Partial Radar Array Beamforming for Sparse MIMO Evaluation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing radar systems with thinned-out antenna arrangements, or sparse arrays, face challenges in precise evaluation due to high side lobes and diffraction patterns, especially for highly extended arrays, making practical evaluation difficult, and classical beamforming approaches unsuitable, particularly in distributed radar systems.
Innovation Solution
A method and device for evaluating thinned-out radar systems using a partial radar array formed by virtual channels between two radar units, employing beamforming with adapted weights and window functions, and considering far-field approximation for partial apertures, allowing for target detection and localization even in the near-field.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If thinned-out radar systems with extended arrays are used, then the radar coverage and detection capability are improved, but the side lobe levels increase and classical beamformer approaches become inapplicable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the total radar array into multiple partial arrays, each with fewer elements. By evaluating each partial array separately and combining results, the method maintains the coverage benefits of large arrays while avoiding the high side lobes that occur when all elements are used together in thinned-out configurations.
2Device complexity
If thinned-out antenna arrangements are used, then the physical size and complexity of the radar system are reduced, but the evaluation becomes very difficult and coherence is hard to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the evaluation process into multiple steps, first evaluating individual partial arrays separately using standard beamforming techniques, then combining the results. This segmentation makes the evaluation process manageable and achievable, avoiding the intractable complexity that would result from attempting to evaluate the entire thinned-out array simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces virtual channels as an intermediary representation that connects the physical antenna elements to the evaluation process. These virtual channels facilitate the combination of signals from distributed radar units and enable coherence to be established during post-processing without requiring complex real-time coordination.
3Adaptability or versatility
If distributed radar systems with thinned-out arrays are used, then the system flexibility and deployment options are improved, but coherence establishment and evaluation precision become problematic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the distributed radar system into multiple independent radar units that can be deployed flexibly, while the segmentation of the evaluation process into partial array assessments ensures precision is maintained. Each unit operates independently but contributes to the overall coherent evaluation through the virtual channel framework.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses virtual channels as an intermediary that enables coherent integration of signals from distributed radar units. This intermediary representation allows precision to be maintained in the evaluation process while preserving the deployment flexibility of distributed systems, as the virtual channels can be formed and processed without requiring physical co-location or real-time synchronization of all antenna elements.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for evaluating, in particular for imaging and/or for a MIMO method, a radar system comprising at least one first radar unit for emitting and receiving signals and at least one second radar unit for emitting and receiving signals, which form a total radar array, wherein only a partial radar array of the total radar array is used in the evaluation.