Vehicle Radar Height Detection with Vertically Offset MIMO Antennas
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle radar systems struggle to accurately detect vertical information such as height and elevation angles of targets, which is crucial for effective vehicle control, especially in autonomous driving scenarios.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle radar apparatus utilizing a multi-input-multi-output (MIMO) antenna system with vertically offset transmitting and receiving antennas, employing phase shift transmission signals to enhance the detection of target height by determining a discrete phase shift value with the greatest reception power and calculating the target's elevation angle and height based on this value.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a conventional radar antenna system is used, then the radar can detect target position and velocity, but it cannot accurately detect vertical information such as height and elevation angle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a vertical dimension to the antenna array by offsetting transmitting and receiving antennas in the vertical direction. This vertical separation creates multiple signal paths with different phase characteristics, enabling the radar to detect elevation angles and target height information that cannot be obtained with conventional horizontal-only antenna arrangements.
Solution Approach 2:
The antenna system is segmented into multiple transmitting antennas and receiving antennas with specific vertical offsets. Each antenna element contributes to the overall phase information, and by processing the phase differences between multiple antenna pairs, the system extracts vertical target information without requiring a single complex antenna structure.
2Measurement precision
If vertically offset MIMO antenna and phase shift transmission signal are used, then the radar can accurately detect target height, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies phase shift modulation to the transmission signal, introducing a controllable phase parameter that varies across different antenna elements. By encoding vertical information into phase differences and using phase shift values as a measurement parameter, the system achieves accurate height detection while managing signal processing complexity through systematic phase modulation schemes.
3Loss of information
If multiple transmitting and receiving antennas are used with vertical offset, then height information can be detected, but the antenna system becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The vertically offset MIMO antenna system serves multiple functions: it detects target position, velocity, and simultaneously extracts vertical information such as elevation angle and height. The same antenna configuration that enables conventional radar functions also provides vertical dimension information when combined with phase shift processing, eliminating the need for separate specialized sensors.
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 system improves the accuracy of detecting target height, allowing for precise vehicle control by distinguishing between obstacles that require deceleration and those that do not, enhancing safety and autonomy in driving scenarios.
Implementation Method 1
a transceiver configured to control the Nt transmitting antennas to transmit a phase shift transmission signal having N different phase shift values (an)
Implementation Method 2
control the Nr receiving antennas to receive a reflected signal reflected from a target
Data Source
AI summary
One embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a vehicle radar apparatus and a method of controlling the same. The radar apparatus according to the present embodiment may include an antenna unit including Nt transmitting antennas and Nr receiving antennas, wherein one of the Nt transmitting antennas is vertically offset from the other transmitting antennas, or one of the Nr receiving antennas is vertically offset from the other receiving antennas, a transceiver configured to control the Nt transmitting antennas to transmit a phase shift transmission signal having N different phase shift values (an) and control the Nr receiving antennas to receive a reflected signal reflected from a target, and a signal processor configured to determine a height (h) of the target based on a discrete phase shift value (amax) that is a phase shift value having the greatest reception power among N phase shift values.