Passive Radar Receiver Antenna Switching for Low-Cost Target Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing radar systems are costly and bulky due to the need for multiple receiver chains and dedicated signal sources, limiting their applicability in low-cost and space-constrained applications.
Innovation Solution
A passive radar receiver system utilizing a single receiver chain coupled to multiple antennas, switching between them to process wireless communication signals for target detection, generating target radar data through signal processing techniques like Doppler spectrograms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple receiver chains are used for target detection, then detection reliability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple antenna signals into a single receiver chain by sequentially switching between antennas and integrating their outputs. This merging approach maintains the detection reliability benefits of multiple antennas while eliminating the need for multiple parallel receiver chains, thereby reducing system complexity and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The single receiver chain is designed to handle signals from multiple antennas through time-division switching, making it a universal component that performs the detection function for all antennas. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for dedicated receiver chains for each antenna, resolving the contradiction between reliability and complexity.
2Productivity
If multiple receiver chains are deployed, then signal processing capability is enhanced, but hardware cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the signal processing functionality into a single receiver chain that sequentially processes signals from multiple antennas. This consolidation maintains enhanced signal processing capability through intelligent switching and combining, while significantly reducing hardware costs by eliminating redundant receiver chain components.
Solution Approach 2:
The receiver chain operates in periodic cycles, sequentially switching between different antennas at regular intervals. This periodic action allows a single receiver chain to process signals from multiple antennas over time, achieving the signal processing capability of multiple parallel chains while using only one physical receiver chain, thus reducing hardware cost.
3Measurement precision
If dedicated radar transmitters are used, then detection precision is improved, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the receiver system universal by enabling it to detect targets using existing wireless communication signals from various sources (cellular towers, Wi-Fi access points, etc.) in addition to dedicated radar transmitters. This multi-functionality allows the system to achieve detection precision while avoiding the complexity and cost of deploying dedicated radar transmitters in every location.
Solution Approach 2:
The system leverages existing wireless communication infrastructure as signal sources, allowing these external systems to serve the radar detection function. By using signals already present in the environment from communication towers and access points, the system achieves detection capability without requiring self-provisioning of dedicated radar transmitters, thereby reducing system complexity.
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 achieves efficient and cost-effective target detection with reduced hardware, enabling applications in IoT devices, edge processing, and battery-powered sensors by leveraging existing wireless communication signals.
Implementation Method 1
an RF receiver front-end to receive a wireless source signal and a reflected signal
Implementation Method 2
A signal processor generates source signal data associated with the wireless source signal based on the first and second radar signal data and generates reflected signal data associated with the reflected signal based on the first and second radar signal data
Implementation Method 3
a reflected version of the baseline signal, such as reflected from a target object
Implementation Method 4
generates target radar data associated with a target based on the source and reflected radar signal data
Data Source
AI summary
One example includes a passive radar receiver system including an RF receiver front-end to receive a wireless source signal and a reflected signal. An antenna switch of the front-end switches a first antenna to a receiver chain during a first time to generate first radar signal data based on a combined wireless signal comprising wireless source signal and the reflected signal, and switches a second antenna to the receiver chain during a second time to generate second radar signal data based on the combined wireless signal. A signal processor generates source signal data associated with the wireless source signal based on the first and second radar signal data and generates reflected signal data associated with the reflected signal based on the first and second radar signal data, and generates target radar data associated with a target based on the source and reflected radar signal data.