FMCW sensor

• US 6,317,075 B1
• Filed: 02/25/2000
• Issued: 11/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Heide, Patric, Nalezinski, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Lobo, Ian J.
• Application Number:
  US09/486,351
• Time in Patent Office: 627 Days
• Field of Search: 342/109, 342/128, 342/189, 342/200
• US Class Current: 342/128
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/34 using transmission of continuous, frequency-modulated waves while heterodyning the received signal, or a signal derived therefrom, with a locally-generated signal related to the contemporaneously transmitted signal
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/35 Details of non-pulse systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4008 of transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: H03D 9/0658 by means of semiconductor devices having more than two electrodes

Abstract

An FMCW sensor in which a transmission signal is generated from a high frequency of a fixed frequency oscillator and a modulated, low frequency of a second oscillator. The modulated frequency is processed in a delay line with a surface wave component to form a reference signal. A transmission mixer with a hybrid coupler having a 90° phase difference and terminated by diodes is employed in a transmission/reception means. A measured signal from the transmission mixer together with the reference signal is interpreted in an evaluation means.

Claims

1. An FMCW sensor comprising:

a fixed frequency generator for generating a carrier frequency and having an output;

a second frequency generator for generating variable modulation frequencies and having an output;

a mixer for generating mixed signals from said carrier frequency and said modulation frequencies and for reducing said generated mixed signals to a predetermined frequency band, said mixer including a field effect transistor having a gate terminal connected to said output of said fixed frequency generator, a source terminal connected to ground, and a drain terminal connected to said output of said second frequency generator, and including an output, said mixed signals being supplied from said drain terminal to said output;

a transmitter and receiver unit having an input connected to said output of said mixer and having an output;

a reference unit having an input connected to said output of said second frequency generator and having an output; and

an evaluation means having an input connected to said output of said transmitter and receiver unit, an input connected to said output of said reference unit, and an output.

2. The FMCW sensor according to claim 1, wherein said field effect transistor is an HEMT (high electron mobility transistor).

3. The FMCW sensor according to claim 1,

wherein said transmitter and receiver unit is for monostatic operation and further comprises:

a transmission mixer including a first input connected to said mixer, a second input, an output, and a hybrid coupler having a first output attached to a first coupling arm and a second output attached to a second coupling arm, said first and second coupling arms having a phase difference of 90°

; and

an antenna connected to said second input of said transmission mixer;

at least one non-linear component terminating at least one of said first and second outputs of said hybrid coupler; and

wherein said evaluation means is connected to said output of said transmission mixer.

4. The FMCW sensor according to claim 3, wherein said at least one non-linear terminating component is a field effect transistor having a source terminal and a drain terminal connected to each other.

5. The FMCW sensor according to claim 3, wherein said hybrid coupler comprises a first output attached to a first coupling arm, a second output attached to a second coupling arm, said first and second coupling arms having a phase difference of 180°

, and a circuit element for effecting a phase shift of 90°

arranged in one of said first and second coupling arms.

6. The FMCW sensor according to claim 3, wherein said first input of said transmission mixer is connected to said mixer via at least one further circuit element.

7. The FMCW sensor according to claim 1, wherein said reference unit is a delay line for generating a reference signal that is time-delayed compared to said transmission signal.

8. The FMCW sensor according to claim 7, wherein said reference unit comprises a surface wave component and a second mixer.

9. The FMCW sensor according to claim 1, further comprising a following frequency filter is connected between said mixer and said transmitter and receiver unit for reducing said generated mixed signals to a predetermined frequency band.

10. An FMCW sensor comprising:

a fixed frequency generator for generating a carrier frequency and having an output;

a second frequency generator for generating variable modulation frequencies and having an output;

a mixer for generating mixed signals from said carrier frequency and said modulation frequencies and for reducing said generated mixed signals to a predetermined frequency band, said mixer including a field effect transistor having a gate terminal connected to said output of said second frequency generator, a source terminal connected to ground via a low pass filter, and a drain terminal connected to said output of said fixed frequency generator, and including an output, said mixed signals being supplied from said source terminal to said output;

a transmitter and receiver unit having an input connected to said output of said mixer and having an output;

a reference unit having an input connected to said output of said second frequency generator and having an output;

an evaluator having an input connected to said output of said transmitter and receiver unit, an input connected to said output of said reference unit, and an output.

11. The FMCW sensor according to claim 10, further comprising a following frequency filter connected between said mixer and said transmitter and receiver unit for reducing said generated mixed signals to a predetermined frequency band.