RADAR TARGET SIMULATOR WITH CONTINUOUS DISTANCE EMULATION AND CORRESPONDING SIMULATION METHOD

Abstract

A radar target simulator with no lower target distance limitation and continuous distance emulation is provided. Said radar target simulator comprises a receiving unit configured to receive a radar signal from a radar under test and to provide a corresponding receive signal, and a ramp slope estimating unit. In this context, the ramp slope estimating unit is configured to track the ramp slope of the radar under test on the basis of the receive signal.

Claims

1. A radar target simulator with no lower target distance limitation and continuous distance emulation, the radar target simulator comprising: a receiving unit configured to receive a radar signal from a radar under test and to provide a corresponding receive signal; and a ramp slope estimating unit, wherein the ramp slope estimating unit is configured to track the ramp slope of the radar under test on the basis of the receive signal.

2. The radar target simulator according to claim 1, wherein the ramp slope estimating unit is configured to determine the corresponding frequency slope and/or the corresponding direction preferably on the basis of the respective tracking information.

3. The radar target simulator according to claim 1, wherein the radar target simulator comprises a first delay unit especially for delaying the receive signal according to a first delay time (Δτ.sub.1).

4. The radar target simulator according to claim 1, wherein the radar target simulator comprises a first mixer especially for applying a Doppler frequency.

5. The radar target simulator according to claim 1, wherein the ramp slope estimating unit comprises a second delay unit especially for delaying the receive signal according to a second delay time (Δτ.sub.2), and/or wherein the ramp slope estimating unit comprises a complex output especially for providing corresponding phase information preferably on the basis of the respective tracking information.

6. The radar target simulator according to claim 1, wherein the ramp slope estimating unit comprises a second mixer especially for mixing the receive signal with a delayed version of the receive signal.

7. The radar target simulator according to claim 1, wherein the ramp slope estimating unit comprises a frequency estimating unit especially for applying a Fourier transform, preferably a discrete Fourier transform, to a signal resulting from mixing the receive signal with a delayed version of the receive signal.

8. The radar target simulator according to claim 1, wherein the radar target simulator comprises a signal generation unit being especially configured to set a modulation frequency preferably on the basis of the respective tracking information and/or the corresponding direction and/or the corresponding radar target distance.

9. The radar target simulator according to claim 8, wherein the signal generation unit comprises or is a controlled oscillator, preferably a numerically controlled oscillator or a voltage-controlled oscillator, and/or wherein the modulation frequency is set on the basis of a relation between the ramp slope of the radar under test and a respective processing time of the radar target simulator.

10. The radar target simulator according to claim 8, wherein the signal generation unit is configured in a manner that it behaves like a frequency-shifting unit especially for creating Doppler effects.

11. The radar target simulator according to claim 8, wherein the signal generation unit is configured to shift the respective radar target towards the corresponding beat frequency and/or towards the corresponding radar target range especially by setting the modulation frequency, and/or wherein the modulation frequency is based on or equal to a multiplication of the ramp slope of the radar under test with the difference of the respective processing time of the radar target simulator and the respective real radar target time.

12. The radar target simulator according to claim 1, wherein the radar target simulator comprises an amplifying unit, preferably an adjustable amplifying unit, being especially configured to set a gain with respect to a response signal to be transmitted to the radar under test.

13. The radar target simulator according to claim 1, wherein the radar target simulator comprises a transmitting unit being especially configured to transmit a response signal to be transmitted to the radar under test.

14. The radar target simulator according to claim 1, wherein the receiving unit comprises at least one of an antenna, a third mixer, an analog-to-digital converter, or any combination thereof, and/or wherein the transmitting unit comprises at least one of an antenna, a fourth mixer, a digital-to-analog converter, or any combination thereof.

15. A radar target simulation method with no lower target distance limitation and continuous distance emulation, the radar target simulation method comprising the steps of: receiving a radar signal from a radar under test; providing a corresponding receive signal; and tracking the ramp slope of the radar under test on the basis of the receive signal.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are now further explained with respect to the drawings by way of example only, and not for limitation. In the drawings:

[0024] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of an inventive radar target simulator or essential parts thereof, respectively;

[0025] FIG. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of the first aspect of the invention as a whole; and

[0026] FIG. 3 shows a flow chart of an embodiment of the second aspect of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] A radar target simulator with no lower target distance limitation and continuous distance emulation and a radar target simulation method with no lower distance limitation and continuous distance emulation, which allow for highly accurate and efficient measurements or testing, respectively, are provided. In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. It is apparent, however, that the invention may be practiced without these specific details or with an equivalent arrangement. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the invention.

[0028] A processor, unit, module or component (as referred to herein) may be composed of software component(s), which are stored in a memory or other computer-readable storage medium, and executed by one or more processors or CPUs of the respective devices. A module or unit may alternatively be composed of hardware component(s) or firmware component(s), or a combination of hardware, firmware and/or software components. Further, with respect to the various example embodiments described herein, while certain of the functions are described as being performed by certain components or modules (or combinations thereof), such descriptions are provided as examples and are thus not intended to be limiting. Accordingly, any such functions may be envisioned as being performed by other components or modules (or combinations thereof), without departing from the spirit and general scope of the present invention. Moreover, the methods, processes and approaches described herein may be processor-implemented using processing circuitry that may comprise one or more microprocessors, application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), or other devices operable to be configured or programmed to implement the systems and/or methods described herein. For implementation on such devices that are operable to execute software instructions, the flow diagrams and methods described herein may be implemented in processor instructions stored in a computer-readable medium, such as executable software stored in computer memory storage.

[0029] With respect to FIG. 1, a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of an inventive radar target simulator 10 or some exemplary parts thereof, respectively, with no lower target distance limitation and continuous distance emulation is shown. According to FIG. 1, the radar target simulator 10 comprises a receiving unit 11 configured to receive a radar signal from a radar under test 12 and to provide a corresponding receive signal.

[0030] In addition to this, the radar target simulator 10 comprises a ramp slope estimating unit 13 configured to track the ramp slope of the radar under test 12 on the basis of the receive signal especially as tracking information. As it can further be seen from FIG. 1, the radar target simulator 10 comprises a digital target generation unit 14, wherein the ramp slope estimating unit 13 is exemplarily comprised by said digital target generation unit 14.

[0031] Generally, it is noted that it might be particularly advantageous if the complete target generation unit or back-end, respectively, is a digital system or unit as the above-mentioned digital target generation unit 14. However, with respect to said target generation unit or target generation back-end, it is further noted that other solutions could be completely analog, as well as a mixed analog/digital implementation.

[0032] Moreover, with respect to the receiving unit 11, it is noted that said receiving unit 11 exemplarily comprises an antenna or an antenna array, a mixer 16c, and an analog-to-digital converter 17. In this context, a down-conversion is performed with the aid of the mixer 16c after the antenna or antenna array, respectively, especially for a simpler handling of the corresponding signal in the baseband region. In addition to this, the above-mentioned analog-to-digital converter 17 performs the respective conversion from analog to digital signal domain.

[0033] Exemplarily, the radar target simulator 10, especially the digital target generation unit 14 thereof, comprises a decision unit 15. Said decision unit 15 is exemplarily configured to decide if the receive signal should be passed to a first delay unit 18a or to the ramp slope estimating unit 13.

[0034] With respect to said first delay unit 18a, it is noted that the first delay unit 18a is exemplarily configured to delay the receive signal according to a first delay time Δτ.sub.1. With respect to the first delay time Δτ.sub.1, it is noted that said first delay time Δτ.sub.1 especially sets the respective target distance.

[0035] Again, with respect to the decision unit 15, it is noted that said decision 15 is exemplarily configured to pass the corresponding receive signal to the first delay unit 18a in the case that the corresponding target distance R is larger than a minimum target distance R.sub.min. Otherwise, if the corresponding target distance R is lower or equal to said minimum target distance R.sub.min, the decision unit 15 is exemplarily configured to pass the corresponding receive signal to the ramp slope estimating unit 13, especially to a second delay unit 18b thereof. Furthermore, if the corresponding target distance R is lower or equal to the minimum target distance R.sub.min, the respective frequency modulation of the radar under test may preferably be tracked.

[0036] Advantageously, a priori information about the respective modulation scheme is not necessary due to on-the-fly tracing of the frequency modulation. With respect to the minimum target distance R.sub.min, it is noted that R.sub.min preferably is the shortest distance which may be set by the radar target simulator 10 or the digital target generation unit 14. This value may especially be driven by the respective internal minimum delay time. Advantageously, R.sub.min does not comprise a lower bound. Additionally, R.sub.min does not comprise an upper bound. Accordingly, the radar target simulator 10 allows for a full control over all generated radar target signal properties at the same time.

[0037] Further advantageously, moving radar targets generated by the radar target simulator 10 may approximate as close as zero meter. In this context, even for the physical air gap between the radar under test 12 and the radar target simulator 10 there is no limitation. For instance, this helps indicating the respective radar behavior directly before an accident.

[0038] Again, with respect to the ramp slope estimating unit 13, it is noted that it might be particularly advantageous if the ramp slope estimating unit 13 is configured to determine the corresponding frequency slope and/or the corresponding direction preferably on the basis of the tracking information. As it can further be seen from FIG. 1, the ramp slope estimating unit 13 exemplarily comprises the above-mentioned second delay unit 18b for delaying the receive signal according to a second delay time Δτ.sub.2. Furthermore, the ramp slope estimating unit 13 exemplarily comprises a mixer 16b especially for mixing the receive signal with a delayed version of the receive signal, preferably the Δτ.sub.2-delayed version of the receive signal.

[0039] Moreover, the ramp slope estimating unit 13 exemplarily comprises a discrete Fourier transformation unit 21 especially for applying a Fourier transform, preferably a discrete Fourier transform, to a signal resulting from mixing the receive signal with the delayed version of the receive signal. It is noted that the ramp slope estimating unit 13 may advantageously comprise a complex output especially for providing corresponding phase information preferably on the basis of the tracking information.

[0040] It is further noted that it might be particularly advantageous if with the above-mentioned second delay unit 18b, the additional mixing stage 16b, the discrete Fourier transformation unit 21, the respective ramp slope of the radar under test is tracked. This information or the tracking information is exemplarily fed to a signal generation unit in the form of a numerically controlled oscillator 22. In this context, it is noted that with respect to the signal generation unit or the numerically controlled oscillator 22, respectively, an argumentum maximi function unit 23 may be connected upstream as exemplarily shown.

[0041] Accordingly, the radar target simulator 10 or the ramp slope estimating unit 13 may preferably comprise an argumentum maximi function unit. In this exemplary case, the ramp slope estimating unit 13 comprises the argumentum maximi function unit 23.

[0042] The above-mentioned signal generation unit or the above-mentioned numerically controlled oscillator 22, respectively, is exemplarily configured to generate an offset frequency especially in order to shift the corresponding radar target towards the desired beat frequency and/or towards the desired radar target range. In this context, it is generally noted that the radar target simulator 10 may preferably be configured to mix said offset frequency generated by the signal generation unit or the numerically controlled oscillator 22 with the receive signal.

[0043] Again, with respect to the radar target simulator 10, the radar target simulator 10, especially the transmit path 19 thereof, exemplarily comprises a mixer 16a especially for applying a Doppler frequency. Furthermore, the radar target simulator 10, especially the transmit path 19 thereof, exemplarily comprises an amplifying unit, preferably an adjustable amplifying unit 20, being especially configured to set a gain with respect to a response signal to be transmitted to the radar under test.

[0044] With respect to said gain, it is noted that with the aid of setting this gain, the respective radar cross section of the corresponding radar target may be adjusted. Moreover, the radar target simulator 10, especially the transmit path 19 thereof, exemplarily comprises a transmitting unit 24 being especially configured to transmit a response signal to be transmitted to the radar under test 12.

[0045] Exemplarily, said transmitting unit 24 comprises an antenna or an antenna array, a mixer 16d, a digital-to-analog converter 25. Said digital-to-analog converter 25 performs the respective conversion to an analog signal which is up-converted to the radio frequency region by the mixer 16d.

[0046] With respect to the above-mentioned transmit path 19, it is noted that an output of the signal generation unit or the numerically controlled oscillator 22, respectively, may be connected to a first input of a mixer 16e, whereas a second input of said mixer 16e may be provided with the same input signal as the second delay unit 18b. Furthermore, an output of the mixer 16e may be connected to a first input of an adder 26, whereas a second input of said adder 26 may be connected to an output of the first delay unit 18a. Moreover, an output of the adder 26 may be connected to an input of the above-mentioned mixer 16a, whereas an output of said mixer 16a may connected to an input of the above-mentioned amplifier 20.

[0047] In the context of the invention, it is generally noted that other implementations could comprise different forms to create the delay, especially the first delay time and/or the second delay time. Therefore, signal samples of different time steps may be created. In this context, cost efficient analog components may comprise optical delay lines especially with directly modulated lasers, surface acoustic wave-delay elements, bulk acoustic wave-delay elements, simple wires especially with a defined length, or any combination thereof.

[0048] Now, with respect to FIG. 2, an exemplary embodiment of the inventive radar target simulator 30 is depicted especially as a whole and in an abstracted manner in comparison to the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1.

[0049] Advantageously, in this context, the demands for the digital backend 33 can be reduced as less bandwidth is required for processing especially due to the incorporation of a backscatter transponder and/or the usage of an (external) analog mixer.

[0050] In the context of embodiment according to FIG. 2, it is further noted that especially in the case of the implementation of multiple transponders, the respective radar target simulator 30 may comprise multiple digital-to-analog converters 31N—instead of the single digital-to-analog converter 25 of the first exemplary embodiment of the radar target simulator 10 according to FIG. 1—and multiple corresponding elements as illustrated by the multiple blocks 32N.

[0051] This option would advantageously allow to create targets with different angle of arrival. Furthermore, for each angle of arrival, a respective digital-to-analog converter and/or transponder may preferably be employed.

[0052] In addition to this, with respect to the digital backend 33, it is noted that said digital backend 33 may provide several interfaces. In this context, at least one of an universal serial bus (USB) interface, an inter-integrated circuit (I2C) interface, an Ethernet (Eth) interface, a parallel (PAR) interface, a serial peripheral interface (SPI), or any combination thereof may preferably be provided.

[0053] With respect to both embodiments according to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, it is noted that it might be particularly advantageous if the basis for said embodiments is to track the respective frequency modulation and to apply this information in a modulation in order to shift the frequency towards the set radar target distance.

[0054] In this context, on the basis of the ramp slope of, for instance, a frequency modulated continuous wave radar and the delay time of, for example, the respective digital back-end, an offset frequency or a modulation frequency may preferably be derived. Furthermore, said offset frequency may especially be applied to the current receiving frequency. It is further noted that the respective complex output is especially configured to provide the corresponding phase information, wherein said phase information may preferably give the corresponding direction.

[0055] Advantageously, said offset frequency or said modulation frequency may preferably be set by the ramp slope and/or the corresponding direction and/or the corresponding radar target distance. Further advantageously, the offset frequency or the modulation frequency may preferably be applied to the respective real-time frequency especially in order to get the desired response. Furthermore, the respective Doppler shifter may especially be configured to give the corresponding relative speed of the respective radar targets.

[0056] Finally, FIG. 3 shows a flow chart of an embodiment of the inventive radar target simulation method with no lower target distance limitation and continuous distance emulation. In a first step 100, a radar signal is received from a radar under test. Then, in a second step 101, a corresponding receive signal is provided. Furthermore, in a third step 102, the ramp slope of the radar under test is tracked on the basis of the receive signal especially as tracking information.

[0057] It might be particularly advantageous if the radar target simulation method further comprises the step of determining the corresponding frequency slope and/or the corresponding direction preferably on the basis of the tracking information. In addition to this or as an alternative, the radar target simulation method may comprise the step of delaying the receive signal according to a first delay time.

[0058] In further addition to this or as a further alternative, the radar target simulation method may comprise the step of applying a Doppler frequency. Further additionally or further alternatively, the radar target simulation method may comprise the step of delaying the receive signal according to a second delay time.

[0059] It is noted that it might be particularly advantageous if the radar target simulation method comprises the step of providing corresponding phase information preferably on the basis of the tracking information especially with the aid of a complex output. In addition to this or as an alternative, the radar target simulation method may further comprise the step of mixing the receive signal with a delayed version of the receive signal.

[0060] Additionally or alternatively, the radar target simulation method may comprise the step of applying a Fourier transform, preferably a discrete Fourier transform, to a signal resulting from mixing the receive signal with a delayed version of the receive signal.

[0061] In further addition to this or as a further alternative, the radar target simulation method may comprise the step of setting a modulation frequency preferably on the basis of the tracking information and/or the corresponding direction and/or the corresponding radar target distance especially with the aid of a signal generation unit.

[0062] In this context, it might be particularly advantageous if the signal generation unit comprises or is a controlled oscillator, preferably a numerically controlled oscillator or a voltage-controlled oscillator. In addition to this or as an alternative, it might be particularly advantageous if the modulation frequency is set on the basis of a relation between the ramp slope of the radar under test and a respective processing time of the radar target simulator.

[0063] Furthermore, the radar target simulation method may comprise the step of configuring the signal generation unit in a manner that it behaves like a frequency-shifting unit especially for creating Doppler effects. In addition to this or as an alternative, the radar target simulation method may comprise the step of configuring the signal generation unit to shift the respective radar target towards the corresponding beat frequency and/or towards the corresponding radar target range especially by setting the modulation frequency.

[0064] It is additionally or alternatively noted that it might be particularly advantageous if the modulation frequency is based on or equal to a multiplication of the ramp slope of the radar under test with the difference of the respective processing time of the radar target simulator and the respective real radar target time.

[0065] Additionally or alternatively, the radar target simulation method may comprise the step of shifting the respective radar target towards the corresponding beat frequency and/or towards the corresponding radar target range especially by setting the modulation frequency.

[0066] In further addition to this or as a further alternative, the radar target simulation method may comprise the step of setting a gain with respect to a response signal to be transmitted to the radar under test especially with the aid of an amplifying unit, preferably an adjustable amplifying unit. It is further noted that it might be particularly advantageous if the radar target simulation method comprises the step of transmitting a response signal to be transmitted to the radar under test.

[0067] While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not limitation. Numerous changes to the disclosed embodiments can be made in accordance with the disclosure herein without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above described embodiments. Rather, the scope of the invention should be defined in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.

[0068] Although the invention has been illustrated and described with respect to one or more implementations, equivalent alterations and modifications will occur to others skilled in the art upon the reading and understanding of this specification and the annexed drawings. In addition, while a particular feature of the invention may have been disclosed with respect to only one of several implementations, such feature may be combined with one or more other features of the other implementations as may be desired and advantageous for any given or particular application.