Radar Channel Failure Detection via Oscillator Calibration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current radar devices require additional storage and computing resources to detect channel failures, which can lead to incorrect detection of functional channels as defective due to strong attenuation of the baseband signal, and fail to distinguish between channel failures and object absence or disturbances.
Innovation Solution
A radar device that generates signal components with alternating frequencies at the lower and upper corner frequencies of the frequency band for channel failure detection, using frequency counting to calibrate the oscillator and evaluate the mixer bias dynamics, allowing for simultaneous channel failure detection and oscillator calibration without additional resources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If additional storage and computing resources are used for channel failure detection, then detection capability is improved, but device complexity and resource consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the existing receiving channel serve dual purposes: both target detection and channel failure detection. By evaluating the dynamics of the mixer bias signal from the same receiving channel, the system achieves failure detection without requiring separate dedicated resources, thus resolving the contradiction between detection capability and device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The receiving channel performs self-diagnosis by monitoring its own mixer bias signal dynamics. The control means evaluates whether the receiving channel is functional by analyzing the characteristics of signals it already processes, eliminating the need for external monitoring resources and reducing overall system complexity
2Measurement precision
If strong attenuation of baseband signal is applied, then target detection performance is improved, but false detection of functional channels as defective increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different signal processing treatments to different signal components. The baseband signal undergoes strong attenuation for target detection, while the mixer bias signal is extracted and evaluated separately with appropriate filtering to detect channel failures. This localized differential processing resolves the contradiction by allowing each signal to be treated according to its specific requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the signal processing into distinct paths: one for target detection (with strong attenuation) and another for channel failure detection (evaluating mixer bias dynamics). By separating these functions into independent evaluation streams, the system avoids false detections while maintaining target detection performance
3Device complexity
If single signal component is used for detection, then device complexity is reduced, but ability to distinguish channel failure from object absence decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic transmission of calibration signals at known frequencies (corner frequencies) to actively probe channel status. By alternately transmitting signals at lower and upper corner frequencies and evaluating the mixer bias response, the system can distinguish between channel failures and object absence without requiring multiple simultaneous signal components, thus maintaining simplicity while gaining diagnostic capability
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
Enables reliable detection of channel failures and oscillator calibration within the radar device's start-up phase, utilizing existing resources for both channel failure detection and target detection, ensuring accurate identification of channel status without additional memory or computing capacity.
Implementation Method 1
the oscillator (2) is suitable and configured to generate a signal having different signal components (A, B, C, ...)
Implementation Method 2
mixed in the mixer (5) with the signal at the output of the oscillator (2), resulting in useful signals that have a frequency component in the baseband
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a radar device for transmitting a signal in a frequency band, and comprising: a control means (1); an oscillator (2) wherein an input of said oscillator (2) is connected to the control means (1) by means of a converter (9), this oscillator (2) being able to be actuated by said control means (1) in order to generate the signal, and the signal generated by the oscillator (2) being able to be tapped at an output of said oscillator (2); at least one transmission antenna (3) for transmitting the signal which is at the oscillator (2) output, this transmission antenna (3) being connected to said oscillator (2) output; and at least one receiver channel for receiving a receiver signal, processing said receiver signal, and relaying this processed receiver signal to the control means (1), the receiver channel comprising at least one receiver antenna (4) and one mixer (5) for mixing the receiver signal with the signal at the oscillator (2) output, this mixer being connected to said oscillator (2) output, said oscillator (2) output being connected to an input of the control means (1), and the control means (1) being suitable and configured for actuating said oscillator (2), for the purpose of identifying a channel-failure, such that first signal components (K) are generated comprising signal fragments (Ki ) whose frequencies (fi K ) have a lower cut-off frequency (fE1 ) of the frequency band and an upper cut-off frequency (fE2 ) of the frequency band, wherein the signal fragments (Ki ) with a lower cut-off frequency (fE1 ) and the signal fragments (Ki ) with an upper cut-off frequency (fE2 ) can be generated alternately.