Radar Distance Sensing with Separate Antennas
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing radar systems face limitations in accuracy and energy leakage, which affect their ability to measure distances to targets accurately, especially for close-range measurements and in environments with energy interference.
Innovation Solution
A sensing system that employs a high-resolution distance sensing assembly using radar techniques to measure distances with sub-millimeter accuracy and an analysis system to quantify movements by calculating differences in measured distances, while minimizing energy leakage through advanced filtering and signal processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a transmit/receive switch is used to control transmission and reception timing, then the system can manage wave transmission and echo reception, but the switch requires a non-zero switching time that prevents measurement of close-range targets
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the transmit/receive switch component from the system. By using separate transmitting and receiving antennas without a switching mechanism, the system eliminates the switching time delay that previously prevented close-range target measurements. This allows continuous operation where transmission and reception can occur simultaneously or in rapid succession without dead time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the antenna system into separate transmitting and receiving antennas. This segmentation allows independent operation of transmission and reception functions, eliminating the need for a single antenna to switch between modes. The spatial separation enables the system to transmit and receive signals simultaneously, removing the time loss associated with mode switching.
2Measurement precision
If energy leakage occurs from transmitting antenna to receiving antenna, then the system can maintain simple antenna configuration, but the leakage interferes with and obscures distance measurements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces spatial separation and directional antenna design as intermediaries between the transmitting and receiving antennas. By positioning antennas at different locations and orienting them with specific polarizations, the system creates a physical and electromagnetic barrier that reduces energy leakage from the transmitting antenna to the receiving antenna. This allows weak target echo signals to be detected without being overwhelmed by direct leakage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different polarization orientations to the transmitting and receiving antennas. The transmitting antenna may use horizontal polarization while the receiving antenna uses vertical polarization (or vice versa). This local quality difference in polarization creates selective reception where the receiving antenna is insensitive to leakage from the transmitting antenna but sensitive to echoes from targets, thereby improving measurement precision.
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 precise measurement of distances and movements with high resolution, effectively overcoming the limitations of existing systems by providing accurate health signals and vital sign monitoring.
Implementation Method 1
transmitting first electromagnetic waves toward a first target location from a first radar sensing assembly at different times, receiving first echoes of the electromagnetic waves that are reflected off the first target location using the first radar sensing assembly
Implementation Method 2
receiving first echoes of the electromagnetic waves that are reflected off the first target location
Implementation Method 3
measuring plural distances to the first target location using the first echoes of the electromagnetic waves
Data Source
AI summary
A sensing system includes a first radar sensing assembly and an analysis system. The first radar sensing assembly measures plural distances to a first target location at different times using radar. The analysis system receives the plural distances from the first radar sensing assembly and quantifies movements of a target object at the first target location at the different times by calculating differences in the plural distances measured by the first radar sensing assembly. The analysis system generates one or more first quantified activity level values indicative of the movements of the target object at the first target location using the differences in the plural distances that are calculated.