Multi-Band UWB Radar Pulse Combining for Higher Range Resolution
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Solution Overview
Problem
UWB-based radar systems face limitations in distinguishing closely spaced targets due to bandwidth constraints, leading to insufficient detection accuracy, and increasing bandwidth requires higher costs, complexity, and power consumption.
Innovation Solution
The method involves transmitting and receiving ultra-wideband radio frequency pulses over non-overlapping or adjacent frequency bands, combining channel impulse responses to enhance range resolution without significantly increasing transmitter or receiver bandwidth or ADC sampling rate.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If bandwidth is increased to improve target distinction capability, then range resolution is improved, but device complexity and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the wide bandwidth into multiple non-overlapping or adjacent frequency bands (sub-channels). Each sub-channel is processed separately with its own channel impulse response estimation, and the results are combined to achieve the equivalent resolution of a single wideband channel without requiring the full bandwidth processing capability in one receiver chain.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-dimensional wideband approach to a multi-dimensional approach by using multiple frequency bands. The channel impulse responses from different frequency dimensions are combined in the time domain to achieve the resolution benefit of wide bandwidth without requiring a single high-bandwidth receiver path.
2Measurement precision
If bandwidth is increased to improve target distinction capability, then range resolution is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the wideband signal into multiple narrower frequency bands. Each band can be processed with lower power consumption compared to processing the entire wideband signal simultaneously, while the combined result achieves the desired resolution performance.
3Measurement precision
If ADC sampling rate is increased to improve target distinction capability, then range resolution is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent avoids the need for a single high-speed ADC by using multiple lower-speed ADCs, each handling a specific frequency band. This segmentation of the sampling function reduces the sampling rate requirement for each converter while maintaining the overall resolution capability through combination of the band-specific impulse responses.
4Measurement precision
If multiple frequency bands are used to improve target distinction capability, then range resolution is improved, but signal processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the signal processing into independent frequency band processing chains, each estimating its own channel impulse response. This modular approach allows parallel processing of different bands and simplifies the overall architecture compared to processing the entire wideband signal in a single chain.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the channel impulse responses from multiple frequency bands in the time domain to produce a final high-resolution impulse response. This merging operation integrates the information from all bands to achieve the resolution equivalent of a single wideband measurement while keeping individual band processing simpler.
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
Improves range resolution in radar systems without substantial increases in complexity or power consumption, using a pulse construction technique and equalization methods to combine channel impulse responses effectively.
Implementation Method 1
transmitting a first radar frame over a first communication channel, wherein said first radar frame comprises a first stream of one or more ultra-wideband radio frequency pulses
Implementation Method 2
receiving a reflection of the first radar frame and estimating a first channel impulse response based on said reflection of the first radar frame
Data Source
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AI summary
In accordance with a first aspect of the present disclosure, a method of performing radar operations is conceived, comprising: transmitting a first radar frame over a first communication channel, wherein said first radar frame comprises a first stream of one or more ultra-wideband radio frequency pulses and wherein transmitting said first radar frame over the first communication channel includes transmitting said radar frame within a first frequency band; transmitting a second radar frame over a second communication channel, wherein said second radar frame comprises a second stream of one or more ultra-wideband radio frequency pulses and wherein transmitting said second radar frame over the second communication channel includes transmitting said radar frame within a second frequency band; receiving a reflection of the first radar frame and estimating a first channel impulse response based on said reflection of the first radar frame; receiving a reflection of the second radar frame and estimating a second channel impulse response based on said reflection of the second radar frame; combining the first channel impulse response estimate with the second channel impulse response estimate to obtain a channel impulse response estimate having a higher resolution than each of the first channel impulse response estimate and second channel impulse response estimate.