MIMO Radar Phase Correction with Segmented Oscillators
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional MIMO radar devices face low detection accuracy due to out-of-phase local oscillation signals across receivers, requiring equal cable lengths which is cumbersome and costly to implement.
Innovation Solution
A MIMO radar device design where each radar unit includes a local oscillator, with chirp signals transmitted through dividers and amplifiers, allowing for varying signal line lengths and phase correction using calibration circuits to ensure in-phase intermediate frequency signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If equal length cables are used to connect the local oscillator to multiple receivers, then the local oscillation signals are in phase and detection accuracy is improved, but the installation becomes cumbersome and manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the system into multiple independent transmitter/receiver units, each with its own local oscillator. This segmentation eliminates the need for equal-length cables from a central oscillator, as each unit generates its own signals independently. The units are then connected via signal lines of different lengths without requiring phase equalization hardware.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a phase correction mechanism that acts as an intermediary to compensate for phase differences caused by unequal signal line lengths. This phase correction unit adjusts the phase of received signals to ensure accurate detection despite varying cable lengths from the oscillator to different receivers.
2Ease of manufacture
If each receiver includes its own local oscillator to avoid equal cable length requirements, then installation complexity is reduced, but phase differences between oscillators cause low detection accuracy when powered on
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a phase correction unit that receives feedback about phase differences between signals from different transmitters. This feedback mechanism allows the system to detect and correct phase misalignments caused by independent local oscillators, ensuring accurate detection while maintaining the flexibility of unequal cable lengths.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adjusts the phase parameter of received signals dynamically to compensate for differences in signal line lengths. By changing the phase parameter of each received signal individually, the system aligns all signals to the same reference phase, enabling accurate detection despite using independent oscillators and unequal cable lengths.
3Ease of manufacture
If independent local oscillators are used in each transmitter/receiver unit, then cable installation is simplified, but additional phase correction circuits are required to maintain detection accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the phase correction function as a separate, dedicated unit that processes signals from multiple receivers. This extraction allows the phase correction mechanism to be implemented independently, simplifying the overall system architecture while maintaining the ability to compensate for phase differences caused by independent oscillators and unequal cable lengths.
Data Source
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AI summary
According to one arrangement, a radar device includes an oscillator (12) configured to generate a reference signal, a first unit group, and a second unit group. The first unit group includes first and second units (101,1, 102,1) configured to transmit/receive based on a reference signal. The second unit group includes third and fourth units (101,2, 102,2) configured to transmit/receive based on the reference signal. The first and third units (101,1, 101,2) are connected to the oscillator (12) via first and second signal lines (L1, L2), respectively. The second and fourth units (102,1, 102,2) are connected to the first and third units (101,1, 101,2) via third and fourth signal lines, respectively.