Method and apparatus for detection of an electromagnetic signal reflected by an object

• US 20060033654A1
• Filed: 08/15/2005
• Published: 02/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smart Microwave Sensors GmbH
• Original Assignee: Smart Microwave Sensors GmbH
• Inventors: Mende, Ralph, Behrens, Marc
• Granted Patent: US 7,548,186 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/70
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/003 Bistatic radar systems; Multistatic radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/4454 phase comparisons monopulse, i.e. comparing the echo signals received by an interferometric antenna arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/352 Receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/021 Means for reducing undesirable effects

Abstract

For detection of an electromagnetic signal, which is transmitted from a transmitting antenna (2), by means of at least two at least essentially identical receiving antennas (3, 4), whose sensitivity curve has a maximum (M) with falling flanks as well as sidelobes (SL) adjacent to it with sensitivity increased again at a reception angle symmetrically with respect to a basic alignment, with angle determination for an object which reflects the transmitted signal being carried out by the two receiving antennas (3, 4) by phase determination in an unambiguity area (θ_u) whose boundaries (L) are predetermined by the distance (d) between the receiving antennas (3, 4), the distance (d) is chosen such that the boundaries (L) of the unambiguity area (θ_u) intersect the sidelobes (SL), and the reflective object is detected by means of vectorial addition of the signals from the receiving antennas (3, 4), after which the parameters R, v are determined.

Claims

1. A method for detection of an electromagnetic signal, which is transmitted from a transmitting antenna (2), by means of at least two at least essentially identical receiving antennas (3, 4), whose sensitivity curve has a maximum (M) with falling flanks as well as sidelobes (SL) adjacent to it with sensitivity increased again at a reception angle symmetrically with respect to a basic alignment, with angle determination for an object which reflects the transmitted signal being carried out by the two receiving antennas (3, 4) by phase determination in an unambiguity area (θ

_u) whose boundaries (L) are predetermined by the distance (d) between the receiving antennas (3, 4), wherein the distance (d) is chosen such that the boundaries (L) of the unambiguity area (θ

_u) intersect the sidelobes (SL), and wherein the reflective object is detected by means of vectorial additional of the signals from the receiving antennas (3, 4).

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the basic alignments of the receiving antennas (3, 4) are parallel to one another.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transmitting antenna forms a transmission signal from at least two signal elements (A, B, C) which are formed from numerous signal sections at a frequency which is in each case shifted by one frequency step (f_incr) which respect to the previous signal section ,the signal sections of which signal elements (A, B, C) are transmitted alternatively and extend over a predetermined frequency range (f_sweep).

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the transmission signal is formed from three signal elements (A, B, C).

5. An apparatus having a transmitting antenna (2) for transmission of an electromagnetic signal ,and at least two essentially identical receiving antennas (3, 4), whose sensitivity curve has a maximum (M) with falling flanks as well as sidelobes (SL) adjacent to it with sensitivity increased again at a reception angle symmetrically with respect to a basic alignment, having an evaluation device for determination of the phase differences of the signal which is received by the two receiving antennas (3, 4) and has been reflected by an object, in an unambiguity area (θ

_u) which is predetermined by the distance (d) between the receiving antennas (3, 4), distinguished by a distance (d) by which the boundaries (L) of the unambiguity area (θ

_u) intersect the sidelobes (SL), and by a device for the vectorial additional of the signals received by the receiving antennas (3, 4).

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the antennas (3, 4) are planar antennas.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the planar antennas have antenna patches (5) arranged in at least one row.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the planar antennas each have two parallel rows of antenna patches (5) arranged alongside one another.