creation in the pre-acquisition period, the system eliminates the need to store and process all raw signal data throughout the entire scan period. The bin-rejection mask prepared in advance allows the normal acquisition unit to work with reduced data sets, optimizing the balance between measurement precision and memory usage.
3Device complexity
If the radar device uses a single transmission antenna (SIMO), then device complexity is reduced, but the ability to distinguish multiple targets and resolve Doppler ambiguity is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by dividing the scan period into two distinct phases: a pre-acquisition period for clutter identification and a normal acquisition period for target measurement. This periodic structure allows the MIMO radar to systematically alternate between calibration (identifying stationary clutter) and measurement (detecting moving targets), thereby resolving Doppler ambiguity and improving target discrimination capability while managing device complexity through structured operation.
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 enhances memory efficiency, reduces Doppler ambiguity, and enables accurate target angle estimation by selectively processing data with a bin-rejection mask and varying pulse-repetition intervals, improving overall radar performance.
Implementation Method 1
A radar device mounted in or to the vehicle may transmit a radar signal, which is an electromagnetic wave having a specific frequency, receive a signal reflected from an object
Implementation Method 2
a pre-acquisition unit configured to, during a first period within a scan period, perform two fast Fourier transforms (FFTs) on a first signal
Implementation Method 3
perform digital beamforming or non-coherent integration and peak extraction
Implementation Method 4
determine a Doppler component of a target, determine a virtual channel vector, and acquire information on the target based on the virtual channel vector
Data Source
AI summary
A device for processing a radar signal may include a pre-acquisition unit configured to, during a first period within one scan period, perform two fast Fourier transforms (FFTs) on a first signal, perform digital beamforming or non-coherent integration and peak extraction, and determine a bin-rejection mask based on extracted peaks, and a normal-acquisition unit configured to, during a second period longer than the first period after the first period within the scan period, perform two FFTs on a second signal different from the first signal, perform digital beamforming or non-coherent integration and peak extraction, determine a Doppler component of a target, determine a virtual channel vector, and acquire information on the target based on the virtual channel vector.