Automotive Radar Virtual Antenna Array for Higher Angular Resolution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current angle resolving radar devices for automotive applications face limitations in angular resolution due to the limited number of individually addressable antennas, which increases constructive complexity and production costs when trying to enhance the number of propagation channels.
Innovation Solution
The method involves routing multiple antenna signals through a common signal port to create virtual antenna arrays with distinct phase centers, allowing for increased angular resolution without the need for additional hardware or complexity, by using a signal processing device to construct a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) antenna array with independent phase codes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the number of individually addressable antennas is increased to improve angular resolution, then the measurement precision of angular position is improved, but the device complexity and production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates virtual copies of antenna positions through signal processing. By routing antenna signals through different phase shifters and combining them, the system generates virtual antenna positions that do not physically exist. This allows the radar to achieve the angular resolution of having more antennas without actually adding more physical antenna elements, thus resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from the physical dimension to the signal processing dimension. Instead of adding more physical antennas in space, the system creates additional antenna positions in the signal domain through phase shifting and virtual array construction. This dimensional transformation allows achieving higher angular resolution without increasing the physical complexity of the antenna array
2Measurement precision
If the number of propagation channels is increased to improve angular resolution, then the measurement precision is improved, but the ease of manufacture deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes existing hardware components perform multiple functions. The same physical antennas and signal ports are used to generate multiple virtual antenna positions by varying phase shifts. This multi-functionality allows the system to achieve multiple propagation channels without adding corresponding hardware for each channel, thereby improving ease of manufacture while maintaining high angular resolution
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the phase parameters of existing antenna signals to create different virtual antenna positions. By adjusting phase shift values in the signal processing domain, the system generates multiple effective propagation channels from a limited number of physical channels. This parameter-based approach avoids the need to manufacture additional hardware components for each channel
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
This approach effectively increases the number of antenna positions available for angle determination with minimal additional hardware, enhancing angular resolution in both azimuthal and elevation directions while maintaining low production costs.
Implementation Method 1
transducing, with the antenna device, between the first antenna signal and a first radiation field, the first radiation field having a first phase center, and transducing, with the antenna device, between the second antenna signal and a second radiation field
Data Source
AI summary
A method for operating an angle resolving radar device for automotive applications comprises: routing first and second antenna signals between a radar circuit and an antenna device; transducing, with a first antenna comprising a first set of antenna elements, between the first antenna signal and a first radiation field, the first radiation field having a first phase center; transducing, with a second antenna comprising a second set of antenna elements, between the second antenna signal and a second radiation field, the second radiation field having a second phase center with a location shifted with respect to a location of the first phase center, the first set of antenna elements and the second set of antenna elements sharing one or more common antenna elements; and constructing an angle resolving virtual antenna array using the locations of the first and second phase centers as first and second antenna positions, respectively.