Radar Detection With Sliding Spectrogram Windows for Higher Point Density
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods to improve point cloud resolution in laser radars, such as increasing the number of lasers, lead to higher costs, larger size, and increased power consumption without effectively addressing the low point cloud resolution issue.
Innovation Solution
Transform the beat frequency signal into a two-dimensional spectrogram, divide it into smaller segments, perform Fourier transforms on these segments, and use a time domain sliding step to intercept measurement units, allowing for higher point output rates without compromising the signal-to-noise ratio or increasing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If more lasers are added to improve point cloud resolution, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the frequency modulation period into multiple smaller time segments, performing separate measurements and Fourier transforms on each segment. This temporal segmentation allows multiple measurement units to be processed within a single modulation period, achieving higher point cloud density without adding physical lasers. The beat frequency signal is divided into N segments, each processed independently to generate multiple measurement units per chirp pair.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a time-domain dimension by applying a sliding window approach across the beat frequency signal. Instead of processing the entire signal at once, it creates overlapping time segments with a sliding step, effectively adding a temporal dimension to the measurement process. This allows extraction of multiple measurement units from a single frequency modulation period, improving point cloud density without increasing hardware complexity.
2Quantity of substance
If more lasers are added to improve point cloud resolution, then point cloud density increases, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent maintains continuous processing of the beat frequency signal by using overlapping sliding windows with appropriate step sizes. This ensures that each segment contributes useful measurement information while maintaining signal-to-noise ratio through adequate integration time. The continuous sliding window approach maximizes information extraction from the available signal without requiring additional power-consuming hardware.
3Measurement precision
If the frequency modulation period is extended to improve measurement accuracy, then signal-to-noise ratio improves, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the long frequency modulation period into multiple shorter time segments, allowing parallel processing of multiple measurement units within the same overall period. This segmentation enables the system to maintain the benefits of longer integration times for noise reduction while increasing the number of measurements obtained per unit time through multi-segment processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a sliding window approach where segments overlap, meaning some signal portions are processed multiple times. This excessive action ensures that each measurement unit has sufficient signal energy for accurate processing while still achieving high point output rates through the overlapping structure. The redundancy in overlapping segments maintains signal-to-noise ratio without requiring excessively long total modulation periods.
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
Enhances point cloud density and output rate while maintaining signal quality and reducing computational burden, thus improving the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of laser radar systems.
Implementation Method 1
A beat frequency signal may be output when the echo signal and the reference signal pass through a frequency mixer. A frequency of the beat frequency signal is a frequency difference between the reference signal and the echo signal
Implementation Method 2
the frequency of the beat frequency signal may be detected by performing frequency domain analysis (usually FFT) on the beat frequency signal
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2(a)~2(c)
Figure 3~4
AI summary
Embodiments of this application provide a radar detection method and a related apparatus. The method includes: transforming a beat frequency signal of a radar into a two-dimensional spectrogram; intercepting, based on a time domain sliding step, a plurality of measurement units MUs whose time domain lengths are equal to a frequency modulation period of the radar from the two-dimensional spectrogram, where a length of the time domain sliding step is less than the frequency modulation period of the radar; and determining a radar detection result based on each of the plurality of MUs. According to embodiments of this application, a point output rate (that is, point cloud density) of a radar can be improved without lowering a signal-to-noise ratio or increasing costs significantly.