MULTI-CHANNEL RADAR METHOD AND MULTI-CHANNEL RADAR SYSTEM

Abstract

A multi-channel radar method is provided for carrying out a transmission by at least two channels, in which at least one channel is provided with a frequency detuning by at least one respective switch for switching a signal amplitude and/or signal phase of the channel.

Claims

1-13. (canceled)

14. A multi-channel radar method comprising: transmitting signals by at least two channels of a multi-channel radar system; and providing, by at least one switch, a frequency detuning for at least one channel of the at least two channels, wherein the frequency detuning comprises switching a signal amplitude, a signal phase, or both the signal amplitude and the signal phase of the at least one channel.

15. The multi-channel radar method of claim 14, wherein the frequency detuning is provided for each channel.

16. The multi-channel radar method of claim 14, wherein the at least two channels is greater than two channels, and wherein frequency detuning is provided for all but one of the channels.

17. The multi-channel radar method of claim 14, wherein two channels of the at least two channels are fed in a common transmission path.

18. The multi-channel radar method of claim 14, wherein all channels are fed in a common transmission path.

19. The multi-channel radar method of claim 14, wherein two channels of the at least two channels are transmitted at a same time.

20. The multi-channel radar method of claim 14, wherein all channels are transmitted at a same time.

21. The multi-channel radar method of claim 14, wherein at least one channel of the at least two channels is provided with the frequency detuning when transmitting.

22. The multi-channel radar method of claim 14, wherein each channel of the at least two channels is provided with the frequency detuning when transmitting.

23. The multi-channel radar method of claim 14, wherein at least one channel of the at least two channels is provided with the frequency detuning when receiving.

24. The multi-channel radar method of claim 14, wherein each channel of the at least two channels is provided with the frequency detuning when receiving.

25. The multi-channel radar method of claim 14, wherein at least one channel of the at least two channels is provided in each case with such frequency detuning when receiving that corresponds to the frequency detuning with which the at least one channel was provided in the transmitting.

26. The multi-channel radar method of claim 25, wherein the receiving and transmitting frequencies are a same in amount and not in sign.

27. The multi-channel radar method of claim 14, wherein an impedance is switched by the at least one switch.

28. The multi-channel radar method of claim 14, wherein, in one switching position of a respective switch of the at least one switch, a signal strength of a respective channel disappears.

29. The multi-channel radar method of claim 14, wherein a signal phase is shifted by the at least one switch.

30. A multi-channel radar system comprising: at least one multi-channel radar transmission module having at least two channels, wherein at least one channel of the at least two channels comprises a switch configured to switch a signal amplitude or signal phase of the respective channel such that the respective channel is provided with a frequency detuning.

31. The multi-channel radar system of claim 30, wherein each channel comprises a switch.

32. The multi-channel radar system of claim 30, wherein the at least one multi-channel radar transmission module is at least one multi-channel radar transmitter or comprises a multi-channel radar transmitter.

33. The multi-channel radar system of claim 30, wherein the at least one multi-channel transmission module comprises at least one multi-channel receiver.

34. The multi-channel radar system of claim 30, wherein the at least one multi-channel transmission module comprises at least one multi-channel transceiver.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] The disclosure is explained in more detail below based on exemplary embodiments that are represented in the drawings, in which:

[0023] FIG. 1 depicts an example of a multi-channel radar system with a multi-channel radar transmitter and a multi-channel radar receiver schematically in a basic diagram.

[0024] FIG. 2 depicts an example of a multi-channel radar system with a multi-channel radar transmitter and a radar receiver schematically in a basic diagram.

[0025] FIG. 3 depicts an example of a multi-channel radar system with a radar receiver and a multi-channel radar transmitter schematically in a basic diagram.

[0026] FIG. 4 depicts an example of a multi-channel radar system with a multi-channel transceiver schematically in a basic diagram,

[0027] FIG. 5 depicts an example of a multi-channel radar system in a bistatic arrangement schematically in a basic diagram,

[0028] FIG. 6 depicts an example of an offsetting circuit of a multi-channel radar system according to FIGS. 1 to 5 schematically in a basic diagram,

[0029] FIG. 7 depicts a further exemplary embodiment of an offsetting circuit as an alternative to the offsetting circuit according to FIG. 6 schematically in a basic diagram.

[0030] FIG. 8 depicts a further exemplary embodiment of an offsetting circuit as an alternative to the offsetting circuit according to FIGS. 6 and 7 schematically in a basic diagram.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] The multi-channel radar system depicted in FIG. 1 includes a multi-channel radar transmitter 5 and a multi-channel radar receiver 10. The multi-channel radar transmitter 5 includes a transmitting unit SE, which feeds a number of transmitting antennas SA by way of a splitter SP.

[0032] Each transmitting antenna of the altogether n transmitting antennas SA is connected to the transmitting unit SE by way of a switch S1, . . . Sn, each with its own switching frequency f.sub.mod(l) to f.sub.mod(n). In other words, each antenna of the transmitting antennas SA emits its signal with its own frequency detuning.

[0033] The multi-channel radar receiver 10 of the multi-channel radar system depicted in FIG. 1 is constructed analogously and includes m receiving antennas EA, which receive a received signal. Each antenna of the receiving antennas EA is connected in each case by way of a switch Sn+1, . . . , Sn+m with its own switching frequency f.sub.mod(n+1) to f.sub.mod(n+m) to a common combiner C, which passes on the received signal to a receiving unit EE.

[0034] It is also possible in principle, as depicted in FIG. 2, in a multi-channel radar system for just one multi-channel radar transmitter 5 to be provided, while the radar transmitter 15 has no offsetting circuit.

[0035] Conversely, as represented in FIG. 3, it is also possible in a multi-channel radar system for just one multi-channel radar receiver 10 to be provided, while the radar transmitter 20 has no offsetting circuit.

[0036] In the exemplary embodiment represented in FIG. 4, in the case of a multi-channel radar system, there is a multi-channel radar transceiver 25 instead of a separate multi-channel radar transmitter and a separate multi-channel radar receiver. In this example, the transmitting unit SE and the receiving unit EE are together connected by a circulator or a transmitting mixer ZM by way of n switches with in each case their own switching frequency f.sub.mod(l) to f.sub.mod(n) to n transmitting and receiving antennas A. Splitters and combiners are formed together as a component SPC that may be handled as one part.

[0037] As represented in FIG. 5, a multi-channel radar system may also be formed in a bistatic manner.

[0038] The offsetting circuits used in the previous exemplary embodiments may include simple switches S1, as represented in FIG. 6, which allow the signal strength to be switched to zero with a frequency f.sub.mod.

[0039] It is alternatively also possible to use switches with switchable impedances as represented in FIG. 7, which switch between an impedance Z1 and Z2 with a frequency f.sub.mod.

[0040] Furthermore, it is also possible to use a phase rotating switch PDRS as depicted in FIG. 8, which rotates the signal phase.

[0041] Although the disclosure has been illustrated and described in detail by the exemplary embodiments, the disclosure is not restricted by the disclosed examples and the person skilled in the art may derive other variations from this without departing from the scope of protection of the disclosure. It is therefore intended that the foregoing description be regarded as illustrative rather than limiting, and that it be understood that all equivalents and/or combinations of embodiments are intended to be included in this description.

[0042] It is to be understood that the elements and features recited in the appended claims may be combined in different ways to produce new claims that likewise fall within the scope of the present disclosure. Thus, whereas the dependent claims appended below depend from only a single independent or dependent claim, it is to be understood that these dependent claims may, alternatively, be made to depend in the alternative from any preceding or following claim, whether independent or dependent, and that such new combinations are to be understood as forming a part of the present specification.