Radar Transceiver Mux-Adder for High Resolution Object Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional Radar systems are complex and inefficient due to the need for extensive hardware and Doppler compensation, and are sensitive to noise and errors in continuously active antennas, leading to degraded accuracy in object detection and 3D location identification.
Innovation Solution
A Radar transceiver with a two-dimensional antenna array and a mux-adder that selectively adds or multiplexes RF signals, using a range bin detector and a high-speed narrow band filter to reconstruct a 3D image, reducing hardware and computational complexity by processing only valid range bins and enhancing signal-to-noise ratio.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If conventional time switched antenna system with Doppler compensation is used, then hardware complexity is reduced, but measurement precision and reliability of object detection deteriorate due to noise and errors in continuously active antennas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a time-switched antenna system where transmit and receive antennas are activated periodically rather than continuously. The receive antenna is activated during specific time intervals to capture reflected signals, while transmit antennas are activated in a time-multiplexed manner. This periodic activation reduces the time that antennas are continuously active, thereby reducing noise and error accumulation while maintaining detection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary Doppler compensation on the received signals before further processing. By compensating for Doppler effects in advance, the system reduces the impact of target motion on signal accuracy, improving measurement precision without requiring continuous antenna operation. This preliminary processing step enhances reliability while maintaining the time-switched architecture.
2Measurement precision
If three dimensional FFT search technique with velocity or Doppler search is employed, then object location resolution is improved, but device complexity and computational requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the detection process into distinct stages: first performing range detection using simple correlation, then separately handling velocity compensation and angle estimation. This segmentation allows each sub-task to be optimized independently, reducing overall computational complexity compared to a monolithic 3D FFT approach while maintaining resolution accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system extracts and processes Doppler-compensated signals separately from the main detection pipeline. By isolating the Doppler compensation step and applying it selectively to relevant signal components, the system avoids the computational burden of full 3D FFT processing while achieving comparable location resolution. This extraction approach reduces hardware and computational requirements.
3Area of stationary object
If redundant antenna positions continuously transmit and receive signals are used, then antenna aperture is improved, but sensitivity to noise and errors increases leading to degraded accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic activation of redundant antenna positions rather than continuous operation. Each antenna in the array is activated in time-multiplexed sequences, allowing the system to utilize the full antenna aperture for signal collection while minimizing the time each antenna is continuously active. This reduces noise accumulation and error sensitivity while maintaining the aperture benefits of redundant positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between different antenna positions and modes based on operational requirements. Rather than statically activating all antennas continuously, the system adaptively selects and activates specific antennas at specific times, optimizing the balance between aperture utilization and noise reduction. This dynamic approach maintains reliability while preserving measurement accuracy.
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 reduces computational complexity and increases antenna aperture for high-resolution image detection, improving accuracy and scalability while minimizing errors and noise sensitivity.
Implementation Method 1
Radar often refers to technique of detecting an object by radio waves. In that, a known radio frequency signal is transmitted and the object is detected from the reflected signal.
Data Source
AI summary
In an embodiment of the present disclosure, a Radar transceiver for object detection comprises a two dimensional antenna array receiving plurality of a reflected radio frequency (RF) signals, a mux-adder selectively adding the reflected RF signals in first mode and selectively multiplexing the reflected RF signals in a second mode, a range bin detector determining a valid range bins in the first mode and a three dimensional (3D) image reconstructor operating on the valid range bins to reconstruct a 3D image of the object in the second mode. In that the two dimensional antenna array comprises antenna elements arranged in K rows and M columns, and the mux-adder adds a RF signal received on the M columns of each row in the first mode. The mux-adder multiplexes the RF signal received on the M columns of each row in the second mode.