Radar Event Generator Offloads DSP Control Workload
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Solution Overview
Problem
Radar systems face challenges in efficiently generating and controlling transmitter and receiver signals, particularly in vehicle radar systems, where existing solutions burden the digital signal processor with signal control functions, limiting its ability to focus on other critical processing tasks.
Innovation Solution
An event generator is introduced to manage signal control, featuring registers that store parameters for waveform generation, allowing for flexible modulation schemes and reducing the digital signal processor's workload by generating control signals for controllable signal sources like voltage-controlled oscillators.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the digital signal processor generates control signals for transmitter and receiver, then the radar system can operate, but the digital signal processor becomes burdened and cannot focus on signal processing functions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the radar system into distinct functional modules: an event generator module dedicated to generating control signals for transmit/receive switching, and a digital signal processor module dedicated to signal processing. This segmentation allows each module to specialize in its function, resolving the contradiction by enabling control signal generation without burdening the DSP.
Solution Approach 2:
The event generator extracts the control signal generation function from the digital signal processor. By taking out this specific function and assigning it to a dedicated event generator component, the DSP is freed to focus on signal processing, thereby improving signal processing efficiency while maintaining control signal generation capability.
2Device complexity
If the digital signal processor handles all control signal generation, then system complexity is reduced, but the digital signal processor is overburdened
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into an event generator for control signal generation and a digital signal processor for signal processing. This segmentation increases component count but reduces overall system complexity by creating clear functional boundaries and dedicated responsibilities for each module.
Solution Approach 2:
The event generator acts as an intermediary component between the control logic and the transmit/receive signal paths. It mediates the control signal generation process, absorbing the workload from the digital signal processor and enabling the DSP to focus on its primary signal processing function.
3Device complexity
If fixed waveform parameters are used in the event generator, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different modulation schemes is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The event generator incorporates configurable parameters that allow dynamic adjustment of waveform characteristics such as chirp duration, start frequency, and modulation type. This dynamic configurability enables the system to adapt to different modulation schemes while maintaining a relatively simple base device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements adaptability by allowing changes in waveform parameters (duration, frequency, modulation type) within the event generator. By enabling parameter changes rather than requiring hardware redesign, the system achieves versatility across multiple modulation schemes while keeping device complexity manageable.
Data Source
AI summary
A radar system having a transmit signal path and a receive signal path and an event generator which is responsive to command signals provided by a digital signal processor (DSP) is described. The DSP generates command signals and provides the command signals to the event generator. In response to the command signals, the event generator generates event signals in the radar system. The event signals include but are not limited to ramp control signals provided to a controllable signal source which provide RF signals to the transmit path of the radar.