Radar Antenna Loopback Calibration Across RF Chips
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current millimeter-wave radar systems require a dedicated calibration channel, limiting the selection of radio frequency chips and preventing effective channel calibration between different chips.
Innovation Solution
An antenna apparatus with a first and second radio frequency controller, delay unit, and couplers to multiplex service transmit and receive channels for loopback calibration signals, using serpentine waveguides or cascaded resonant cavities to delay calibration signals and distinguish them from leakage energy in time, enabling intra-system calibration without a dedicated calibration channel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a dedicated calibration channel is used, then calibration can be performed, but device complexity increases and radio frequency chip selection is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The service transmit channel and service receive channel are multiplexed to serve dual purposes: normal service signal transmission and calibration signal transmission. The same physical channels are reused for both operational and calibration functions, eliminating the need for dedicated calibration channels and reducing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The calibration function is merged with the service signal transmission function. By combining calibration signal transmission with service signal transmission in the same channels, the system achieves both calibration capability and reduced structural complexity without requiring separate dedicated calibration infrastructure.
2Speed
If calibration signals are transmitted without delay, then transmission speed is high, but calibration signals cannot be distinguished from leakage energy
Solution Approach 1:
A delay unit is introduced to pre-delay the calibration signal transmission path relative to the service signal path. This preliminary timing adjustment ensures that when calibration signals are transmitted through multiplexed channels, they arrive at distinct time intervals from leakage energy, enabling reliable signal distinction and calibration accuracy.
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
Supports channel calibration between different chips, reduces isolation requirements, and achieves a compact design with high reliability by distinguishing calibration signals from leakage energy, improving signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR).
Implementation Method 1
using serpentine waveguides or cascaded resonant cavities to delay calibration signals
Implementation Method 2
using serpentine waveguides or cascaded resonant cavities to delay calibration signals
Data Source
AI summary
This application discloses an antenna apparatus. The antenna apparatus includes a first radio frequency controller, a second radio frequency controller, and a delay unit. The first radio frequency controller is configured to generate a first signal, and the first radio frequency controller includes at least one first transmit port and/or at least one first receive port. The second radio frequency controller is configured to generate a second signal, and the second radio frequency controller includes at least one second transmit port and/or at least one second receive port. A first calibration signal corresponding to the first signal is separately transmitted to the first receive port and the second receive port through the delay unit. A second calibration signal corresponding to the second signal is separately transmitted to the first receive port and the second receive port through the delay unit.