Patent Application
20100066591
For radar systems which are to have angular resolution, determination of a particular system's radiation diagram for the antennas is typically necessary. Such radar systems include automotive and other high-volume radar systems.
The radiation diagram of a radar system is usually determined and calibrated during a test portion of the manufacturing process. Each radar system to be tested is mounted on a rotatable table, or turntable, and test signals are sent toward a fixed radar reflector. Readings are then taken and the individual antenna diagram of each system is recorded as a function of the angle of rotation. A significant disadvantage of such a test procedure is that each radar system must be handled in order to be individually mounted on the turntable, which is inefficient and expensive.
The invention is related to radar system characterization. In one embodiment, a radar module characterization system comprises a target, a conveyor comprising at least one connector configured to removably couple a radar module to the conveyor and to linearly displace the radar module relative to the target, and a control system communicatively coupled to the conveyor.
In another embodiment, a method comprises linearly displacing a radar module relative to a target, transmitting a signal from the radar module toward the target, and determining a characteristic of the radar module based on a reflection of the signal from the target.
The invention may be more completely understood from the following detailed description of various embodiments in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:
While the invention is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit the invention to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
The invention is related to systems and methods for radar system characteristic determination. Embodiments of the invention can simplify system characteristic determination, testing and calibration while improving efficiency, reducing costs, and maintaining or improving accuracy. The invention can be more readily understood by reference to
One embodiment of a characteristic determination system 100 is depicted in
Conveyor 102 provides for efficient placement and handling of a plurality of radar modules 106 for individual analysis. Conveyor 102 comprises at least one connector 108 to selectively and removably couple radar module 106 to conveyor 102 during a test or analysis procedure. In the embodiment depicted in
In one embodiment, radar modules 106 are automatically placed onto conveyor 102 and coupled to connector 108, such as during part of an automated production process. In another embodiment, radar modules 106 are manually placed onto conveyor 102. Adjacent radar modules 106, such as are depicted in
Conveyor 102 is adapted to move radar modules 106 through a characteristic determination, test and/or calibration system at an appropriate speed. In one embodiment, conveyor 102 conveys radar modules 106 in a continuous manner. In another embodiment, conveyor 102 conveys radar modules 106 in a series of discrete steps. In
As each radar module 106 moves through system 100 and passes target 104, one or more antenna characteristics can be determined from a signal strength of a reflection from target 104 when radar module 106 is at one or more known positions. For example, an antenna characteristic of radar module 106 can be determined from a signal as a function of the lateral displacement of radar module 106 a distance d relative to target 104. From this displacement, an angle α can be determined. Although a dimension of conveyor 102 and/or the spacing of adjacent radar modules 106 can affect the angular range which can be sensed in system 100, in one embodiment the angular range is at least about ±15 degrees. The distance between radar module 106 and target 104, as well as any variation in the distance, can also be considered and accounted for in subsequent data interpretation and analysis. In an embodiment in which target 104 comprises a measuring receiver, information and characteristics related to radar module 106 can be determined from signals received by target 104.
In one embodiment, and referring to
In various embodiments, control system 110 is further adapted to receive, process and analyze resultant data and information, such as received signal strength, from radar module 106. In other embodiments, data can be processed within radar module 106 itself. In these embodiments, radar module 106 can receive information from control system 110 relating to position and other factors necessary for an analysis or characterization. In still other embodiments, data processing can be shared between radar module 106 and control system 110.
In one embodiment, the result of the analysis can be a pass/fail indication from control system 110 for a particular radar module 106 under test. Such an indication can be relevant to radar modules 106 which comprise a single fixed antenna beam, for example in radar systems for industrial application which measure a target distance but not direction. In various other embodiments, the result of the analysis can be data or information that characterizes a particular radar module 106, and this data or information can be stored with that radar module 106. For example, radar systems with multiple or sweep antenna beams can measure both distance and direction of a target, and the characterizing data obtained within system 100 can be stored, as this data can be used to obtain sufficient angular precision during use.
Various embodiments of the invention thus provide efficient, cost-effective characterization and test systems for radar systems. Embodiments of the invention can also be adapted for other high-frequency and communications systems in which system and/or component characterization, test and/or analysis are needed or desired. In any embodiment, the characterization and test systems can be part of or integrated within a production or test system or facility or can comprise stand-alone or modular systems for post-processing on- or off-site.
Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein for purposes of description of an example embodiment, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that a wide variety of alternate and/or equivalent implementations calculated to achieve the same purposes may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown and described without departing from the scope of the present invention. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the invention may be implemented in a very wide variety of embodiments. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the various embodiments discussed herein, including the disclosure information in the attached appendices. Therefore, it is manifestly intended that this invention be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.
