Virtual Antenna Phase Processing for Radar DoA and Velocity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) face challenges in accurately determining the direction of arrival (DoA) and velocity of moving objects using radar sensors, particularly due to nonlinear phase shifts caused by the Doppler effect, which can lead to errors in object detection.
Innovation Solution
The method involves generating virtual antennas based on the arrangement of transmission and reception antennas, calculating distinct estimated phases from reflected signals, and determining the DoA and velocity by processing these phases, thereby improving radar resolution and accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional radar methods are used to determine DoA and velocity, then the system is simple to implement, but the measurement precision is degraded due to nonlinear phase shifts and Doppler effect errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the signal processing into distinct segments: generating virtual antennas from physical antenna arrays, calculating first and second estimated phases separately, and then combining them to determine DoA and velocity. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, improving measurement precision while maintaining manageable processing complexity through modular operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces virtual antennas as an intermediary element between the physical antenna array and the final measurement calculations. These virtual antennas serve as a mediator that transforms the raw reflected signals into processed signals that can be used to calculate accurate phases, thereby improving DoA and velocity measurement precision without requiring additional physical antennas.
2Measurement precision
If more transmission antennas are used to improve radar resolution, then the measurement precision improves, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates virtual copies of the physical antenna array through signal processing. By generating virtual antennas from the reflected signals received by the physical antenna array, the system achieves the measurement capabilities of a larger antenna array without physically installing more antennas. This copying approach improves radar resolution while maintaining the original hardware configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a physical spatial arrangement of antennas to a virtual dimensional representation through signal processing. Instead of adding more physical antennas in the spatial dimension, the system creates additional measurement dimensions through virtual antenna generation and phase calculation, achieving improved resolution without increasing hardware complexity.
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 approach enhances the accuracy of DoA and velocity determination, reducing errors associated with nonlinear phase shifts and improving radar resolution with fewer transmission antennas, effectively addressing the limitations of existing ADAS systems.
Implementation Method 1
receiving a reflected signal with respect to the transmitted signal using reception antennas
Implementation Method 2
nonlinear phase shifts caused by the Doppler effect
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for determining a velocity and a direction of arrival (DoA) of an object includes transmitting a signal using a determined signal transmission order of transmission antennas, receiving a reflected signal with respect to the transmitted signal using reception antennas, generating virtual antennas based on an arrangement of the transmission antennas and an arrangement of the reception antennas, generating virtual signals with respect to the virtual antennas based on the reflected signal and the virtual antennas, calculating a first estimated phase and a second estimated phase that are different from each other based on the virtual signals, and determining the velocity and the DoA of the object concurrently based on the first estimated phase and the second estimated phase without performing additional processing.