Method and apparatus for determining spread sequence for generating spread spectrum radar signal

• US 9,575,159 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2015
• Issued: 02/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seoul National University R&DB Foundation (Seoul National University)
• Original Assignee: Seoul National University R&DB Foundation (Seoul National University)
• Inventors: Lee, Jae Hong
• Primary Examiner(s): Bythrow, Peter
• Application Number:
  US14/602,564
• Publication Number:
  US 20150212195A1
• Time in Patent Office: 761 Days
• Field of Search: 342/123, 342128-144
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/284 using coded pulses
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/42 Simultaneous measurement of distance and other co-ordinates indirect measurement G01S13/46
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/582 adapted for simultaneous range and velocity measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/86 Combinations of radar systems with non-radar systems, e.g. sonar, direction finder
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/93 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93271 in the front of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93275 in the bumper area
• 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 7/0232 Avoidance by frequency multiplex
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/0234 Avoidance by code multiplex

Abstract

A method for transmitting a spread spectrum radar signal stores a plurality of spread sequences. Further, an elevation of a vehicle is measured by the method. Based on the measured elevation of the vehicle, the method selects at least one spread sequence of the plurality of spread sequences, and transmits a spread spectrum radar signal based on the selected at least one spread sequence. Additionally, the method may measure a travel direction of the vehicle, and then select at least one spread sequence based on the measured elevation of the vehicle and the measured travel direction of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting a spread spectrum radar signal, comprising:

storing a plurality of spread sequences;

measuring an elevation of a vehicle;

selecting at least one spread sequence of the plurality of spread sequences based on the measured elevation of the vehicle; and

transmitting a spread spectrum radar signal based on the selected at least one spread sequence.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein storing the plurality of spread sequences comprises storing a plurality of elevation ranges and the plurality of spread sequences by associating the plurality of elevation ranges with the plurality of spread sequences, and

wherein selecting the at least one spread sequence of the plurality of spread sequences based on the measured elevation of the vehicle comprises:

determining an elevation range, which includes the measured elevation of the vehicle, from the plurality of elevation ranges; and

selecting a spread sequence associated with the determined elevation range.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the at least one spread sequence of the plurality of spread sequences based on the measured elevation of the vehicle comprises selecting two or more spread sequences, and

wherein transmitting the spread spectrum radar signal based on the selected at least one spread sequence comprises transmitting two or more spread spectrum radar signals based on the selected two or more spread sequences.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein transmitting the two or more spread spectrum radar signals based on the selected two or more spread sequences comprises transmitting the two or more spread spectrum radar signals in two or more directions.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising measuring a travel direction of the vehicle,

wherein selecting the at least one spread sequence of the plurality of spread sequences based on the measured elevation of the vehicle comprises selecting the at least one spread sequence based on the measured elevation of the vehicle and the measured travel direction of the vehicle.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein selecting the at least one spread sequence based on the measured elevation of the vehicle and the measured travel direction of the vehicle comprises:

determining an angle between a pre-set reference direction and the measured travel direction of the vehicle; and

selecting the at least one spread sequence based on the measured elevation of the vehicle and the determined angle.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein determining the angle between the pre-set reference direction and the measured travel direction of the vehicle comprises measuring the angle between the pre-set reference direction and the measured travel direction of the vehicle in a clockwise direction or a counter-clockwise direction.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein selecting the at least one spread sequence based on the measured elevation of the vehicle and the measured travel direction of the vehicle comprises selecting the at least one spread sequence based on the measured elevation of the vehicle and a measured three-dimensional travel direction of the vehicle.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein selecting the at least one spread sequence based on the measured elevation of the vehicle and the measured three-dimensional travel direction of the vehicle comprises:

determining an angle between a pre-set reference direction and at least one two-dimensional travel direction, which is obtained by projecting the three-dimensional travel direction onto at least one two-dimensional plane in a three-dimensional space; and

selecting the at least one spread sequence based on the measured elevation of the vehicle and the determined angle.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein determining the angle between the pre-set reference direction and the at least one two-dimensional travel direction comprises measuring the angle between the pre-set reference direction and the two-dimensional travel direction in a clockwise direction or a counter-clockwise direction.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the spread sequence is one of a pseudo-noise sequence and a Walsh-Hadamard code.

12. An apparatus for transmitting a spread spectrum radar signal, comprising:

a storage unit configured to store a plurality of spread sequences;

an elevation measurement unit configured to measure an elevation of a vehicle;

a processor configured to select at least one spread sequence of the plurality of spread sequences based on the measured elevation of the vehicle; and

a transmission unit configured to transmit a spread spectrum radar signal based on the selected at least one spread sequence.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the storage unit is configured to store a plurality of elevation ranges and the plurality of spread sequences by associating the plurality of elevation ranges with the plurality of spread sequences, and

wherein the processor is configured to:

determine an elevation range, which includes the measured elevation of the vehicle, from the plurality of elevation ranges; and

select a spread sequence associated with the determined elevation range.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the processor is configured to select two or more spread sequences of the plurality of spread sequences based on the measured elevation of the vehicle, and

wherein the transmission unit is configured to transmit two or more spread spectrum radar signals based on the selected two or more spread sequences.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the transmission unit is configured to transmit the two or more spread spectrum radar signals in two or more directions.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a travel direction measurement unit configured to measure a travel direction of the vehicle,

wherein the processor is configured to select the at least one spread sequence based on the measured elevation of the vehicle and the measured travel direction of the vehicle.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the processor is configured to:

determine an angle between a pre-set reference direction and the measured travel direction of the vehicle; and

select the at least one spread sequence based on the measured elevation of the vehicle and the determined angle.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the processor is configured to select the at least one spread sequence based on the measured elevation of the vehicle and a measured three-dimensional travel direction of the vehicle.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the processor is configured to:

determine an angle between a pre-set reference direction and at least one two-dimensional travel direction, which is obtained by projecting the three-dimensional travel direction onto at least one two-dimensional plane in a three-dimensional space; and

select the at least one spread sequence based on the measured elevation of the vehicle and the determined angle.

20. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the spread sequence is one of a pseudo-noise sequence and a Walsh-Hadamard code.

21. A method for selecting a spread sequence, comprising:

storing a plurality of spread sequences;

measuring an elevation of a vehicle;

generating elevation data indicative of the measured elevation of the vehicle; and

selecting at least one spread sequence of the plurality of spread sequences based on the elevation data,

wherein the selected spread sequence is a spread sequence different from a spread sequence that is selectable by a vehicle travelling on an elevation different from the elevation of the vehicle.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising measuring a travel direction of the vehicle,

wherein selecting the at least one spread sequence of the plurality of spread sequences based on the elevation data comprises selecting the at least one spread sequence based on the measured elevation of the vehicle and the measured travel direction of the vehicle.

23. A method for transmitting a spread spectrum radar signal, comprising:

measuring an elevation of a vehicle;

determining a spread sequence based on the measured elevation of the vehicle; and

transmitting a spread spectrum radar signal based on the determined spread sequence.

24. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having a program including instructions that, when executed, cause a processor to perform operations of:

storing a plurality of spread sequences;

measuring an elevation of a vehicle;

selecting at least one spread sequence of the plurality of spread sequences based on the measured elevation of the vehicle; and

transmitting a spread spectrum radar signal based on the selected at least one spread sequence.