MIMO Radar Waveform Circulation for Angular Resolution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing digital MIMO radar apparatuses face challenges in achieving high angular resolution at low costs due to the need for expensive digital-analog converters with high sampling rates and large transmission bandwidths, which also pose issues with statutory spectrum regulations.
Innovation Solution
A MIMO radar apparatus that transmits a MIMO radar waveform comprising circulating N waveforms through N transmission channels with a constant relative time shift, allowing for high angular resolution and sensitivity while maintaining a compact and efficient spectrum, thus avoiding the need for increased transmission bandwidth with the number of transmission antennas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If digital MIMO radar apparatus uses multiple transmission antennas to achieve high angular resolution, then measurement precision is improved, but transmission bandwidth increases and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by circulating a single MIMO radar waveform through multiple transmission channels in a time-multiplexed manner. The waveform is transmitted sequentially through N transmission channels with constant time shifts, creating periodic transmission patterns. This allows the system to achieve MIMO functionality with a single waveform source, eliminating the need for multiple independent waveform generators and reducing the complexity of digital-analog converters while maintaining high angular resolution through virtual aperture formation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements universality by using a single circulating waveform to serve multiple transmission channels simultaneously. The same MIMO radar waveform is reused across N transmission channels with different time shifts, allowing one waveform to fulfill the function of multiple independent waveforms. This multi-functional approach reduces the number of required waveform generators and simplifies the digital-analog conversion requirements while maintaining the measurement precision benefits of multiple transmission antennas.
2Measurement precision
If digital MIMO radar apparatus uses multiple transmission antennas to achieve high angular resolution, then measurement precision is improved, but transmission bandwidth increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses periodic circulation of a single waveform through multiple transmission channels with constant time shifts. This periodic transmission approach allows the system to achieve frequency diversity and virtual aperture effects without proportionally increasing the occupied bandwidth. The circulating waveform efficiently utilizes the available spectrum by creating time-delayed copies that provide angular resolution information without requiring N times the bandwidth of a single channel.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple transmission functions into a single circulating waveform. By combining the waveform generation and distribution across N channels into one unified circulating signal, the system achieves the functional equivalent of multiple independent waveforms while occupying less transmission bandwidth. The time-multiplexed circulation allows efficient spectral utilization where the same frequency resources are reused across different time slots and channels.
3Device complexity
If analog MIMO radar apparatus is used, then device complexity is reduced, but the number of transmitters is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic circulation of the MIMO radar waveform through multiple transmission channels to overcome the transmitter limitation of analog systems. By sequentially circulating the waveform through N transmission channels with constant time shifts, the system effectively creates multiple transmitter outputs from a single waveform source. This approach enables digital MIMO radar to achieve the same simplicity as analog systems while supporting a larger number of transmitters through time-multiplexed signal distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the mechanical/analog signal distribution system with a digital circulating waveform approach. Instead of using complex analog signal routing to distribute signals to multiple transmitters, the system uses digital waveform generation and time-multiplexed circulation. This substitution allows the system to maintain the processing simplicity characteristic of analog systems while achieving the transmitter scalability of digital systems through software-controlled waveform circulation.
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 enables high-density object detection with high angular resolution and sensitivity, while reducing costs and complying with spectrum regulations, by efficiently utilizing a compact spectrum and avoiding the need for expensive digital-analog converters.
Implementation Method 1
a transmission device (110) configured to transmit a MIMO radar waveform comprising circulating N waveforms forming the MIMO radar waveform through N transmission channels
Implementation Method 2
a reception device (120) configured to receive over N reception channels reception signals resulting from reflections of the transmitted MIMO radar waveform
Implementation Method 3
The reception device is configured to perform IQ mixing (demodulation) of the reception signals based on the reference signal to obtain intermediate frequency signals
Data Source
AI summary
A MIMO radar apparatus with a high angular resolution includes: a transmission device configured to transmit a MIMO radar waveform comprising circulating N waveforms forming the MIMO radar waveform through N transmission channels, N being an integer larger than 1, with a constant relative time shift between the circulating N waveforms; and a reception device configured to receive over N reception channels reception signals resulting from reflections of the transmitted MIMO radar waveform. The transmission device is configured to generate the MIMO radar waveform, generate a reference signal, and provide the reception device with the generated reference signal. The reception device is configured to perform IQ mixing of the reception signals based on the reference signal to obtain intermediate frequency signals and perform analog-digital conversion on the obtained intermediate frequency signals to obtain analog-digital converted reception signals.