Radar Detection Device Using Injection-Locked Oscillator Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current radar measuring devices face challenges in achieving a good trade-off between low sampling frequency for analog-to-digital conversion, short duration of emission and reception, and a wide effective band, which is essential for resolving close reflectors and optimizing energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
A radar measuring device incorporating an injection-locked oscillator (ILO) that divides the radar signal before emission, locks onto a portion of the effective band, and replicates the signal for frequency transposition, allowing for low-duty cycle operation and efficient energy use, while maintaining coherence and enabling wider effective bands with lower sampling frequencies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If FMCW type device is used, then sampling frequency is reduced and cost/energy consumption is limited, but emission and reception duration is considerably constrained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the radar signal into multiple frequency bands using multiple injection-locked oscillators, each handling a specific band. This allows the system to process signals with shorter durations while maintaining low sampling frequencies, as each oscillator operates independently on its assigned frequency segment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a frequency-domain dimension by using multiple injection-locked oscillators tuned to different frequency bands. This transforms the single-frequency time-domain approach into a multi-frequency parallel approach, enabling shorter signal durations without increasing sampling frequency requirements.
2Duration of action of moving object
If IR-UWB type device is used, then emission and reception duration can be short, but sampling frequency must be much higher increasing cost and consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the wide frequency band into multiple segments, each handled by a dedicated injection-locked oscillator. This segmentation allows short emission/reception durations to be maintained while keeping individual sampling frequencies low, as each oscillator processes only its assigned frequency segment at a lower rate.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic frequency tuning of injection-locked oscillators to adapt to different signal characteristics. The oscillators can be retuned between emission and reception phases, enabling short duration operation while optimizing sampling frequency requirements for each operational mode.
3Measurement precision
If effective band is widened to improve resolution, then ability to separate close reflectors is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the wide effective band into multiple frequency bands, each processed by a separate injection-locked oscillator. This segmentation achieves high spatial resolution through wide band coverage while distributing the processing complexity across multiple simple, parallel oscillators rather than requiring a single complex wideband system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes each injection-locked oscillator multi-functional by enabling it to operate in both emission and reception modes, and by allowing dynamic frequency tuning. This universality reduces overall device complexity compared to dedicated separate components for each function, while maintaining the capability to cover wide frequency bands for high resolution.
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
The solution enables efficient energy savings, wider effective bands, and improved spatial resolution with reduced electric consumption, allowing for precise distance and velocity measurements with lower sampling frequencies and shorter emission/reception durations.
Implementation Method 1
an injection-locked oscillator, or ILO ('Injection Locked Oscillator'); configured to be locked over a portion of an effective band B of the radar signal RFIN(t)
Data Source
AI summary
A radar measuring device including at least:a circuit for generating a radar signal RFIN(t);an emitting antenna;an injection-locked oscillator;a first power divider comprising an input coupled to an output of the circuit for generating the radar signal RFIN(t), a first output coupled to the emitting antenna, and a second output to an input of the injection-locked oscillator which is configured to be locked over a portion of an effective band B of the radar signal RFIN(t);a receiving antenna intended to receive a reflected radar signal RFIN_REFL(t);a mixer comprising a first input coupled to the receiving antenna, a second input coupled to an output of the injection-locked oscillator, and an output coupled to an input to a signal processing circuit.