Radar Receiver Saturation Detection and Filter Reset
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern radar systems are susceptible to saturation in their receivers, leading to temporary 'blindness' and impaired functionality due to high amplitude spurious signals, which can extend across multiple frames, especially in modulated radar systems with short inter-frame periods.
Innovation Solution
A saturation detector and reset mechanism are integrated into the radar receiver unit to detect saturation events and reset filters during inter-frame periods, preventing the amplifier from entering prolonged saturation and ensuring continuous operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If high pass filters with low cut-off frequencies are used to attenuate low frequency interferences, then interference rejection is improved, but the radar receiver becomes susceptible to saturation from high amplitude spurious signals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by detecting saturation events before they cause prolonged receiver blindness. The saturation detector monitors the receiver output and triggers a reset of the high pass filter during inter-frame periods, preventing the filter from remaining in a saturated state that would cause extended receiver blindness and data loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by using the saturation detector to monitor receiver conditions and automatically trigger filter resets. The detector provides feedback about saturation events to the control system, which then adjusts the filter operation by resetting it during appropriate time windows, creating a closed-loop system that maintains optimal receiver performance.
2Reliability
If saturation detection and filter reset mechanisms are added to prevent receiver blindness, then receiver reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by enabling the radar receiver to automatically detect and recover from saturation events without external intervention. The saturation detector and filter reset mechanism form a self-contained system that monitors itself and performs corrective actions autonomously during inter-frame periods, eliminating the need for complex external control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements discarding and recovering by temporarily discarding data collected during saturation events and recovering normal operation by resetting the filter during inter-frame periods. The system accepts that some data loss occurs during saturation but recovers quickly by resetting the filter before the next frame period begins, maintaining overall system reliability.
3Productivity
If the frame period is kept short to increase productivity, then measurement speed is improved, but saturation effects extend across multiple frames causing more significant impairment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies skipping by rapidly resetting the filter during the brief inter-frame periods that occur between consecutive frame periods. This allows the system to quickly skip through the saturation recovery process during the inter-frame window, minimizing the impact duration and ensuring the filter is ready for the next frame period without compromising measurement speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic action by resetting the filter at regular intervals during inter-frame periods. This periodic reset strategy ensures that even if saturation occurs, the filter is restored to normal operation before the next frame period begins, maintaining consistent measurement performance across multiple frames.
Data Source
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AI summary
The embodiments described herein provide a radar device and method that can provide improved sensitivity. In general, the embodiments described herein provide a saturation detector and reset mechanism coupled to a radar receiver. The saturation detector is configured to detect saturation events in the radar receiver, and the reset mechanism is configured to reset at least one filter unit in the radar receiver in response to detected saturation events. As such, the embodiments can facilitate improved radar sensitivity by reducing the effects of saturation events in the radar receiver.