Method, Radar System and Vehicle for Signal Processing of Radar Signals

Simple SummaryContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

The invention introduces a method and system for processing radar signals from multiple spatially separated radar units, particularly in vehicles such as automobiles. By fusing and analyzing signals from at least two radar units that cover overlapping fields of vision, a discrete global coordinate system is generated. Within this system, multi-dimensional velocity vectors for detected objects or for the whole radar system can be determined. These enhanced data enable high-resolution reconstruction of portions of the observed space, significantly improving angular (directional) resolution without requiring larger hardware arrays or prior knowledge of movement patterns.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Automotive advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) for collision avoidance and object detection.
• Fully autonomous vehicle navigation and environment mapping.
• Enhanced situational awareness for delivery robots, drones, or industrial vehicles.
• Traffic monitoring and roadside infrastructure (e.g., smart traffic signs, speed monitoring).
• Airport surveillance for tracking aircraft using distributed radar units.
• Security perimeter monitoring for critical infrastructure.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Greatly improved angular resolution for detecting object position and movement, comparable to much larger physical radar arrays.
• No need for physically larger antenna setups or additional moving parts, making integration easier without design compromises.
• Ability to accurately determine velocities of both moving and static objects, as well as the radar system's own movement, enhancing context awareness.
• More precise and sharper radar images, leading to better object detection, classification, and tracking.
• Enables new applications in constrained spaces (like automobiles) where sensor size must be minimized.
• Fewer dependencies on external sensor systems or prior knowledge of object trajectories, simplifying system requirements and reducing cost.

Technical Classifications (CPCs)

Inventors & Applicants

Patent Abstract

The invention describes a method for signal processing of radar signals according to claim 1. The invention describes a method for signal processing of radar signals of a radar system, in particular a vehicle radar system, preferably an automobile radar system, having at least two radar units which are spaced apart from one another, said method comprising the following steps: - capturing at least one three-dimensional field of vision of the radar system with radar signals of the at least two radar units; - generating a discrete total co-ordinate system of the field of vision, in which measurement data, which are generated by the capture of the field of vision, of the at least two radar units of the radar system are co-registered; and - determining a preferably multi-dimensional vector velocity for at least one pixel of the discrete total co-ordinate system and/or a preferably multi-dimensional vector velocity for the radar system; - reconstructing at least one three-dimensional sub-field of the field of vision by means of the determined vector velocity and/or the vector velocity for the radar system and also by means of the measurement data of at least one of the radar units. Furthermore, the invention describes a radar system according to claim 21 and a vehicle according to claim 25. An improved angular resolution for the radar system can be achieved by the invention, without enlarging the physical dimensions of the aperture of the receiving antenna array, preferably without an intrinsic movement or a target movement being previously known or having to be determined by an external sensor system.