A stepped frequency radar system is disclosed. The stepped frequency radar system includes a two-dimensional array of radio frequency (RF) units, wherein each RF unit is configured to implement stepped frequency scanning and includes at least one RF transmit antenna and a two-dimensional array of receive antennas, and a frequency controller configured to provide digital frequency control signals to the RF units in the two-dimensional array of RF units that cause at least two of the RF units to simultaneously perform stepped frequency scanning at two different frequencies.

A method for operating a stepped frequency radar system is disclosed. The method involves performing stepped frequency scanning across a first frequency range using frequency steps of a first step size, the stepped frequency scanning performed using at least one transmit antenna and a two-dimensional array of receive antennas, evaluating data generated from the stepped frequency scanning across the first frequency range, changing from the first step size to a second step size in response to the data evaluation, wherein the second step size is different from the first step size, and performing stepped frequency scanning across a second frequency range using the at least one transmit antenna and the two-dimensional array of receive antennas and using frequency steps of the second step size.

A stepped frequency radar system is disclosed. The system includes components for performing stepped frequency scanning across a frequency range using frequency steps of a step size, the stepped frequency scanning performed using at least one transmit antenna and a two-dimensional array of receive antennas, changing at least one of the step size and the frequency range, and performing stepped frequency scanning using the at least one transmit antenna and the two-dimensional array of receive antennas and using the changed at least one of the step size and the frequency range.

A method for optical distance measurement is provided, which comprises emitting a plurality of measurement pulses, reflecting emitted measurement pulses on at least one object within a measurement range with a length and receiving reflected measurement pulses. N subsets of measurement pulses are emitted, wherein each subset comprises a constant pulse interval. The constant pulse interval of different subsets is different, wherein the least common multiple of the constant pulse intervals of the N subsets corresponds to at least twice the length of the measurement range.

A method for operating a stepped frequency radar system is disclosed. The method involves receiving digital frequency control signals that correspond to different frequencies of radio frequency (RF) signals, and performing stepped frequency scanning across a frequency range using at least one transmit antenna and a two-dimensional array of receive antennas and RF signals at the different frequencies that correspond to the digital frequency control signals.

The data processing device includes a virtual data sequence generator to extrapolate an approximate line approximating a temporal change of an input data sequence being inputted from outside and is a sequence of data at time points of a predetermined first number that are arranged in succession with at a predetermined time interval to a head or a tail of input data sequence and to generate a virtual data sequence being a sequence of data representing values on extrapolated approximate line at time points of a predetermined second number that are arranged in succession with the time interval, the time points including a time point being adjacent to input data sequence, a data sequence connector to generate a processed data sequence being a data sequence in which virtual data sequence is connected to input data sequence on a side where approximate line of input data sequence is extrapolated.

A method for operating a stepped frequency radar system is disclosed. The method involves receiving digital frequency control signals that correspond to different frequencies of radio frequency (RF) signals, and performing stepped frequency scanning across a frequency range using at least one transmit antenna and a two-dimensional array of receive antennas and RF signals at the different frequencies that correspond to the digital frequency control signals.

A method for processing a signal formed of a sequence of pulses, including at least one repetitive pattern formed of at least one pulse, the pattern being repeated in the signal with a pattern repetition period, the method including estimating the pattern repetition period of the signal and calculating, as a function of (i) an arrival date of each pulse with respect to a chosen reference arrival date, and (ii) the estimated pattern repetition period, a sequence of phases; thereafter, the method includes estimating, on the basis of the calculated sequence of phases, at least one phase value and an associated standard deviation, the phase value being associated with a phase moment representative of the repetitive pattern, and obtaining and utilizing parameters characterizing the digital signal by using the estimated phase values.

A method is for estimating a distance to an object. The method may include determining, by a ranging device, a first range value based upon a time of flight of first optical pulses having a period of a first duration, and determining, by the ranging device, a second range value based upon a time of flight of second optical pulses having a period of a second duration different from the first duration. The method may include estimating the distance based upon the first and second range values.

The data processing device includes a virtual data sequence generator to extrapolate an approximate line approximating a temporal change of an input data sequence being inputted from outside and is a sequence of data at time points of a predetermined first number that are arranged in succession with at a predetermined time interval to a head or a tail of input data sequence and to generate a virtual data sequence being a sequence of data representing values on extrapolated approximate line at time points of a predetermined second number that are arranged in succession with the time interval, the time points including a time point being adjacent to input data sequence, a data sequence connector to generate a processed data sequence being a data sequence in which virtual data sequence is connected to input data sequence on a side where approximate line of input data sequence is extrapolated.