Radar System Using Offset Frequency for Profile Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing radar systems for ground penetration, particularly in compact and low-cost applications, face inefficiencies due to high energy wastage and complexity, especially in implementing stepped frequency radar systems which require phase coherence and additional receivers.
Innovation Solution
A radar system utilizing a direct digital synthesizer to generate an intermediate frequency offset, combined with a quadrature or single-side mixer for up-conversion and a down-converter driven by the same offset frequency as a local oscillator, allowing for synchronous sampling with a single transmit and receive channel, and using a single PCB for both analog and digital components to reduce complexity and cost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If stepped frequency radar systems are used to improve energy efficiency, then energy efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases due to requirements for phase coherence and additional receivers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the functions of transmit and receive channels into a single integrated channel, eliminating the need for separate receivers while maintaining phase coherence through digital signal processing. This merging reduces device complexity while preserving the energy efficiency benefits of stepped frequency radar.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary digital signal processing stage that recovers transmitted phase information from the received signal. This intermediary processing enables phase coherence without requiring a second receiver, thus reducing device complexity while maintaining the energy efficiency of stepped frequency operation.
2Ease of manufacture
If homodyne systems are used to simplify implementation, then ease of manufacture is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to DC flicker noise and drift
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary frequency offset that shifts the signal away from DC, eliminating flicker noise and drift issues while maintaining the simplicity of homodyne implementation. This intermediary frequency acts as a mediator that preserves ease of manufacture while improving measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the frequency parameter by introducing an offset from DC, which transforms the signal spectrum to avoid the problematic DC region. This parameter change eliminates flicker noise and drift while keeping the homodyne system simple to manufacture.
3Measurement precision
If heterodyne systems are used to improve measurement precision, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases due to requirements for phase coherence and matched receivers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the transmit and receive paths into a single channel with digital phase recovery, eliminating the need for matched receivers while maintaining measurement precision through coherent processing. This reduces device complexity while preserving measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/analog phase coherence requirement of heterodyne systems with digital signal processing methods. This substitution maintains measurement precision while dramatically reducing device complexity by eliminating the need for matched receivers and complex analog phase synchronization.
4Ease of manufacture
If digital frequency generation is used to simplify system implementation, then ease of manufacture is improved, but power consumption increases due to frequency doubling requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary frequency offset generation method that operates directly at the required frequency without frequency doubling. This intermediary approach simplifies the frequency generation process and reduces power consumption by eliminating the need for frequency doubling circuitry.
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 configuration results in a low-power, low-data bandwidth, and low-cost system capable of achieving high measurement bandwidth at radio frequencies, significantly improving signal-to-noise levels and reducing the need for custom interface circuitry.
Implementation Method 1
an up-converter comprising a quadrature mixer, single-side mixer or complex mixer to add the off-set frequency to the transmitted frequency
Implementation Method 2
a down-converter in the receive path driven by the off-set frequency as a local oscillator, enables the received information to be transferred to the I.F. frequency
Data Source
AI summary
A radar system is disclosed for detecting profiles of objects, particularly in a vicinity of a machine work tool. The radar system uses a direct digital synthesiser to generate an intermediate frequency off-set frequency. It also uses an up-converter comprising a quadrature mixer, single-side mixer or complex mixer to add the off-set frequency to the transmitted frequency. It further uses a down-converter in the receive path driven by the off-set frequency as a local oscillator. The radar system enables received information to be transferred to the intermediate frequency. This in turn can be sampled synchronously in such a way as to provide a complex data stream carrying amplitude and phase information. The radar system is implementable with a single transmit channel and a single receive channel.