Radar Antenna Layout Using Virtual Reception Spacing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional radar devices face limitations in achieving wide-band antenna frequency characteristics and accurate object detection due to power supply circuit constraints, leading to side lobe generation and erroneous detection, especially when physical antenna spacing is restricted.
Innovation Solution
The radar device employs a configuration with first and second antenna groups, where the first group has antennas spaced at a basic distance and the second group at twice that distance, with power supply circuits positioned alongside the antennas to form virtual reception antennas spaced at the basic distance, enabling reduced side lobe formation and accurate detection without requiring physical antennas to be spaced at the predetermined distance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If reception antennas are arranged at a phase center interval of λ/2 with power supply circuits in a skewered shape, then the device complexity is reduced, but wide-band antenna frequency characteristics cannot be realized and side lobes are generated
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from a one-dimensional skewered arrangement to a two-dimensional planar arrangement where power supply circuits are positioned alongside antennas in the same array direction. This dimensional change allows equal wire lengths to be achieved while maintaining compact layout, enabling wide-band frequency characteristics without increasing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates virtual reception antennas through signal processing that replicate the effect of physically arranging all antennas at the optimal phase center interval of λ/2. By processing signals from antennas at 2λ/2 intervals, the system generates virtual antennas at λ/2 intervals, achieving the desired frequency characteristics without the physical constraints.
2Ease of manufacture
If reception antennas are arranged at a phase center interval of 2λ/2 to accommodate power supply circuits, then the power supply can be provided, but side lobes are generated and erroneous detection occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses signal processing to create virtual reception antennas that copy the spatial distribution of antennas at the optimal λ/2 intervals. By processing signals from physically spaced antennas at 2λ/2 intervals, the system generates virtual antenna positions at λ/2 intervals, eliminating side lobes and preventing erroneous detection while maintaining the easier power supply layout.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the fractional bandwidth is increased beyond the conventional limit, then wide-band antenna characteristics are achieved, but the antenna interval must be increased which limits the field of view
Solution Approach 1:
The invention creates virtual reception antennas through signal processing that replicate the spatial distribution of antennas at the optimal λ/2 intervals. This allows the system to achieve wide-band frequency characteristics with fractional bandwidth ≥2% while maintaining the compact antenna spacing required for a field of view of ±90 degrees, as the virtual antennas provide the effective spacing without the physical constraints.
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 configuration effectively reduces side lobes and inhibits erroneous detection while maintaining wide-band antenna frequency characteristics, even when physical antenna spacing is limited, by creating virtual reception antennas with the desired spacing through signal processing and antenna arrangement.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of reception antennas which receive reflection signals resulting from reflection of the transmission signal by the target object
Data Source
AI summary
A radar device includes a plurality of transmission antennas, a plurality of reception antennas, and a processing circuitry which processes reception signals. An antenna group including first antennas which are either the plurality of transmission antennas or reception antennas such that an antenna interval between adjacent ones of the first antennas is a basic distance, is defined as a first antenna group, and an antenna group including a plurality of second antennas, different from the first antennas, such that an antenna interval between adjacent ones of the second antennas is 2 times the basic distance, is defined as a second antenna group. In a virtual reception antenna group composed of a plurality of virtual reception antennas formed by the plurality of antennas in the first antenna group and the second antenna group, an interval between adjacent ones of the virtual reception antennas is the basic distance.