Radar sensor having a CFAR detector

• US 6,456,231 B1
• Filed: 06/01/2001
• Issued: 09/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mcewan Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: Mcewan Technologies LLC
• Inventors: McEwan, Thomas E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sotomayor, John B.
• Application Number:
  US09/872,531
• Time in Patent Office: 480 Days
• Field of Search: 342/93, 342/159, 342/160, 342/161, 342/162, 342/168, 342/173, 342/21
• US Class Current: 342/93
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/0209 Systems with very large relative bandwidth, i.e. larger than 10 %, e.g. baseband, pulse, carrier-free, ultrawideband
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/222 using random or pseudorandom pulse repetition frequency
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/2927 by deriving and controlling a threshold value

Abstract

A constant false alarm rate (CFAR) detector prevents false radar triggers due to RF interference by proportionally increasing the radar detection threshold as interference increases. The radar operates with a randomized PRF, which randomizes detected RF interference while maintaining echo signal coherence. Post-detection filters provide a signal channel and an interference channel. The interference channel augments the threshold of the signal threshold detector. The interference channel gain can be adjusted to ensure the detection threshold is always higher than noise in the signal channel, thereby eliminating false alarms due to RF interference. Accordingly, the CFAR detector eliminates a major false alarm nuisance, particularly in radar security sensors. Applications for the low-cost system include indoor and outdoor burglar alarms, automotive security alarms, home and industrial automation, robotics, and vehicle proximity sensors.

Claims

1. A radar transceiver apparatus comprising:

a noise generator;

a PRF generator modulated by the noise generator;

a radar transceiver for transmitting and receiving RF bursts with controlled timing from the PRF generator, and for producing a baseband output;

an antenna connected to the radar transceiver for radiating RF bursts to, and receiving echo bursts from a target;

an interference processor coupled to the radar transceiver baseband output;

a threshold detector having first and second inputs for detecting baseband signals, with the first input coupled to the baseband output of the radar transceiver and the second input coupled to the interference processor.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the PRF generator is frequency modulated by the noise generator.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a signal processor coupled between the baseband output of the radar transceiver and the first input of the threshold detector.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the signal processor comprises a signal filter.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the signal processor further comprises an envelope detector connected to the signal filter.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the interference processor comprises an interference filter, an amplifier, and an envelope detector.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a threshold reference summation element coupled between the interference processor and the second input of the threshold detector.

8. A radar sensor comprising:

a radar transceiver for transmitting and receiving RF bursts at a random PRF, and for producing a baseband output;

an antenna for radiating RF bursts to, and receiving echo RF bursts from a target;

a baseband interference filter for filtering baseband interference from the baseband output;

an amplifier for amplifying the filtered baseband interference;

an interference envelope detector for generating a smoothed interference envelope of the amplified filtered baseband interference;

a threshold detector responsive to the difference between the baseband output and the smoothed interference envelope.

a threshold detector responsive to the difference between the baseband output and the

smoothed interference envelope.

9. The sensor of claim 8 further comprising a signal filter for filtering the baseband signal.

10. The sensor of claim 9 further comprising a signal envelope detector for generating a smoothed signal envelope.

11. The sensor of claim 8 further comprising a summation element for summing a threshold reference voltage with the smoothed interference envelope for augmenting the threshold detector threshold.

12. A method of radar sensing, comprising:

transmitting RF bursts at a PRF;

receiving RF echo bursts at the PRF;

sampling the received RF echo bursts with controlled timing at the PRF to provide a sampled baseband output;

noise modulating the PRF to randomize sampled interference;

filtering the sampled baseband output to exclude baseband signals and produce an interference signal;

threshold detecting the baseband signal using the interference signal to augment the threshold level.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising augmenting the threshold level with a threshold reference voltage.