Distributed-Aperture Virtual Antenna Array for Higher Radar Angular Resolution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current radar technologies, particularly in autonomous vehicles, face limitations in cost and technical performance, which hinder their ability to effectively discriminate between objects in complex environments, necessitating improvements for enhanced angular resolution and reliability.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) radar systems with virtual antenna arrays, where transmit and receive antennas are disposed in different local oscillator domains, synthesizing a distributed aperture to enhance angular resolution and sidelobe performance without the need for a shared high-frequency local oscillator signal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional radar systems use a shared high-frequency local oscillator signal for all transmit and receive antennas, then system complexity is reduced, but angular resolution and sidelobe performance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the radar system into multiple independent local oscillator domains, where each domain operates with its own local oscillator signal. This segmentation allows different transmit and receive antennas to be associated with different local oscillator domains, creating a distributed aperture configuration that improves angular resolution without requiring a single shared high-frequency oscillator across the entire system.
2Measurement precision
If radar systems use distributed aperture configurations with multiple local oscillator domains, then angular resolution improves, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs multiple independent local oscillator domains that can be implemented using lower-cost, lower-frequency oscillators rather than requiring expensive high-frequency oscillators for the entire system. Each local oscillator domain operates independently, allowing the use of more economical oscillator designs while still achieving the desired angular resolution through the distributed aperture configuration.
3Measurement precision
If MIMO radar transceiver devices are used without support for cascading, then device simplicity is maintained, but angular resolution is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces control logic as an intermediary that coordinates multiple MIMO radar transceiver devices operating in different local oscillator domains. This control logic manages the synthesis of the virtual antenna array by processing signals from multiple independent transceiver devices, enabling them to function together as a cohesive distributed aperture system without requiring the transceivers themselves to have cascading capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A multiple input multiple output (MIMO) radar system synthesizes a virtual antenna array where at least a subset of the transmit antennas and receive antennas forming the virtual antenna array are disposed in different local oscillator domains. In some instances, doing so enables radar sensors to be constructed using multiple Antenna On Package (AOP) devices that lack support for cascading or that otherwise would have limited angular resolution on their own to adequately discriminate between various objects in the environment of an autonomous or other vehicle to be used collectively by a vehicle control system in connection with the autonomous control of a vehicle.