The present invention provides an amplitude comparison monopulse radar system. The system comprises a beam forming network for coupling to the phased array antenna. The beam forming network is adapted to change the phase delays between the antenna elements in a phased array antenna such that the monopulse radiation pattern is scanned over an angular range through space.

A weather radar with a transmission antenna array that outputs a high aspect ratio FMCW transmission beam that illuminates an area in the field of regard in elevation and may be electronically scanned in azimuth. The weather radar includes a receive array and receive electronics that may receive the reflected return radar signals and electronically form a plurality of receive beams that may be used to determine characteristics of the area in the field of regard. The receive beams may be used to determine reflectivity of weather systems and provide a coherent weather picture. The weather radar may simultaneously process the receive signals into monopulse beams that may be used for accurate navigation as well as detection and tracking of objects, such as birds, aircraft, UAVs and the like.

In some examples, a system is configured to be mounted on a vehicle, the system including one or more phased-array radar devices configured to transmit first radar signals, receive first returned radar signals, transmit second radar signals, and receive second returned radar signals. In some examples, the system also includes processing circuitry configured to detect an object based on the first returned radar signals and determine an estimated altitude of the vehicle above a ground surface based on the second returned radar signals.

In some examples, a system is configured to be mounted on a vehicle, the system including one or more phased-array radar devices configured to transmit first radar signals, receive first returned radar signals, transmit second radar signals, and receive second returned radar signals. In some examples, the system also includes processing circuitry configured to detect an object based on the first returned radar signals and determine an estimated altitude of the vehicle above a ground surface based on the second returned radar signals.

In some examples, a system is configured for determining an estimated altitude of a melting layer, and the system includes a weather radar device configured to transmit radar signals and receive reflected radar signals. In some examples, the system also includes processing circuitry configured to determine the estimated altitude of the melting layer based on the reflected radar signals.

A transmitter of a radar system repeatedly transmits a first OFDM symbol into a scene to be characterized during a first time interval, and repeatedly transmits, during a second time interval that occurs after the first time interval, a second OFDM symbol into the scene. A receiver of the radar system generates a first channel response estimate for a first section of the scene based on: received reflections of the first symbol, at least one of which was received during transmission of the second OFDM symbol in the second time interval, and a first channel response estimate for a second section of the scene based on the first channel response estimate for the first section of the scene, received reflections of the first symbol, and received reflections of the second symbol. The receiver detects objects present in the scene based on the first channel response estimate for the first section of the scene and the first channel response estimate for the second section of the scene.

The present application relates to active sensors for vehicles to detect possible obstacles. The application teaches an obstacle detection system for a host vehicle which includes: (a) a vehicle navigation system comprising: (a) a vehicle trajectory detector, (b) a geolocator circuit, and (c) a clock output; (b) an energy emitting type sensor (active sensor) to transmit energy (Tx Signal) towards a direction in a field of view of said active sensor and to receives a Tx Signal reflection (Rx Signal) reflected off of objects present within the field of view, wherein the field of view is directed towards a front of the host vehicle and said active sensor is digitally configurable to operate according to at least two different operating regimes; and (c) an active sensor controller configured to select an operating regime for said digitally configurable active sensor based on a ruleset which factors one or more navigation system outputs provided by said vehicle navigation system.

A method for interpolated virtual aperture array radar tracking includes: transmitting first and second probe signals; receiving a first reflected probe signal at a radar array; receiving a second reflected probe signal at the radar array; calculating a target range from at least one of the first and second reflected probe signals; corresponding signal instances of the first reflected probe signal to physical receiver elements of the radar array; corresponding signal instances of the second reflected probe signal to virtual elements of the radar array; interpolating signal instances; calculating a first target angle; and calculating a position of the tracking target relative to the radar array from the target range and first target angle.

Examples disclosed herein relate to reconfigurable circuits and systems for a radar system enabling both short-range and long-range operation. A reconfiguration module enables the various configuration changes for operation. The multi-range operation may be used to adjust transmission parameters of other modules including wireless communications.

A radar apparatus with a transmission antenna array that outputs a high aspect ratio frequency modulation continuous wave (FMCW) transmission beam that illuminates a large field of regard in elevation and may be both electronically and mechanically scanned in azimuth. The weather radar apparatus includes a receive array and receive electronics that may receive the reflected return radar signals and digitally form a plurality of receive beams that may be used to determine characteristics of the area in the field of regard. The receive beams may be used to determine reflectivity of weather systems and provide a coherent weather picture. The weather radar apparatus may simultaneously process the receive signals into monopulse beams that may be used for accurate navigation as well as collision avoidance.