Personal Radar Phase Measurement Direction Finding
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for detecting objects and their motion in areas with no direct line of sight, such as jungles or landscapes, are often costly, power-hungry, expensive, and inaccurate due to reliance on signal strength, time of flight, chirp, frequency modulation, or Doppler radar, and require multiple radio paths or steerable antennas.
Innovation Solution
A radio system using high-precision, high-stability controllable oscillators with phase-locked loops and voltage-controlled oscillators, employing two or more antennas to broadcast signals at different frequencies, allowing for accurate angle or direction finding by measuring amplitude and phase changes in signal propagation paths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional methods (signal strength, time of flight, chirp, frequency modulation, or Doppler radar) are used for object detection, then detection capability is achieved, but accuracy deteriorates and cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter from measuring signal strength or time of flight to measuring phase difference of continuous wave signals. This parameter change enables high-resolution path length measurements without requiring complex radar systems, achieving improved detection accuracy while reducing system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical radar systems (with moving parts, steerable antennas, or frequency modulation circuits) with a simpler system based on phase measurement of continuous waves. This substitution eliminates the need for mechanical scanning or complex signal generation while maintaining detection capability
2Measurement precision
If steerable antennas or phase array antennas are used to detect objects, then detection accuracy is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the antenna system through phase measurement. Instead of physically steering antennas or using complex phase arrays, the system uses phase difference measurements to determine direction, effectively copying the functionality of steerable antennas through a simpler measurement approach
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts only the essential function of direction finding from complex antenna systems. By measuring phase difference between signals received at different antenna positions, the system isolates and utilizes only the directional information without requiring the mechanical or electronic complexity of steerable or phased array antennas
3Reliability
If multiple radio paths are used for object detection, then detection reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the simple phase measurement system universal by demonstrating its effectiveness in detecting objects through multiple radio paths including reflections and diffractions. The same basic measurement principle works for direct paths, reflected paths, and diffracted paths, providing reliable detection without requiring separate systems for each path type
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 enables high-resolution path length measurements, allowing for precise detection and tracking of objects with improved accuracy and cost-effectiveness, even in complex environments, by interpreting changes in signal path distance and frequency propagation characteristics.
Implementation Method 1
high-precision, high-stability controllable oscillator comprising a phase-locked loop and voltage controlled oscillator
Implementation Method 2
receiving of the first signal at the first frequency by the receiver triggering the receiver to tune to the first signal to synchronize the transmitter and the receiver
Implementation Method 3
measuring phase and amplitude of the received signal at the different frequencies
Implementation Method 4
identifying an angle or a direction to the transmitter using the measured amplitude and phase of each signal
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4A
AI summary
A phased array radio system that is used to find the direction of a transmitter or receiver by using spatial positioned antenna elements at multiple frequencies. Radio systems and methods for finding an angle or a direction to a radio source are also provided.