Abstract: A method of synchronizing a plurality of spatially distributed multi-input multi-output (MIMO) radar systems includes designating one of the plurality of MIMO radar systems that includes a linear frequency modulator as a master MIMO radar system, and designating each of the other plurality of MIMO radar systems as slave MIMO radar systems. Each of the slave MIMO radar systems receives an output of the linear frequency modulator. A synchronization signal is sent from the linear frequency modulator through the modulator splitter to each of the slave MIMO radar systems over respective cables, and a return signal is sent from each of the slave MIMO radar systems to the master MIMO radar system over the respective cables. A time delay is determined between the master MIMO radar system and each of the slave MIMO radar systems based on a frequency difference between the synchronization signal and the respective return signal.

Abstract: A radar system and method of extending a parameter of a location of a target obtained by radar is disclosed. The system receives an echo signal that is a reflection of a radar source signal from the target. The echo signal is sampled and a peak for the echo signal is objected in frequency space. For a peak that is located at a frequency greater than a Nyquist frequency of the echo signal, the peak is moved to a negative domain of the frequency space and the location of the target is determined using the peak in the negative domain.

Abstract: A system, method and apparatus for detecting a plurality of targets in a radar device are disclosed. A transmitter transmits a source signal and a receiver receives echo signals from reflection of the source signal from the plurality of targets. A composite signal is generated that includes a plurality of target signals from the plurality of echo signals. A largest signal in the composite signal is identified and a value of a parameter of the largest signal is estimated. A representative signal is generated as a convolution of a point target having the estimated value of the parameter. The representative signal is subtracted from the composite signal to obtain a remaining signal. Another of the plurality of targets is determined using the remaining signal.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling a radar system of a vehicle. One or more transmitters are configured to transmit radar signals. A plurality of antennas or arrays are configured to operate at a common frequency and a method and system for generating random frame intervals and receiving the radar signals in response to the random frame intervals.

Abstract: A system and method for obtaining a Doppler frequency of a target are disclosed. A receiver receives a first plurality of samples of a first echo signal from the target and a second plurality of samples of a second echo signal from the target. The second plurality of samples is separated from the first plurality of samples by a time period. A phase shift is determined for the duration of the time period and the phase shift is applied to the second plurality of samples. The first plurality of samples is combined with the second plurality of samples to obtain combined samples, and the Doppler frequency for the target is obtained from the combined samples.

Abstract: A method and system to obtain a velocity measurement of a target detected by a radar system using an asymmetric Doppler spectrum includes a receive portion of the radar system to receive a reflected signal from the target. A mixer mixes the reflected signal with a shifted signal to obtain a mixed signal. The shifted signal is a shifted version of a transmitted signal that results in the reflected signal and the Doppler spectrum is defined by a frequency shift value of the shifted signal. A processor processes the mixed signal to obtain the velocity measurement.

Abstract: A system and method of determining a relative velocity of an object at a radar system is disclosed. A transmitter transmits a source signal at the object and a receiver receives an echo signal that is a reflection of the source signal from the object. The echo signal is partitioned into a first portion and a second portion at a processor. A first Doppler frequency is estimated for the first portion and a second Doppler frequency is estimated for the portion. A difference is estimated between the first Doppler frequency and the second Doppler frequency. A presence of a Doppler ambiguity is determined from a comparison of the estimated difference to a selected Doppler frequency. A corrected Doppler frequency is obtained based on the Doppler ambiguity and the relative velocity of the object is determined from the corrected Doppler frequency.

Abstract: A method of calibrating a radar system of a vehicle is disclosed. A source signal is transmitted from a transmitter at a target at a selected location from the radar system. An echo signal is received as a reflection of the source signal from the target at an in-phase channel and quadrature channel of a receiver. A range space for the echo signal is obtained that includes a target peak corresponding to the target, wherein the range space includes a ghost peak for the target resulting from an IQ difference between the in-phase and quadrature channels. The IQ difference between the in-phase and quadrature channels is adjusted to reduce an amplitude of the ghost frequency peak.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining a distance between a first radar system disposed on a vehicle and a second radar system disposed on the vehicle. A target reflector is moved along a track to a location along a perpendicular bisector of a baseline connecting the first radar system and the second radar system. A direct range measurement is obtained for at least one of the first radar system and the second radar system, and a bistatic range measurement is obtained between the first radar system and the second radar system. A processor determines the distance between the first radar system and the second radar system using the direct range measurement, the bistatic range measurement and a radial length of the target reflector.

Abstract: A system and method synchronize two radars by transmitting a linear frequency modulated first signal from a first radar, receiving a first reflection at the first radar based on the first signal, transmitting a linear frequency modulated second signal from a second radar, and receiving a second reflection at the second radar based on the second signal. A fast Fourier transform is performed on the first reflection and on the second reflection to obtain a first frequency-domain signal and a second frequency-domain signal. The first frequency-domain signal and the second frequency-domain signal are converted to the time domain to obtain a first time-domain signal and a second time-domain signal. The first time-domain signal and the second time-domain signal are processed to obtain a time difference in transmission of the first signal and the second signal, and the two radars are adjusted based on the time difference to synchronize subsequent transmissions.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling a radar system of a vehicle. One or more transmitters are configured to transmit radar signals and tracking information is translated and coupled between radar transmitters in order to reduce target acquisition times when commencing a new track.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining a frequency of an echo signal obtained by a radar system is disclosed. The echo signal in response to a source signal of the radar system is received at a receiver. A harmonic oscillator generates a harmonic component signal, and a multiplier multiplies the echo signal with the harmonic component signal to obtain a combined signal. A Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) is performed on the combined signal to obtain a peak in a frequency space, wherein a central frequency of a frequency bin in the frequency space is shifted with respect to the frequency of the echo signal by the harmonic component signal. The frequency of the echo signal is determined from the shifted central frequency.

Abstract: A method and radar system and vehicle that tracks an object is disclosed. A source signal is transmitted into a volume that includes the object. A reflected signal is received from the volume in response to the source signal. The reflected signal includes a reflection of the source signal from the object. A range is determined for the object from the reflected signal. A ground signal is estimated at the determined range and an amount of the ground signal in the reflected signal is estimated. The object is selected for tracking based on the estimate of the amount of the ground signal in the reflection from the object.

Abstract: A system and method for resolving a first target from a second target by radar is disclosed. The system includes a transmitter for transmitting a source signal, a receiver for receiving first and second echo signals from reflection of the source signal from at least a first target and a second target, respectively. A processor is used to subtract the first echo signal from the composite signal to obtain a second generation of the second echo signal, subtract the second generation of the second echo signal from the composite signal to obtain a second generation of the first echo signal, and estimate a parameter value for the first target from the second generation of the first echo signal and a parameter value for the second target from the second generation of the second echo signal.

Abstract: A radar system and method of determining a tracking parameter for a target in a radar system is disclosed. A transmitter transmits a source signal at a target and a receiver receives an echo signal from the target corresponding to the source signal. A processor provides a discrete frequency spectrum for the echo signal, shifts the discrete frequency spectrum in frequency space by a selected amount to obtain a shifted spectrum, filters the shifted spectrum using a filter that is shifted in frequency space a same amount as the shifted spectrum, and determines a tracking parameter of the target from a central frequency of the frequency space at which an intensity of the shifted and filtered spectrum is a peak intensity.

Abstract: A multi-input multi-output (MIMO) radar system and method of performing low-latency decoding in a MIMO radar system. The method includes transmitting a different linear frequency-modulated continuous wave (LFM-CW) transmit signal from each of N transmit elements of the MIMO radar system, each transmit signal associated with teach of the N transmit elements including a respective code, and receiving reflections associated with each of the transmit signals from each of the N transmit elements at each receive element of the MIMO radar system. Processing each symbol corresponding with each received reflection on a symbol-by-symbol basis is done to obtain a respective decoded signal prior to receiving all the received reflections associated with all the N transmit elements, wherein the processing includes using a Hadamard matrix with N columns in which each column is associated with the respective code transmitted by each of the N transmit elements.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to processing of electromagnetic signals, and more specifically, for a method and apparatus for managing the computational cost of radar signal processing on a vehicular radar. The system is operative to utilize a Goerzel filter to aid in determining a frequency for a radar echo. In addition the system uses a DFT operation for tracking stationary objects and a FFT operation for tracing moving objects.

Abstract: A control system and method dynamically adjust radar parameters of a radar system on a platform. The method includes obtaining inputs including platform parameters, wherein the platform parameters includes speed and braking duration, and obtaining a characterization of driving behavior based on the inputs. Modifying the radar parameters is based on the inputs and the characterization, wherein the modifying includes changing a maximum range, and providing alerts to a driver of the platform is based on the radar system.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling a radar system of a vehicle. In particular a method and apparatus are taught for a predictive tracking algorithm for predicting the power of a target cluster for the next frame and determining a predicted cluster power for the next frame. The updated power of the next cluster frame is a function of the predicted power, the current measured power and the SNR of the environment. The power of cluster is computed taking into account the energy backscattered by each detection inside the cluster.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling a radar system of a vehicle. One or more transmitters are configured to transmit radar signals and tracking information is translated and coupled between radar transmitters in order to reduce target acquisition times when commencing a new track.