KR-20260067345-A - DISTRIBUTED FMCW RADAR SYSTEM

KR20260067345AKR 20260067345 AKR20260067345 AKR 20260067345AKR-20260067345-A

Abstract

The present invention discloses a distributed FMCW radar system. The distributed FMCW radar system includes first and second transceivers that generate a transmission signal based on a reference clock signal and a control signal from a reference clock generator, and generate an intermediate frequency signal together with a reception signal. Each of the transceivers includes a distance-phase difference detection device that compares the intermediate frequency signals between them to generate a control signal based on the frequency and phase difference.

Inventors

이자열
김연승
박선정
김기수
박경환
김현석

Assignees

한국전자통신연구원

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20251104
Priority Date: 20241105

Claims (20)

A first transceiver comprising: a reference clock generator that outputs a reference clock signal; a first transmitter that generates a first transmission signal based on the reference clock signal and a first control signal; and a first receiver that receives a first reception signal and generates a first intermediate frequency signal based on the first transmission signal, the first reception signal, and the first control signal; and A second transceiver comprising: a second transmitter that receives a reference clock signal distributed through a cable and generates a second transmission signal based on the distributed reference clock signal and a second control signal; and a second receiver that receives a second reception signal and generates a second intermediate frequency signal based on the second transmission signal, the second reception signal, and the second control signal. The first transceiver further includes a first distance-phase difference detection device that receives the first intermediate frequency signal and the second intermediate frequency signal and generates the first control signal based on a comparison of the first intermediate frequency signal and the second intermediate frequency signal. The above-described second transceiver is a distributed FMCW radar further comprising a second distance-phase difference detection device that receives the first intermediate frequency signal and the second intermediate frequency signal and generates the second control signal based on a comparison of the first intermediate frequency signal and the second intermediate frequency signal.
In paragraph 1, The above-mentioned first transmitter is: First antenna; A first transmitting side FMCW signal generator that generates a first FMCW signal based on the above reference clock signal; A first power amplifier that amplifies the power of the first FMCW signal and outputs a first transmission signal; A first transmitting-side signal regulator that adjusts the frequency or phase of the first transmitting signal based on the first control signal; and A distributed FMCW radar system comprising a first circulator that transmits the output of the first transmitting side signal controller through the first antenna and transmits the first received signal received from the first antenna to the first receiver.
In paragraph 2, The above first receiver is: A first receiving-side signal regulator that receives a first receiving signal from the first circulator and adjusts the frequency or phase of the first receiving signal based on the first control signal; A first low-noise amplifier that amplifies the output signal of the first receiving-side signal regulator; and A distributed FMCW radar system comprising a first downmixer that synthesizes the output of the first low-noise amplifier and the first transmission signal to generate the first intermediate frequency signal.
In paragraph 3, The above first receiver is: A distributed FMCW radar system further comprising a second receiving-side signal regulator that adjusts the frequency or phase of the output of the first down-mixer based on the first control signal.
In paragraph 2, The above second transmitter is: Second antenna; A second transmitting side FMCW signal generator that generates a second FMCW signal based on the distributed reference clock signal above; A second power amplifier that amplifies the power of the second FMCW signal and outputs a second transmission signal; A second transmitting-side signal regulator that adjusts the frequency or phase of the second transmitting signal based on the second control signal; and A distributed FMCW radar system comprising a second circulator that transmits the output of the second transmitting side signal controller through the second antenna and transmits the second received signal received from the second antenna to the second receiver.
In paragraph 5, The above second receiver is: A second receiving-side signal regulator that receives a second receiving signal from the second circulator and adjusts the frequency or phase of the second receiving signal based on the second control signal; A second low-noise amplifier that amplifies the output signal of the second receiving-side signal regulator; and A distributed FMCW radar system comprising a second downmixer that synthesizes the output of the second low-noise amplifier and the second transmission signal to generate the second intermediate frequency signal.
In paragraph 1, A distributed FMCW radar system further comprising a signal synthesizer that synthesizes the first intermediate frequency signal and the second intermediate frequency signal and outputs a synthesized intermediate frequency signal according to the synthesis.
In paragraph 1, The first distance-phase difference detection device is: A phase difference detector that calculates the phase difference between the first intermediate frequency signal and the second intermediate frequency signal; A phase signal converter that generates a first phase control signal based on the above phase difference; A frequency difference detector that calculates the frequency difference between the first intermediate frequency signal and the second intermediate frequency signal; and A distributed FMCW radar system comprising a frequency signal converter that generates a first frequency control signal based on the above frequency difference.
In paragraph 8, The above-mentioned first transmitter is: A variable phase adjuster that adjusts the phase of a received signal based on the first phase control signal and A distributed FMCW radar system further comprising a variable delay line controller that adjusts the delay line of a received signal based on the first frequency control signal.
In paragraph 8, The second distance-phase difference detection device is: A second phase difference detector that calculates the phase difference between the first intermediate frequency signal and the second intermediate frequency signal; A second phase signal converter that generates a second phase control signal based on the above phase difference; A second frequency difference detector that calculates the frequency difference between the first intermediate frequency signal and the second intermediate frequency signal; and A distributed FMCW radar system comprising a second frequency signal converter that generates a second frequency control signal based on the above frequency difference.
In Paragraph 10, The above second transmitter is: A second variable phase adjuster that adjusts the phase of a received signal based on the second phase control signal and A distributed FMCW radar system further comprising a second variable delay line controller that controls the delay line of a received signal based on the second frequency control signal.
A first transceiver comprising: a reference clock generator that outputs a reference clock signal; a first transmitter that generates a first transmission signal based on the reference clock signal; and a first receiver that receives a first reception signal, mixes the first transmission signal and the first reception signal to generate a first mixed signal, and adjusts the frequency or phase of the first mixed signal based on a first control signal to generate a first intermediate frequency signal; and A second transceiver comprising: a second transmitter that receives a reference clock signal distributed through a cable and generates a second transmission signal based on the distributed reference clock signal; a second receiver that receives a second reception signal, mixes the second transmission signal and the second reception signal to generate a second mixed signal, and adjusts the frequency or phase of the second mixed signal based on a second control signal to generate a second intermediate frequency signal. The first transceiver further includes a first distance-phase difference detection device that receives the first intermediate frequency signal and the second intermediate frequency signal and generates the first control signal based on a comparison of the first intermediate frequency signal and the second intermediate frequency signal. The above-described second transceiver is a distributed FMCW radar further comprising a second distance-phase difference detection device that receives the first intermediate frequency signal and the second intermediate frequency signal and generates the second control signal based on a comparison of the first intermediate frequency signal and the second intermediate frequency signal.
In Paragraph 12, The above-mentioned first transmitter is: First antenna; A first transmitting side FMCW signal generator that generates a first FMCW signal based on the above reference clock signal; A first power amplifier that amplifies the power of the first FMCW signal and outputs a first transmission signal; and A distributed FMCW radar system comprising a circulator that transmits the output of the first power amplifier through the first antenna and transmits the first received signal received from the first antenna to the first receiver.
In Paragraph 13, The above first receiver is: A low-noise amplifier that receives the first received signal from the above-mentioned circulator and amplifies the first received signal; A down-mixer that synthesizes the output of the low-noise amplifier and the first transmission signal to generate the first mixed signal; and A distributed FMCW radar system comprising a receiving-side signal modulator that generates the first intermediate frequency signal by adjusting the frequency or phase of the first mixed signal based on the first control signal.
In Paragraph 14, The first distance-phase difference detection device is: A phase difference detector that calculates the phase difference between the first intermediate frequency signal and the second intermediate frequency signal; A phase signal converter that generates a first phase control signal based on the above phase difference; A frequency difference detector that calculates the frequency difference between the first intermediate frequency signal and the second intermediate frequency signal; and A distributed FMCW radar system comprising a frequency signal converter that generates a first frequency control signal based on the above frequency difference.
In paragraph 15, The above-mentioned receiving-side signal regulator A variable phase adjuster that adjusts the phase of the first mixed signal based on the first phase control signal; and A distributed FMCW radar system comprising a variable frequency controller that adjusts the frequency of the first mixed signal based on the first frequency control signal.
A first transceiver comprising: a reference clock generator that outputs a reference clock signal; a first transmitter that adjusts the frequency or phase of the reference clock signal based on the reference clock signal and a first control signal and generates a first transmission signal based on the adjusted reference clock signal; and a first receiver that receives a first reception signal, adjusts the frequency or phase of the first reception signal based on the first control signal, generates a first receiving side FMCW signal based on the reference clock signal, and generates a first intermediate frequency signal based on the adjusted first reception signal and the first receiving side FMCW signal; and A second transmitter that adjusts the frequency or phase of a distributed reference clock signal based on a reference clock signal and a second control signal distributed through a cable, and generates a second transmission signal based on the adjusted and distributed reference clock signal; and a second receiver that receives a second reception signal, adjusts the frequency or phase of the second reception signal based on the second control signal, generates a second receiving side FMCW signal based on the distributed reference clock signal, and generates a second intermediate frequency signal based on the adjusted first reception signal and the second receiving side FMCW signal. The first transceiver further includes a first distance-phase difference detection device that receives the first intermediate frequency signal and the second intermediate frequency signal and generates the first control signal based on a comparison of the first intermediate frequency signal and the second intermediate frequency signal. The above-described second transceiver is a distributed FMCW radar further comprising a second distance-phase difference detection device that receives the first intermediate frequency signal and the second intermediate frequency signal and generates the second control signal based on a comparison of the first intermediate frequency signal and the second intermediate frequency signal.
In Paragraph 17, The above-mentioned first transmitter is: antenna; A transmitting signal regulator that adjusts the frequency or phase of the reference clock signal based on the first control signal; A first transmitting side FMCW signal generator that generates a first transmitting side FMCW signal based on the above-mentioned regulated reference clock signal; A first power amplifier that amplifies the power of the first transmitting side FMCW signal and outputs the first transmitting signal; and A distributed FMCW radar system comprising a circulator that transmits the output of the first power amplifier through the antenna and transmits the first received signal received from the antenna to the first receiver.
In Paragraph 18, The above first receiver is: A receiving-side signal regulator that receives a first receiving signal from the above-mentioned circulator and adjusts the frequency or phase of the first receiving signal based on the first control signal; A low-noise amplifier that amplifies the above-mentioned regulated first received signal; A first receiving side FMCW signal generator that generates the first receiving side FMCW signal based on the above reference clock signal; and A distributed FMCW radar system comprising a down-mixer that mixes the first receiving side FMCW signal and the output of the low-noise amplifier to generate the first intermediate frequency signal.
In Paragraph 18, The first distance-phase difference detection device is: A phase difference detector that calculates the phase difference between the first intermediate frequency signal and the second intermediate frequency signal; A phase signal converter that generates a first phase control signal based on the above phase difference; A frequency difference detector that calculates the frequency difference between the first intermediate frequency signal and the second intermediate frequency signal; and A distributed FMCW radar system comprising a frequency signal converter that generates a first frequency control signal based on the above frequency difference.

Description

Distributed FMCW Radar System The present invention relates to a radar, and more specifically, to a distributed FMCW radar system comprising a plurality of transceivers. FMCE radar technology is a technique that measures the distance and speed of a target by transmitting a signal with continuously modulated frequency and analyzing the frequency difference between the signal and the signal reflected back from the target. With the advancement of silicon CMOS processes, semiconductor chips capable of high-speed operation are being developed, and radar-on-chip (RoC) technology in the millimeter-wave band is also being developed. FMCW radar technology is being used in various fields such as automotive, safety, security, medical, and disaster management by reducing the size, power consumption, and cost of radar systems. In particular, there is a growing demand for radars for detecting buried victims, such as those trapped in buildings caused by natural or man-made disasters. As a means to operate lightweight, low-power radars, distributed radars are being researched. These distributed radars utilize a method where a single large radar is split into multiple radars with lower transmission outputs and combined to synthesize the respective transmission signals. To improve the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), a method is required to receive signals reflected back from the target at each of the multiple receivers and compensate for the transmission-reception path difference and phase difference. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a distributed FMCW radar system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2a is a block diagram showing a first transceiver according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2b is a block diagram showing a second transceiver according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a distance-phase difference detection device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a first signal regulator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the operation of a distance phase difference detection device and a first signal regulator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 6a is a block diagram showing another example of a first transceiver according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 6b is a block diagram showing another example of a second transceiver according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a second signal regulator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 8a is a block diagram showing another example of a first transceiver according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 8b is a block diagram showing another example of a second transceiver according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 9a is a block diagram showing another example of a first transceiver according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 9b is a block diagram showing another example of a second transceiver according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating the operation method of a distributed FMCW radar system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In the following, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described clearly and in detail so that a person skilled in the art can easily practice the present disclosure. The components described by reference to terms such as part or unit, module, block, ~or, ~er used in the detailed description and the functional blocks illustrated in the drawings may be implemented in the form of software, hardware, or a combination thereof. For example, software may be machine code, firmware, embedded code, and application software. For example, hardware may include electrical circuits, electronic circuits, processors, computers, integrated circuits, integrated circuit cores, pressure sensors, inertial sensors, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), passive components, or a combination thereof. In this document, each of the phrases such as "A or B", "at least one of A and B", "at least one of A or B", "A, B or C", "at least one of A, B and C", and "at least one of A, B, or C" may include any one of the items listed together in the corresponding phrase, or all possible combinations thereof. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a distributed FMCW radar system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring to FIG. 1, the distributed FMCW radar system (100) may include a first transceiver (110) and a second transceiver (120). The first transceiver (110) may include a reference clock generator (111), a first transmitter (112), and a first receiver (113). The reference clock generator (111) can generate a reference clock signal (C_REF). The reference clock generator (111) can output the reference clock signal (C_REF). The output reference clock signal (C_REF) can be provid