Radar Feed Line Impairment Correction via Interpolated Patterns
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional radar systems lack the resolution to detect objects with precision due to impairments in the radiation patterns caused by feed lines, leading to errors and reduced accuracy in high angle resolution imaging.
Innovation Solution
The method involves measuring and interpolating the radiation patterns to correct for impairments in the radar system, coherently combining the interpolated patterns with received signals to enhance signal-to-noise ratio and iteratively reduce errors, allowing for improved resolution in object detection without requiring multiple snapshots or buffering data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional radar beamforming is used, then the system can detect objects, but the angle resolution is insufficient due to beam width limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-calculating and storing correction values for feed line radiation patterns before actual object detection. The system measures the radiation pattern of each feed line in advance, computes correction factors, and stores them in lookup tables. During detection, these pre-computed corrections are directly applied without requiring complex real-time calculations, thus improving angle resolution while maintaining system simplicity.
2Measurement precision
If data-dependent beamforming techniques are employed to improve resolution, then angle resolution increases, but response time increases due to multiple snapshots and buffering requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary measurement and correction of feed line radiation patterns offline, storing the results in lookup tables. During real-time detection, the pre-computed correction values are directly applied to the received signals without requiring multiple snapshots or iterative processing. This eliminates the time delay associated with data-dependent beamforming while maintaining high angle resolution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/iterative data-dependent beamforming process with a direct lookup table-based correction system. Instead of requiring multiple snapshots and iterative optimization algorithms, the system substitutes a pre-computed correction lookup table that provides instant correction values, dramatically reducing processing time while achieving the same or better resolution.
3Reliability
If feed line radiation impairments are present, then the radiation pattern is distorted, but conventional systems cannot correct these errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful feed line radiation pattern distortions into a correctable known quantity. By measuring the actual radiation pattern of each feed line and computing correction factors from these measurements, the system transforms the harmful unknown distortions into known correction values that can be applied to eliminate their effect, thereby improving detection accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by measuring the actual radiation pattern of each feed line and using this measurement to compute correction factors. The measured radiation pattern information feeds back into the correction calculation process, allowing the system to compensate for the very distortions introduced by the feed lines themselves.
4Measurement precision
If high angle resolution is achieved through conventional methods, then more points represent the object shape, but the system requires complex processing over multiple frames
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-computing correction factors for feed line radiation patterns and storing them in lookup tables before object detection. During detection, these pre-computed corrections are directly applied to achieve high angle resolution without requiring complex real-time processing or multiple frame buffering, thus reducing processing complexity while maintaining high detection 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
This approach enhances the radar system's ability to detect objects with higher precision by reducing errors caused by feed line impairments, achieving better angle resolution and reducing the need for data-dependent beamforming techniques, enabling accurate detection from a single snapshot.
Implementation Method 1
radar systems are generally employed for object detection
Implementation Method 2
antenna array 101 transmits and receives the radar signal
Implementation Method 3
time shifted (phase shifted) radar signals are transmitted/received over the antennas to steer the beam in desired direction
Implementation Method 4
phase angle is adjusted to steer the beam over the desired area
Implementation Method 5
The radar receiver 103 may demodulate and perform signal processing like Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) to extract range and Doppler
Implementation Method 6
The beam former 105 to form beam from the selected signals. The beam provides the angle information
Implementation Method 7
measuring a first radiation pattern corresponding to a first set of receiving antennas by feeding a known radio frequency (RF) signal over the first set of receiving antennas
Implementation Method 8
coherently combining an interpolated radiation pattern with a received radar signal received by the set of receiving antenna when employed for an object detection, to generate a high signal to noise ratio (SNR) received signal
Implementation Method 9
iteratively combining the high SNR received signal with the interpolated signal to reduce the error due to the impairment
Data Source
AI summary
According to an aspect, method of enhancing a resolution in a radar system having an antenna aperture comprises measuring a first radiation pattern corresponding to a first set of receiving antennas by feeding a known radio frequency (RF) signal over the first set of receiving antennas, wherein the first set of radiation due to an impairment, coherently combining an interpolated radiation pattern with a received radar signal received by the set of receiving antenna when employed for an object detection, to generate a high signal to noise ratio (SNR) received signal, and iteratively combining the high SNR received signal with the interpolated signal to reduce the error due to the impairment.