Spatial Cognitive Radar Antenna Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional radar systems require a large number of antenna elements and corresponding channels for high angular resolution, leading to increased cost and weight, and previous attempts to reduce this by using fewer channels were too slow for practical applications.
Innovation Solution
A spatial cognitive radar system with a phased array of antenna elements and fewer receiver channels uses a processor to dynamically select a subset of antenna elements based on received signals, optimizing antenna selection for both transmission and reception.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a large number of antenna elements and corresponding channels are used in conventional radar systems, then high angular resolution is achieved, but cost and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple antenna elements into a virtual array through signal processing, creating a larger effective aperture without physically installing more antenna elements. The system uses a small physical array to generate a larger virtual array by combining signals from different elements in specific ways, thereby achieving high angular resolution while keeping the physical system compact and lightweight.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates virtual copies of antenna elements through signal processing techniques. By processing and combining signals from a small number of physical antenna elements, the system generates virtual antenna elements that do not physically exist, effectively multiplying the aperture without adding physical weight.
2Measurement precision
If a large number of antenna elements and corresponding channels are used in conventional radar systems, then high angular resolution is achieved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple antenna elements into a virtual array through signal processing, creating a larger effective aperture without physically installing more antenna elements. The system uses a small physical array to generate a larger virtual array by combining signals from different elements in specific ways, thereby achieving high angular resolution while keeping the physical system compact and lightweight.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates virtual copies of antenna elements through signal processing techniques. By processing and combining signals from a small number of physical antenna elements, the system generates virtual antenna elements that do not physically exist, effectively multiplying the aperture without adding physical weight.
3Weight of stationary object
If fewer receiver channels are used than antenna elements, then cost and weight are reduced, but the system becomes too slow for practical applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic beam forming where the system can rapidly change beam directions and focus by adjusting phase and amplitude of signals from different antenna elements. This dynamic capability allows the system to track moving targets and switch between different spatial directions quickly, compensating for the reduced number of physical channels through fast electronic reconfiguration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from received signals to adaptively adjust the beam forming weights and phase shifts in real-time. This allows the radar to quickly respond to changing target positions and environmental conditions, maintaining high processing speed and target tracking capability despite having fewer receiver channels than traditional systems.
Data Source
AI summary
A spatial cognitive radar system, method of assembling the radar, and method of selecting antenna elements in the radar are described. The system includes a phased array of a plurality of antenna elements and a plurality of receiver channels, the plurality of receiver channels being a value greater than one and less than a number of the plurality of antenna elements. The system also includes a processor to determine a subset of the plurality of antenna elements, equal in number to the plurality of receiver channels, to be used in transmitting or receiving with the spatial cognitive radar system.