Radar Antenna Side-Lobe Differentiation for Accurate Target Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Radar detection systems face challenges in distinguishing signals from the main lobe coverage area from those outside, leading to false recognition of radio waves and difficulties in isolating the intended signal due to the sensitivity of side lobes.
Innovation Solution
The antenna apparatus employs multiple antenna elements with overlapping main lobe coverage areas and varied side lobe shapes, allowing for high sensitivity in receiving signals from the main lobe while differentiating them from signals from outside the coverage area through Fourier transform and peak detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the antenna orientation is adjusted to include the target in the main lobe coverage area, then the signal reception sensitivity is improved, but side lobe signals from outside the coverage area cannot be isolated and cause false recognition
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the antenna system into multiple antenna elements, each with its own radiation pattern. By segmenting the reception function across multiple elements with different side lobe characteristics, the system can distinguish between main lobe signals (target) and side lobe signals (clutter) through comparative analysis of received signal strengths.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent assigns different side lobe shapes and characteristics to different antenna elements. This local differentiation in radiation pattern properties allows the system to identify signals originating from the main lobe coverage area versus those from side lobe directions, enabling reliable target detection while filtering out clutter.
2Reliability
If multiple antenna elements with overlapping main lobe coverage areas are used, then the ability to distinguish main lobe signals from side lobe signals is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple antenna elements with overlapping main lobe coverage areas into a unified radar detection system. By merging the reception capabilities of multiple elements with differentiated side lobe characteristics, the system achieves reliable signal discrimination while managing complexity through integrated processing of signals from all elements.
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 error rates in signal demodulation and transmission information, enabling accurate target detection by distinguishing peaks caused by the target from those caused by clutter.
Implementation Method 1
multiple antenna elements 20 each performing at least one of transmission and reception of radio waves
Implementation Method 2
a signal processing unit that performs Fourier transform to the signal processed in the transmission-reception unit for each of the multiple transmission-reception systems, detects peaks of a waveform resulting from the Fourier transform
Data Source
AI summary
An antenna apparatus includes multiple antenna elements each performing at least one of transmission and reception of radio waves. The coverage areas of main lobes of radiation patterns of the multiple antenna elements are overlapped with each other and the shapes of side lobes thereof are varied among the multiple antenna elements. With this configuration, it is possible to discriminate and acquire the signal of the radio waves coming from the coverage areas of the main lobes of the antenna from the signal of the radio waves coming from the outside of the coverage areas.