Passive Radar Signal Detection for Spatial Parameter Accuracy

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Solution Overview

Problem

As the number of radar systems in a given area increases, so does the potential for interference, which can impair the effectiveness of self-driving vehicles and vehicles with advanced driver-assistance systems by reducing the accuracy of radar systems in determining spatial parameters of objects.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that allow vehicles to passively detect radar signals from other vehicles or systems, determining spatial parameters such as velocity, range, and location based on received signals, using resource use patterns to configure receivers and filter out interference, thereby reducing the need for active radar signal transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If the number of radar systems in a given area increases, then the coverage and detection capability improve, but the interference between radar systems increases and measurement precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoverage areaVSAvoidspatial parameter determination accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts harmful radar interference into a beneficial resource by enabling passive radar detection. Instead of treating other radar systems as sources of noise that degrade measurement precision, the invention allows a receiving device to utilize reflected radar signals from third-party radar systems to detect and determine spatial parameters of objects, thereby transforming interference into useful detection capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables radar receivers to perform multiple functions: they can detect both active radar signals transmitted by the receiving device itself and passive radar signals reflected from other radar systems. This multi-functionality allows the system to maintain accurate spatial parameter determination even in environments with multiple radar systems, as the receiver can selectively process signals from different sources

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Measurement precision

If active radar signal transmission is increased to improve detection accuracy, then measurement precision improves, but interference with other radar systems increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespatial parameter determination accuracyVSAvoidradar interference

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables the radar receiving device to serve itself by detecting objects through passive reception of external radar signals without needing to transmit its own radar signals. The device utilizes reflected signals from third-party radar systems to perform detection, thereby eliminating the need for active transmission and the associated interference problems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent inverts the traditional active radar approach by using passive detection instead of active transmission. Rather than transmitting radar signals and receiving reflections, the system receives reflected signals from other radar systems and uses those to detect objects, thereby solving the interference problem while maintaining detection capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

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

This approach reduces interference and enhances the accuracy of spatial parameter determination, allowing for improved operation of self-driving and advanced driver-assistance systems by leveraging existing radar signals from other vehicles, thus minimizing unnecessary active radar transmissions.

Implementation Method 1

receiving a radar signal transmitted by the second UE based on configuring the receiver, and determining a spatial parameter about the second UE based on receiving the radar signal transmitted by the second UE

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDoppler effect: Doppler Effect

Data Source

PatentUS11474235B2System and method to use reflected doppler radar signals to locate a second mobile device

Publication Date: 2022.10.18 QUALCOMM INC

AI summary

Techniques are described herein for allowing one or more vehicles or radar systems in an environment to passively detect radar signals from other vehicles or other radar systems and determine spatial parameters of objects based on the passively received radar signals. A primary vehicle (or user equipment (UE) associated with the primary vehicle) may be configured to receive one or more radar signals from one or more secondary vehicles (or UEs associated with the secondary vehicles). The primary vehicle may be configured to determine one or more spatial parameters of the secondary vehicle based on the passively received radar signals. In some cases, the primary vehicle may receive an indication that identifies at least some communication resources to be used by the secondary vehicle to transmit the radar signals. The primary vehicle may determine one or more driving operations based on determining the spatial parameter.