Low cost-high resolution radar for commercial and industrial applications

• US 6,067,040 A
• Filed: 05/30/1997
• Issued: 05/23/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Veoneer, Inc. (SSW Partners LP)
• Original Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation (Meggitt PLC)
• Inventors: Puglia, Kenneth Vincent
• Primary Examiner(s): Sotomayor, John B.
• Application Number:
  US08/867,341
• Time in Patent Office: 1,089 Days
• Field of Search: 342/194, 342/195, 342/28, 342/109, 342/114, 342/115, 342/128, 342/137, 342/134, 342/135
• US Class Current: 342/134
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/103 particularities of the measurement of the distance G01S13/12, G01S13/14, G01S13/16, G01S13/18 and G01S13/20 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/12 wherein the pulse-recurrence frequency is varied to provide a desired time relationship between the transmission of a pulse and the receipt of the echo of a preceding pulse
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/14 wherein a voltage or current pulse is initiated and terminated in accordance respectively with the pulse transmission and echo reception
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/30 using more than one pulse per radar period
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/582 adapted for simultaneous range and velocity measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/2886 using I/Q processing

Abstract

A low-cost, high-resolution radar based detection system has a pulse repetition frequency generator connected to first and second narrow pulse modulators. A transmit channel is connected to the first narrow pulse modulator and emits pulse modulated carrier based transmit signals having a prescribed carrier frequency and a prescribed duration. A receive channel is connected to the second narrow pulse modulator. A time delay circuit delays the output of the second pulse modulator to the receive channel and a mixer mixes a portion of one of the pulse modulated carrier based transmit signals reflected from an object with the output of the second narrow pulse modulator.

Claims

1. A radar based detection system, comprising:

a pulse repetition frequency generator connected to first and second narrow pulse modulators;

a transmit channel connected to said first narrow pulse modulator, said transmit channel emitting pulse modulated carrier based transmit signals having a prescribed carrier frequency and said signals having a prescribed duration;

a receive channel connected to said second narrow pulse modulator;

a time delay circuit for delaying output of said second pulse modulator to said receive channel; and

a mixer for mixing a portion of one of the pulse modulated carrier based transmit signals reflected from an object with the output of said second narrow pulse modulator.

2. A radar based detection system as recited in claim 1 wherein said first narrow pulse modulator transmits multiple pulses at a predetermined interval;

said second narrow pulse modulator transmits multiple pulses at a predetermined interval; and

said mixer output is a series of phase relations.

3. A radar based detection system as recited in claim 1, wherein said prescribed carrier frequency is on the order of 5.8 GHz.

4. A radar based detection system as recited in claim 1, wherein said pulse modulated carrier based transmit signals have a center frequency in the millimeter waveband.

5. A radar based detection system as recited in claim 1, wherein said pulse modulated carrier based transmit signals have a center frequency in the microwave band.

6. A radar based detection system as recited in claim 1, wherein said carrier based transmit signals have a bandwidth on the order of 3 GHz.

7. A radar based detection system as recited in claim 1 wherein said transmit channel is connected to a directional antenna.

8. A radar based detection system, comprising:

a pulse repetition frequency generator connected to first and second narrow pulse modulators;

a transmit channel connected to said first narrow pulse modulator, said transmit channel emitting pulse modulated carrier based transmit signals having a prescribed carrier frequency and said signals having a prescribed duration;

a receive channel connected to said second narrow pulse modulator;

a time delay circuit for delaying output of said second pulse modulator to said receive channel; and

a quadrature power splitter connected to a receive antenna, said quadrature power splitter splitting a received pulse reflected from an object into a quadrature channel and an in-phase channel for the detection of the object.

9. A radar based detection system as recited in claim 8, wherein said prescribed carrier frequency is on the order of 5.8 GHz.

10. A radar based detection system as recited in claim 8, wherein said time delay circuit has a predetermined time interval that is variable for scanning ranges.

11. A radar based detection system as recited in claim 8, wherein said object is stationary.

12. A radar based detection system as recited in claim 8, wherein said object is moving.