Radar System-on-Chip Level Measurement for Weak-Reflection Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing level measurement technologies using radar systems face challenges with high costs due to the use of gallium arsenide components and reduced signal-to-noise ratio when transitioning to lower-cost semiconductor technologies like SiGe and CMOS, which increase noise and decrease transmission power, making it difficult to detect weak reflections accurately.
Innovation Solution
Integration of a radar system on chip (RSOC) using BiCMOS and HF-CMOS technologies, combined with noise reduction and signal enhancement techniques such as averaging measurements and combining transmission/receiving channels, to improve signal-to-noise ratio and transmission power, while reducing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If gallium arsenide (GaAs) components are used for radar level measurement, then transmission power and signal-to-noise ratio are improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by transitioning from GaAs technology to SiGe and CMOS technologies, fundamentally changing the semiconductor material parameters. This substitution maintains radar functionality while reducing manufacturing costs, as SiGe and CMOS are more cost-effective materials that can be produced using standard semiconductor manufacturing processes
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs cheaper semiconductor materials (SiGe and CMOS) that can be manufactured at lower costs compared to expensive GaAs components. While these alternative materials may have different performance characteristics, they provide sufficient functionality for radar level measurement at a significantly reduced component cost
2Ease of manufacture
If SiGe and CMOS technologies are used to reduce costs, then manufacturing cost decreases, but signal-to-noise ratio and transmission power decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple transmission channels and receiving channels into a unified radar system on chip. By combining the outputs of multiple channels, the system achieves signal integration that improves the overall signal-to-noise ratio, compensating for the lower individual channel performance of SiGe and CMOS technologies
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic action through signal averaging of multiple successive measurements. By repeatedly measuring the same target and averaging the results, random noise is reduced while the consistent signal remains, thereby improving the signal-to-noise ratio over time
3Power
If multiple transmission channels are combined to increase power, then transmission power increases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple transmission channels and receiving channels on a single chip, integrating their functions to achieve signal combination. This integration approach increases transmission power through constructive signal addition while managing device complexity by consolidating multiple functions into a unified radar system on chip architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The radar system on chip exhibits multi-functionality by integrating transmission, reception, and signal processing functions into a single device. This universal design allows the system to perform multiple operations (transmitting on multiple channels, receiving reflections, averaging measurements) without requiring separate dedicated components for each function
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 accurate detection of weak reflections with reduced costs by enhancing signal-to-noise ratio and transmission power, allowing for reliable level and topology measurement in containers.
Implementation Method 1
each of these transmission channels designed to generate a high-frequency transmit signal with a frequency in the gigahertz range
Implementation Method 2
One or more receiving channels can also be provided, whereby these are set up to receive in each case a transmission signal reflected on the product surface
Data Source
AI summary
A level measuring instrument is provided, including a microwave integrated circuit in a form of a radar system on chip with at least two transmission hardware channels, each to generate a transmission signal, and at least two receiving hardware channels, each to receive reflected signals from a product surface; a noise level reduction device configured to increase a signal-to-noise ratio of a received signal, which relates to the reflected signals from the product surface, by averaging results of several measurements carried out in succession in time; or a signal level increasing device configured to combine, by an inverse Wilkinson divider, two of the transmission hardware channels to produce a combined transmission signal with increased power or to combine two of the receiving channels to produce a combined reception signal with increased power.