UWB Radar Device Circuit Sharing for Beamforming
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Solution Overview
Problem
UWB radar devices face challenges in achieving high directivity, reducing energy consumption, and minimizing silicon area usage due to the need for multiple antennas and circuits, which limits detection accuracy and increases energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
A UWB radar device with a reduced number of generating and transmitting circuits, utilizing a single circuit to serve multiple antennas and employing a delay and sum algorithm to manage signal phases, along with a selector to convey signals effectively, allowing for improved beamforming and reduced silicon area occupation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple transmitting and receiving circuits are provided for each antenna to achieve different signal phases, then beamforming capability is improved, but device complexity and silicon area increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
A single transmitting circuit is designed to serve multiple antennas by generating signals with different phases through programmable phase shifters. This universal circuit can be configured to work with any antenna in the array, eliminating the need for dedicated circuits for each antenna while maintaining full beamforming capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The signal generation function is segmented into independent phase control stages. Each antenna receives a base signal that is then phase-modulated by individual phase shifters, allowing the single transmitting circuit to produce multiple phase variations needed for beamforming across different antennas.
2Measurement precision
If multiple transmitting and receiving circuits are provided for each antenna, then signal phase control is improved, but energy consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The same transmitting circuit is reused across multiple time slots and antenna configurations, amortizing its energy consumption over many operations. Instead of multiple circuits running simultaneously, one circuit sequentially serves multiple antennas with programmable phase control, dramatically reducing total power requirements while maintaining precision.
3Measurement precision
If multiple transmitting and receiving circuits are provided for each antenna, then beamforming resolution is improved, but silicon area occupation increases
Solution Approach 1:
A single transmitting circuit core is designed to be universally applicable to all antennas through programmable phase shifters and configurable connection routing. This shared circuit architecture occupies minimal silicon area compared to dedicated circuits, while the programmable nature enables precise beamforming for high cross-range resolution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a spatial multiplication approach (multiple circuits for each antenna) to a temporal and configurational approach (single circuit serving multiple antennas over time with different phase configurations). This dimensional shift in resource allocation dramatically reduces silicon area while maintaining beamforming resolution through software-controlled phase variations.
4Reliability
If triangulation and signal overlap methods are used for remote detection, then detection capability is improved, but resolution deteriorates due to antenna proximity
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of relying on geometric separation for triangulation, the patent changes the fundamental parameter from spatial distance to signal phase. By precisely controlling and measuring phase differences of signals received at proximate antennas, the system achieves high-resolution angle of arrival estimation without requiring large antenna separations, thus maintaining both detection reliability and signal resolution.
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 enhances detection accuracy, reduces energy consumption, and enables effective beamforming for 2D and 3D detections while minimizing silicon area usage, improving the 'cross-range' resolution and scanning speed.
Implementation Method 1
the operation of the radar is based on the physical phenomenon of the reflection of electromagnetic radiation when it hits an object whose dimensions are larger than the wavelength of the incident radiation
Implementation Method 2
the transmission technique called UWB, namely Ultra WideBand, is known, which has been developed to transmit and receive signals using pulses in radio frequency with extremely short duration and, therefore, with very wide spectral occupation
Data Source
AI summary
A UWB radar device having two or more first antennas includes a generating and transmitting assembly of a UWB signal having a predetermined number of generating and transmitting circuits of a UWB signal, a receiving assembly for processing the received UWB signal, and a processing and control logic unit. The predetermined number of generating and transmitting circuits is lower than the number of the first antennas. The UWB radar device further includes a first selector connected with at least one of the generating and transmitting circuits of the signal and with at least two of the first antennas so as to convey the received signal to the first antennas. The processing and control logic unit includes a memory unit, in which a delay and sum algorithm executable by the logic unit is stored so as to manage the change of phase of the signals received in the receiving assembly.