Abstract: An automotive radar test system includes circuitry for multiple down and up conversions of a signal from the automotive radar. Conditioning circuitry delays an intermediate frequency signal (IF2) obtained after a second down conversion to simulate the delay of a return signal from an object located a particular distance from the automotive radar, and to attenuate the IF2 signal to simulate variable target sizes, and to generate a Doppler shift in the IF2 signal to simulate target speed. The conditioned signal is up-converted and transmitted back to the automotive radar system to determine if the automotive radar provides accurate readings for distance, size and speed. The radar test system further couples the second IF signal to a spectrum analyzer to determine if the automotive radar is operating in the desired bandwidth and to a power meter to determine if the automotive radar is transmitting at a desired power level.

Abstract: A radar test system for testing the performance of an automotive radar system includes circuitry for multiple down and up conversions of a signal from the automotive radar. Conditioning circuitry is further included to delay an intermediate frequency signal (IF2) obtained after the second down conversion to simulate the delay of a return signal from an object located a particular distance from the automotive radar system, and to attenuate the IF2 signal to simulate variable target sizes, and to generate a Doppler shift in the IF2 signal to simulate target speed. The conditioned signal is up-converted and transmitted back to the automotive radar system to determine if the automotive radar provides accurate readings for distance, size and speed.

Abstract: Two receive antennas integrated with power detectors are used to align the thrust vector of a vehicle to the boresite of an automotive radar antenna mounted upon the vehicle. In the system, a signal is transmitted from the radar antenna to the Radar Test System (RTS) positioned as an amplitude only interferometer for testing the radar. Signals received by the RTS antennas are provided to amplitude detectors for generation of amplitude plots of a difference signal, or alternative signal, for display. The boresite angle of the radar antenna is then adjusted until the amplitude of the difference signal, or alternative signal, reaches a minimum to align the radar antenna boresite with the vehicle thrust vector. Additional pairs of receive antennas and detectors may be used to provide boresite alignment both in azimuth and elevation.