Radar Beam Superposition for Angular Resolution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current radar sensors in driver assistance systems for motor vehicles have limited angular separation resolution due to broad beam lobes, making it difficult to distinguish between objects in close proximity, especially in multilane scenarios, where multiple objects can be detected as a single entity, leading to ambiguity in lane positioning.
Innovation Solution
The method involves synchronously emitting and superposing at least two separate radar beam lobes to create a synthetic radar beam with a predetermined zero value, allowing for improved angular separation resolution through arithmetic superposition and phase manipulation, enabling the detection of multiple objects and their precise positioning without additional hardware, only through software modifications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the radar sensor uses a smaller aperture to reduce dimensions, then the device size is reduced, but the angular separation resolution capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the scanning angular range into multiple sub-ranges and emits separate radar beam lobes for each sub-range synchronously. By segmenting the beam formation into multiple directed lobes rather than a single broad beam, the system achieves improved angular separation resolution without increasing the physical aperture size of the radar sensor.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from spatial dimension (physical aperture size) to signal processing dimension (arithmetic superposition of target responses). Instead of increasing aperture physically, the system uses mathematical operations on received signals from multiple beam lobes to synthesize a virtual beam with enhanced resolution capability.
2Area of moving object
If the radar sensor uses broad beam lobes to cover a wide angular range, then the scanning coverage is improved, but the angular separation resolution deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the wide angular scanning range into multiple narrower sub-ranges, each covered by a separate radar beam lobe. This segmentation allows each individual lobe to have sufficient directionality for good angular resolution while the collection of lobes collectively covers the entire required angular range.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the target responses from multiple separate radar beam lobes through arithmetic superposition to create a synthetic radar beam lobe. This combining process integrates information from multiple directional measurements to produce a synthesized beam with both wide coverage and high angular separation resolution.
3Quantity of substance
If multiple target objects are detected using conventional methods, then the detection coverage is improved, but the target separation capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces physical beam forming mechanisms with signal processing operations. Instead of using mechanical or optical elements to physically separate beams, the system uses arithmetic superposition and complex weighting of target responses to achieve virtual beam synthesis and target separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameters of the target responses through complex weighting, including phase rotation and amplitude scaling. By modifying these parameters mathematically, the system creates a synthetic beam pattern with enhanced resolution that can distinguish between closely spaced targets that would otherwise be indistinguishable.
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 enhances the angular resolution capability, allowing for clearer separation of objects, even when they are close, and provides additional information on object positioning, effectively addressing the limitations of existing radar sensors by achieving sharper signal differentiation and improved lane detection.
Implementation Method 1
object detection systems or distance sensors are frequently implemented using radar sensors
Implementation Method 2
at least one antenna feed, in conjunction with a dielectric lens, is developed both for transmitting and for receiving a corresponding echo signal
Data Source
AI summary
An evaluation method, e.g., for a driver assistance system of a motor vehicle, is provided for object detection using a radar sensor, which synchronously emits at least two separate radar beam lobes, that cover an angular range to be scanned, and which receives respective target responses as measured values. At least two target responses of the at least two separate radar beam lobes of the radar sensor are arithmetically superposed in such a way that a synthetic radar beam lobe is created having at least one predetermined zero value in the scanned angular range.