Low-Complexity mm-Wave Radar Sensor for Parking Assistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current parking support sensors, primarily based on ultrasound technology, face challenges such as high visibility, limited ability to detect living beings, and high system costs, while mm-wave radar systems are costly and complex due to high-gain antennae and complex signal processing requirements.
Innovation Solution
A low-complexity and low-cost mm-wave radar sensor system using a single down conversion chain, integrated mm-wave IC, and planar antennae, capable of detecting obstacle distance and angle, and optionally identifying living beings, with a compact size and integrated design suitable for vehicle bumpers, operating in FMCW, CW, and Doppler modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If ultrasound sensors are used for parking support, then the system achieves low cost and high production maturity, but the sensors become visible outside the vehicle and cannot detect living beings
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces ultrasound-based mechanical sensing with mm-wave radar electromagnetic sensing. This substitution enables sensors to be integrated inside the bumper (invisible) while maintaining detection capability, and adds the ability to detect living beings through Doppler vibration analysis without requiring external sensor placement
2Measurement precision
If mm-wave radar systems with high-gain antennae are used for long distance detection, then the detection distance is improved, but the system size increases and cost becomes high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operating frequency parameter to mm-wave range (e.g., 77 GHz), which allows achieving long detection distances with much smaller antenna sizes compared to lower frequency systems. The planar antenna design at mm-wave frequencies provides sufficient gain for parking assistance distances while keeping the system compact and suitable for bumper integration
3Reliability
If state of the art mm-wave radar IC structures with multiple transmit and receive chains are used, then the detection capability is improved, but the system cost and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes unnecessary components from the standard mm-wave radar architecture. Specifically, it uses a single transmit chain instead of multiple chains, and employs a single receive chain with sequential signal processing. This extraction of redundant elements significantly reduces IC complexity and cost while maintaining sufficient detection capability for parking assistance applications
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic switching between different receive chains for angle detection. Instead of using multiple receive chains simultaneously, the system sequentially activates different receive chains in a periodic manner, which reduces the number of required chains while still enabling accurate obstacle angle detection through the switching mechanism
4Object-affected harmful factors
If ultrasound sensors are integrated in the bumper, then the sensors are hidden, but the bumper material prevents ultrasound propagation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces ultrasound mechanical wave propagation with mm-wave electromagnetic radiation. Electromagnetic waves at mm-wave frequencies can penetrate or pass through non-metallic bumper materials effectively, allowing sensors to be integrated inside the bumper for invisible installation while maintaining reliable signal propagation and detection capability
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 system provides accurate obstacle detection and living being identification with reduced size and cost, enabling integration in vehicle bumpers without additional processing power, achieving a significant cost reduction compared to existing solutions.
Implementation Method 1
The mm-wave radar topology consists of one down conversion chain and one transmitter chain based on FMCW radar, CW radar and Doppler radar operation principles
Implementation Method 2
The two receiving antennae are arranged at a distance corresponding to a quarter of the wavelength of the electromagnetic wave
Implementation Method 3
The signals from the two receiving antennae are fed to N power detectors, where N takes an integer value from 1 and higher
Implementation Method 4
Additional features to detect vehicle vibrations, with no extra hardware cost
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a parking support Apparatus and Method of operation comprising of an mm-wave radar sensor, having an integrated mm-wave IC front end. The proposed Apparatus is capable of detecting the parking obstacle object distance and angle, having inherently low cost system topology, suitable as a replacement in functionality for the commonly used ultrasound sensors. The proposed apparatus topology consist of one transmitting and two planar antennae, mm-wave radar topology with one down conversion chain and one transmitter chain based on FMCW radar, CW radar and Doppler radar, analog combining circuitry and N mm-wave power detectors, where N takes integer values from 1 and larger. The specific proposed method of operation is adjusted to a dedicated application. A combination of more than one proposed apparatus enables smart observation of the parking area in front of the moving platform with wired or wireless connection to the information evaluation and control entity. The proposed apparatus topology with lower complexity consist of one transmit and two planar antennae, mm-wave radar topology without any down conversion chain and one transmitter chain based on CW radar operation, analog combining circuitry and N mm-wave power detectors, where N takes values from 1 to 3. The system operation topology allows full distance and obstacle angle calculation by the apparatus itself in one topology solution or to have the information being calculated, combining more sensors, using low complexity apparatus topologies, also proposed in this innovation. The integration of the proposed apparatus in the vehicle bumper is inherently possible and may be optically and functionally provided as an efficient replacement for ultrasound parking assist systems. The complete proposed sensor apparatus topologies with integrated antennae, mm-wave IC and digital processing parts may be realized in a module smaller than 1×1×0.5 cm and operating in the 77-81 GHz band.