Millimeter-Wave Radar RF Signal Generation with Fast Settling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current analog modulated millimeter-wave radars suffer from poor linearity and long settling time, limiting their ability to generate radio frequency signals with small pulse repetition intervals.
Innovation Solution
A signal processing system that generates orthogonal baseband signals, performs frequency mixing and phase shifting to produce N radio frequency signals with distinct phases or frequencies, eliminating the need for analog feedback adjustments, thereby ensuring good linearity and short settling time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If analog modulated radar uses voltage-controlled oscillator and phase-locked loop to generate frequency modulated signals, then the radar can transmit FMCW, FSK, or CW signals, but the linearity is poor and settling time is long
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the analog modulation system (voltage-controlled oscillator and phase-locked loop) with a digital signal processing system. The digital signal processing unit generates baseband signals that are converted to radio frequency signals through digital-to-analog conversion and mixing, eliminating the need for analog feedback adjustment and achieving both good linearity and short settling time while maintaining signal waveform versatility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental operating parameters of the signal generation system by transitioning from analog frequency modulation to digital baseband signal generation followed by mixing. This parameter change enables precise control of signal characteristics through digital processing while avoiding the linearity and settling time issues inherent in analog modulation
2Measurement precision
If analog modulated radar uses feedback adjustment to improve signal quality, then signal accuracy may be improved, but settling time becomes longer
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary signal generation and processing in the digital domain before conversion to radio frequency. The digital signal processing unit pre-generates baseband signals with precise amplitude and phase characteristics, and pre-calculates modulation parameters, eliminating the need for post-generation feedback adjustment and significantly reducing settling time while maintaining high signal accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses digital signal processing to create precise digital representations of the desired radio frequency signals. The digital baseband signals are exact copies of the intended signal waveforms, allowing perfect reproduction through digital-to-analog conversion and mixing without requiring analog feedback for correction
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 system enables the generation of radio frequency signals with any waveform, addressing the limitations of poor linearity and long settling time in existing analog modulated radars.
Implementation Method 1
the frequency mixing and phase shifting unit is configured to perform frequency mixing processing and phase shifting processing on the one baseband signal to obtain N radio frequency signals
Implementation Method 2
the frequency mixing and phase shifting unit is configured to perform frequency mixing processing and phase shifting processing on the one baseband signal to obtain N radio frequency signals
Data Source
AI summary
This application discloses a signal processing system and a related apparatus, and relates to the field of millimeter-wave radar technologies. The signal processing system includes: a signal generation unit, a frequency mixing and phase shifting unit, and N transmit ports, where the signal generation unit is configured to generate one baseband signal, where the one baseband signal includes a first baseband signal and a second baseband signal, and the first baseband signal and the second baseband signal are quadrature signals; the frequency mixing and phase shifting unit is configured to perform frequency mixing processing and phase shifting processing on the one baseband signal to obtain N radio frequency signals, where phases or frequencies of the N radio frequency signals are different from each other; and the N transmit ports are configured to respectively transmit the N radio frequency signals, where N is a positive integer.