Radar System Sparse Primary Dense Auxiliary Array
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Solution Overview
Problem
Radar systems in automotive applications face challenges in maintaining angular resolution without increasing cost or introducing aliasing, as larger apertures require more antenna elements, leading to higher costs and complex processing methods that are not suitable for real-time applications.
Innovation Solution
A radar system with a sparse primary array and a dense auxiliary array, where the primary subarray has fewer antenna elements with larger spacing and the auxiliary subarray has more elements with smaller spacing, allowing for improved angular resolution and de-aliasing without increasing cost or complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a large aperture with many antenna elements is used, then angular resolution is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna array is segmented into a sparse primary array and a dense auxiliary array. The primary array uses fewer elements with larger spacing to reduce cost, while the auxiliary array uses more elements with smaller spacing to maintain angular resolution. This segmentation allows the system to achieve good angular resolution without requiring a fully dense array across the entire aperture.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the antenna array have different element densities. The primary array regions use larger element spacing (lower density) to reduce cost, while the auxiliary array regions use smaller element spacing (higher density) to maintain measurement precision. This local variation in quality allows the system to optimize both cost and angular resolution differently across various parts of the array.
2Ease of manufacture
If larger spacing among antenna elements is used, then cost is reduced, but aliasing is introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The dense auxiliary array acts as an intermediary that resolves the aliasing problem caused by the sparse primary array. The auxiliary array with smaller element spacing provides additional measurements that disambiguate the angular positions of targets, effectively eliminating grating lobes and aliasing artifacts while allowing the primary array to use larger spacing for cost reduction.
3Measurement precision
If many antenna elements are used, then angular resolution is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna array is divided into a sparse primary array and a dense auxiliary array. This segmentation allows the system to achieve good angular resolution without requiring a fully dense array, thereby reducing the overall number of elements and associated complexity in signal processing and system management.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a fully dense array across the entire aperture, the system uses a partial dense configuration only in the auxiliary array regions where it is most needed for resolving aliasing. This partial application of density reduces complexity while maintaining the necessary angular resolution performance.
Data Source
AI summary
This document describes techniques and components of a radar system with a sparse primary array and a dense auxiliary array. Even with fewer antenna elements than a traditional radar system, an example radar system has a comparable angular resolution at a lower cost, lower complexity level, and without aliasing. The radar system includes a processor and antenna arrays that can receive electromagnetic energy reflected by one or more objects. The antenna arrays include a primary subarray and an auxiliary subarray. The auxiliary subarray includes multiple antenna elements with a smaller spacing than the antenna elements of the primary subarray. The processor can determine, using the received electromagnetic energy, first and second potential angles associated with the one or more objects. The processor then associates, using the first and second potential angles, respective angles associated with each of the one or more objects.