Radar device and method for coding a radar device

• US 20030151542A1
• Filed: 03/26/2003
• Published: 08/14/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Brosche, Thomas, Steinlechner, Siegbert
• Granted Patent: US 6,693,582 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/70
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/222 using random or pseudorandom pulse repetition frequency
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/288 phase modulated
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/023 Interference mitigation, e.g. reducing or avoiding non-intentional interference with other HF-transmitters, base station transmitters for mobile communication or other radar systems, e.g. using electro-magnetic interference [EMI] reduction techniques auxiliary means for detecting or identifying radar signals or the like G01S7/021; means for anti-jamming G01S7/36
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/0234 Avoidance by code multiplex
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/0235 Avoidance by time multiplex

Abstract

The present invention relates to a radar system having means (12) for producing a code, means (18) for modulating a transmission signal in a transmit branch, using the code, means (32) for delaying the code, means (20) for modulating a signal in a receive branch, using the delayed code, and means (26) for mixing a reference signal with a receiving signal, the modulation of one of the signals being performed by an amplitude modulation (ASK; “amplitude shift keying”) and the modulation of the other signal by a phase modulation (PSK; “phase shift keying”). Furthermore, a radar system is proposed in which blanking of phase transitions is provided. The present invention also relates to methods which may advantageously be carried out, using the radar systems according to the present invention.

Claims

1. A radar system having

means (12) for generating a code,

means (18) for modulating a transmitting signal in a transmit branch, using the code,

means (32) for delaying the code,

means (20) for modulating a signal in a receive branch, using the delayed code, and

means (26, 42, 44, 46) for mixing a reference signal with a receiving signal,

wherein

the modulation of one of the signals is performed by an amplitude modulation (ASK;

“

Amplitude Shift Keying”

), and

the modulation of the other signal is carried out by a phase modulation (PSK;

“

phase shift keying”

).

4. The radar system as recited in one of the preceding claims 1 through 3,

wherein the code is a pseudo-noise code (PN code).

5. The radar system as recited in one of the preceding claims 1 through 4,

wherein

the modulation of the transmission signal is carried out by the amplitude modulation and

the modulation of the signal in the receive branch is carried out by phase modulation.

6. The radar system as recited in one of the preceding claims 1 through 5,

wherein

the modulation of the transmission signal is carried out by the phase modulation and

the modulation of the signal in the receive branch is carried out by amplitude modulation.

7. The radar system as recited in one of the preceding claims 1 through 6,

wherein the means (26) for mixing the reference signal with the receiving signal emit an output signal to a lowpass filter (28).

8. The radar system as recited in one of the preceding claims 1 through 7,

wherein digital means (30) are provided for controlling the delay.

9. The radar system as recited in one of the preceding claims 1 through 8, wherein circuit means are provided for controlling the delay.

10. The radar system as recited in one of the preceding claims 1 through 9,

wherein the means for producing and delaying an n-bit PN code are implemented as n-bit counters having combinatorial linkage of the counter outputs (FIG. 10).

11. The radar system as recited in one of the preceding claims 1 through 10,

wherein

the receive branch is subdivided into a plurality of channels, which use a plurality of PN codes for modulating, and

a plurality of lowpass filters (TP₀, TP₁, TP₂) is provided for the further processing of the signals.

2. A radar system having

means (12) for generating a code,

means (18) for modulating a transmitting signal in a transmit branch, using the code,

means (32) for delaying the code,

means (20) for modulating a signal in a receive branch, using the delayed code, and

means (26, 42, 44, 46) for mixing a reference signal with a receiving signal,

wherein

the modulation of at least one of the signals is carried out by a phase modulation (PSK;

“

phase shift keying”

) and

means (22, 24, 34, 36) are provided for blanking phase transitions.

3. The radar system as recited in claim 2,

wherein a means for blanking of phase transitions has a means (34, 36) for pulse shaping and a switch (22, 24), the switch (22, 24) being connected in series to a means (18, 20) for modulating.

12. A method for coding a radar system, having the steps

generating a code

modulating a transmitting signal in a transmit branch, using the code,

delaying the code,

modulating a signal in a receive branch, using the delayed code, and

mixing a reference signal with a receiving signal,

wherein

the modulation of one of the signals is performed by an amplitude modulation (ASK;

“

Amplitude Shift Keying”

), and

the modulation of the other signal is carried out by a phase modulation (PSK;

“

phase shift keying”

).

13. The method as recited in claim 12,

wherein phase transitions are blanked.

14. The method according to one of claims 12 or 13,

wherein a means for blanking of phase transitions has a means (34, 36) for pulse shaping and a switch (22, 24), the switch (22, 24) being connected in series to a means (18, 20) for modulating.

17. The method as recited in claim 22,

wherein the code is a pseudo-noise code (PN code).

18. The method according to one of the preceding claims 12 through 17,

wherein

the modulation of the transmission signal is carried out by the amplitude modulation and

the modulation of the signal in the receive branch is carried out by phase modulation.

19. The method as recited in one of the preceding claims 12 through 18,

wherein

the modulation of the transmission signal is carried out by phase modulation and

the modulation of the signal in the receive branch is carried out by amplitude modulation.

20. The method as recited in one of the preceding claims 12 through 19,

wherein the mixed signal is emitted to a lowpass filter (28).

21. The method as recited in one of the preceding claims 12 through 20,

wherein the delay is controlled digitally.

22. The method as recited in one of the preceding claims 12 through 21,

wherein the delay is controlled by circuitry means.

23. The method as recited in one of the preceding claims 12 through 22,

wherein an n-bit PN code is generated and delayed by an n-bit counter having combinatorial linkage of the counter outputs (FIG. 10).

24. The method as recited in one of the preceding claims 12 through 23,

wherein

the receive branch is subdivided into a plurality of channels, which use a plurality of PN codes for modulating, and

the modulated signals are processed further by a plurality of lowpass filters TP₀, TP₁, TP₂).

15. A method for coding a radar system, having the steps

generating a PN code,

modulating a transmitting signal in a transmit branch, using the code,

delaying the code,

modulating a signal in a receive branch, using the delayed code, and

mixing a reference signal with a receiving signal,

wherein

the modulation of at least one of the signals is carried out by a phase modulation (PSK;

“

phase shift keying”

) and

phase transitions are blanked.

16. The method as recited in claim 15,

wherein a means for blanking of phase transitions has a means (34, 36) for pulse shaping and a switch (22, 24), the switch (22, 24) being connected in series to a means (18, 20) for modulating.