Apparatus and associated methods relate to enabling a radar system to use different sensing mechanisms to estimate a distance from a target based on different detection zones (e.g., far-field and near-field). In an illustrative example, a curve fitting method may be applied for near-field sensing, and a Fourier transform may be used for far-field sensing. A predetermined set of rules may be applied to select when to use the near-field sensing mechanism and when to use the far-field mechanism. The frequency of a target signal within a beat signal that has less than two sinusoidal cycles may be estimated with improved accuracy. Accordingly, the distance of a target that is within a predetermined distance range (e.g., two meters range for 24 GHz ISM band limitation) may be reliably estimated.

A distance measuring apparatus according to an embodiment includes, a filter section configured to perform band limitation on a transmission signal and output the transmission signal, and to perform band limitation on a reception signal from an antenna section and output the reception signal, a distance measuring section configured to perform a distance measurement computation based on the transmission signal and the reception signal, and to obtain a delay of a signal passing through the filter section and perform calibration of the distance measurement computation, a signal interruption section configured to interrupt transmission of a signal between the filter section and the antenna section, and a control section configured to control the signal interruption section to interrupt the transmission of the signal during a period of the calibration.

Methods and systems for generating illumination modulation signals, image intensifier gain modulation signals, and image sensor shutter control signals in a three-dimensional image-capturing system with one or more frequency synthesizers is disclosed. The illumination modulation signals, image intensifier gain modulation signals, and image sensor shutter signal are all coherent with one another, being derived from a common clock source. The use of frequency synthesizer concepts allow for the use of rapid modulation phase changes for homodyne operation, and further allow the use of rapid modulation frequency changes to mitigate the effects of inter-camera interference.

Apparatus and associated methods relate to enabling a radar system to use different sensing mechanisms to estimate a distance from a target based on different detection zones (e.g., far-field and near-field). In an illustrative example, a curve fitting method may be applied for near-field sensing, and a Fourier transform may be used for far-field sensing. A predetermined set of rules may be applied to select when to use the near-field sensing mechanism and when to use the far-field mechanism. The frequency of a target signal within a beat signal that has less than two sinusoidal cycles may be estimated with improved accuracy. Accordingly, the distance of a target that is within a predetermined distance range (e.g., two meters range for 24 GHz ISM band limitation) may be reliably estimated.

A three-dimensional imaging system includes an image intensification subsystem and an illumination subsystem that are both capable of operating with sinusoidal or pulsed waveforms in accordance with phase-measuring or flash modes of operation, respectfully, of the three-dimensional imaging system.

An on-vehicle radar system is described, and includes a phased array antenna including a plurality of transmit antennas, and a corresponding plurality of transmitters, wherein each of the transmitters is in communication with a respective one of the transmit antennas. A controller is operatively connected to each of the plurality of transmitters. The controller includes an instruction set that is executable to generate a plurality of Non-Linear Frequency Modulated (NLFM) radar signals corresponding to individual ones of the plurality of transmitters. Each of the NLFM radar signals that is generated for a respective one of the transmitters is determined based upon a desired beam steering angle and a position of the respective one of the transmit antennas of the phased array antenna.

Apparatuses and methods for two-dimensional beam scanning for determining the position of an object in three-dimensional space are provided. An apparatus comprises a multiplicity of transmitters and receivers, which are arranged orthogonal to one another in an L-, U- or T-shaped structure. In one apparatus, the transmission signals are frequency and phase modulated in combination; and in another apparatus a single frequency carrier signal is subject to binary phase modulation. Here, this is a high-frequency encoding with a great code length, which is generated according to the pseudo-random number principle. The received signals, which include information from all transmitters, are decoded and consequently split into sub-signals, which can be assigned to a two-dimensional virtual array. According to the method of digital beamforming, the individual signals of the virtual antenna elements are formed into a plurality of highly focused beams in the horizontal and vertical direction.

Some demonstrative aspects include radar apparatuses, devices, systems and methods. In one example, an apparatus may include a plurality of Transmit (Tx) chains to transmit radar Tx signals, and a plurality of Receive (Rx) chains to process radar Rx signals. For example, the radar Rx signals may be based on the radar Tx signals. The apparatus may be implemented, for example, as part of a radar device, for example, as part of a vehicle including the radar device. In other aspects, the apparatus may include any other additional or alternative elements and/or may be implemented as part of any other device.

A radar receiver stage on an integrated circuit and a method of processing a received radar signal, are provided. In one aspect, the receiver stage includes a low noise amplifier adapted to be connected to a receiver antenna structure, a first programmable gain amplifier, a first programmable bandpass filter, a second programmable gain amplifier, a second programmable bandpass filter, and a programmable low pass filter. One example method includes selecting a radar system configuration including a system type comprising an FMCW system or a Doppler system, programming at least a first programmable gain amplifier stage to a first gain, programming a first programmable bandpass filter stage to a first center frequency; and programming a programmable low pass filter to a first LPF gain.

An apparatus is described that, according to an exemplary embodiment, has an RF oscillator for generating an RF oscillator signal at a first frequency and a frequency divider having a division ratio that is fixed during operation. The frequency divider is supplied with the RF oscillator signal and is configured to provide an oscillator signal at a second frequency. The apparatus further has a monitor circuit, to which the oscillator signal at the second frequency is supplied and which is configured to measure the second frequency and to provide at least one digital value that is dependent on the second frequency of the oscillator signal. The at least one digital value is provided on a test contact.