Shared FMCW Waveform for Combined Radar and Communications
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for combining radar and communications functions on platforms like aircraft and satellites face challenges due to space constraints, high costs, and interference issues, requiring separate hardware and systems that are difficult to maintain and upgrade.
Innovation Solution
A combined radar/communications system using a common set of programmable hardware and software that implements both functions with a shared frequency-modulated continuous waveform (FMCW), allowing for efficient radar and communications operations using a single antenna and reducing interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate radar and communications systems are installed on a platform, then both functions can be performed independently, but the platform requires more space, has higher cost, and consumes more power
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines radar and communications systems into a single integrated platform that shares hardware components (transmitter, receiver, antenna, signal processing units). This merging reduces the total space, weight, and power consumption while maintaining both radar detection and communications functions through a unified system architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated system is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously - radar detection, tracking, and communications - using common hardware resources. The system can dynamically allocate resources between radar and communications tasks, allowing a single platform to serve multiple purposes without requiring separate dedicated systems.
2Productivity
If separate radar and communications systems operate simultaneously on the same platform, then both functions are available, but RF interference occurs between the systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an RF isolation network as an intermediary component between the radar and communications signal paths. This isolation network acts as a mediator that allows both systems to operate simultaneously on the same platform by preventing harmful RF interference while maintaining signal integrity for both functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts operational parameters such as frequency allocation, power levels, and timing synchronization between radar and communications transmissions. By changing these parameters in real-time, the system optimizes performance for both functions while minimizing interference effects.
3Reliability
If separate radar and communications systems are maintained, then each system can be optimized independently, but maintenance cost and upgrade complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges radar and communications systems into a single integrated platform that shares hardware components (transmitter, receiver, antenna, signal processing units). This merging reduces the total space, weight, and power consumption while maintaining both radar detection and communications functions through a unified system architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated system is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously - radar detection, tracking, and communications - using common hardware resources. The system can dynamically allocate resources between radar and communications tasks, allowing a single platform to serve multiple purposes without requiring separate dedicated systems.
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 solution reduces the cost, size, and power requirements of the systems, enables simultaneous operation without interference, and simplifies maintenance and upgrades by integrating radar and communications functions into a single system.
Implementation Method 1
a combined radar/communications transmitter configured to transmit combined radar/communications waveform-modulated signals
Implementation Method 2
a mixer that mixes received signals from the reception antenna with the transmitted signals and outputs first demodulated signals
Data Source
AI summary
A system having a set of common hardware and common signal processing together with a common waveform family that can be used to achieve both efficient radar and efficient communications functions. The system includes a common radar/communications transmitter having a transmission antenna and a combined radar and communications receiver having a common reception antenna. The common radar/communications transmitter is configured to transmit combined radar/communications waveform-modulated signals comprising symbols, each symbol consisting of an up chirp and a down chirp. The combined radar and communications receiver includes a baseband radar signal processing module configured to estimate range and range rate of a radar object from the received symbols and a baseband communications signal processing module configured to detect slopes and initial phases of the up and down chirps of each received symbol.