Radar Transmission Switch Failure Detection via Signal Comparison
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing radar apparatuses with multiple transmission antennas and switches face challenges in detecting the failure of transmission switches, particularly when the switches are fixed to an always-on or always-off state, which affects the accurate calculation of target angles.
Innovation Solution
A radar apparatus with a plurality of transmission antennas and transmission switches, featuring a signal processing unit and a failure judgment unit that compares reception signals from different transmission antennas to determine if a transmission switch has failed, allowing for the detection of switch failures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple transmission antennas and transmission switches are used to improve angle resolution, then angle resolution is improved, but the ability to detect transmission switch failure deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention implements a feedback mechanism where the system transmits test signals through each transmission switch and antenna combination, monitors the reception signals, and compares them against expected values. This closed-loop feedback enables automatic detection of transmission switch failures while maintaining the multi-antenna configuration for angle resolution.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary transmission switch verification by transmitting test signals before normal operation. This preliminary action detects potential switch failures in advance, ensuring that the transmission switches are functioning correctly before actual radar measurement begins.
2Device complexity
If transmission switches are configured to always-on or always-off state, then device complexity is reduced, but transmission switch failure detection becomes impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The invention implements periodic switching of transmission switches between on and off states according to a predetermined sequence. This periodic action allows the system to verify each transmission switch's functionality by observing whether the switch responds to control signals, thereby enabling failure detection without requiring complex additional hardware.
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
Enables the reliable detection of transmission switch failures, ensuring accurate distance, velocity, and angle calculations by comparing reception signals from multiple antennas, thereby improving the radar's operational reliability.
Implementation Method 1
a radar apparatus... for switching from one of a plurality of transmission antennas to another to transmit a transmission signal as an electromagnetic wave, receiving the electromagnetic wave reflected from a target as a reception signal by a reception antenna
Implementation Method 2
The FMCW system is one of the radar transmitting systems, and can calculate a distance to an object (target) and a relative velocity to the target by calculating a difference in frequency between a transmission wave and a reception wave
Implementation Method 3
the reception signal received by the reception antenna, which is the transmission signal reflected from the target, is subjected to a time lag caused by the distance to the target and a frequency shift corresponding to the relative velocity to the target
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a radar apparatus that can detect the failure of the transmission switch. The radar apparatus includes: a plurality of transmission antennas; transmission switches that select a transmission antenna for transmitting an electromagnetic wave from among the plurality of transmission antennas; a plurality of reception antennas that receive a reflected wave which is the electromagnetic wave reflected from a target as a reception signal; a signal processing unit that detects the target based on a sampling signal obtained by sampling the reception signal; and a failure judgment unit that compares first reception signals transmitted from one of the plurality of transmission antennas and received by the plurality of reception antennas, with second reception signals transmitted from another of the plurality of transmission antennas and received by the plurality of reception antennas, and judges whether or not any one of the transmission switches has failed based on a comparison result.