Vehicle Radar Angle Estimation for Accurate Target Size Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle radar devices face limitations in device size, antenna number, and precise detection performance, particularly in obtaining accurate target size information such as length or width, which affects the accuracy of driver assistance systems in various weather and nighttime conditions.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle radar device with multiple channels, utilizing Nt transmission antennas and Nr reception antennas, processes reception signals to calculate target angle estimates and size information through a signal processor, target angle estimator, and target size information estimator, enhancing detection performance by determining Nt*NrCk angle estimates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple transmission and reception antennas are used to improve target size detection accuracy, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the signal processing task by separating target detection into multiple stages: initial target detection using peak signals, then selective angle estimation using only k channels (where k < Nt*Nr) corresponding to detected peaks. This segmentation allows accurate target size measurement while reducing the number of channels that need full processing, thereby reducing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by allocating different processing resources to different signal channels based on their importance. Only channels containing peak signals undergo angle estimation processing, while other channels are excluded. This selective processing maintains measurement precision for relevant targets while reducing overall device complexity by avoiding unnecessary processing of irrelevant channels.
2Productivity
If k channel reception signals are selected from Nt*Nr channels for angle estimation, then productivity improves, but measurement precision may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential channels (k channels) that contain peak signals corresponding to actual targets from the full set of Nt*Nr channels. By taking out only the relevant channels for angle estimation, the system improves processing efficiency while maintaining angle estimation accuracy for detected targets, as the extraction is based on actual target presence indicated by peak signals.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by performing angle estimation on only a subset of channels (k channels) rather than all Nt*Nr channels. This partial processing approach improves productivity by reducing computational load while maintaining sufficient measurement precision for the detected targets, as the selected channels are those most likely to contain relevant target information.
3Measurement precision
If Nt*NrCk angle estimates are calculated for target size information, then measurement precision improves, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by first detecting peak signals in all Nt*Nr channels before proceeding to angle estimation. This preliminary detection step identifies which channels contain relevant target information, allowing subsequent angle estimation to be performed only on k selected channels rather than all channels. This reduces processing time while maintaining precision by focusing computational resources on relevant data.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by calculating angle estimates using only k channels instead of all Nt*Nr channels. Although this provides angle estimates for multiple target positions, the partial processing approach significantly reduces computation time while maintaining sufficient precision for driver assistance applications, where approximate target size information is sufficient for safety-critical decisions.
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
The solution enables precise detection of target size and angle, improving the accuracy of driver assistance systems by accurately estimating target length and width, thereby enhancing vehicle control performance.
Implementation Method 1
reception signal reflected by a target
Data Source
AI summary
One embodiment of the disclosure relates to a vehicle radar device and a method for controlling the same. According to the present embodiments, a vehicle radar device may comprise an antenna unit including Nt transmission antennas and Nr reception antennas, wherein Nt is a natural number equal to or larger than 1, and Nr is a natural number equal to or larger than 2, a transceiver controlling the transmission antenna to transmit a transmission signal and the reception antenna to receive a reception signal reflected by a target, a signal processor detecting one or more peak signals for the target and separately detecting Nt*Nr channel reception signals corresponding to each peak signal, a target angle estimator calculating a target angle estimate from k channel reception signals selected from among the Nt*Nr channel reception signals, and a target size information estimator calculating size information about the target based on up to NV*NrCk target angle estimates calculated by the target angle estimator.