Method for Reducing Interference in a Radar System

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This invention describes a method and radar system for reducing interference (such as phase noise, timing offset, and unknown phase) in radar systems with at least two spatially separated transceiver units. By exchanging and processing specially-modulated signals (using OFDM – Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) between these units, correction values are determined and applied to mitigate interference effects. This leads to more accurate measurements of distance, velocity, and object localization, allowing high-precision radar operation even in challenging conditions.

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

• Automotive radar systems for Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and autonomous vehicles, enabling precise distance and speed measurement between vehicles and obstacles.
• Collision avoidance and navigation in mobile robots or drones (including unmanned aerial vehicles) operating in environments with lots of signal interference.
• Industrial automation where precise non-contact measurement of distance or speed between moving machinery parts is crucial.
• Enhanced air traffic control radar systems to accurately track the position and velocity of aircraft, even in cluttered environments.
• High-resolution mapping and object detection for surveillance, perimeter security, or search-and-rescue operations.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Significantly improved accuracy in measuring position, distance, and velocity, even under conditions with interference from phase noise and timing mismatches.
• More robust radar operation without the need for complex and costly synchronization procedures, thanks to the interference reduction and compensation scheme.
• Supports simultaneous operation of multiple spatially separated radar units through efficient multiplexing and correction, enabling scalable and flexible sensor networks.
• Reduces computational requirements for interference compensation, allowing for simpler and faster data processing.
• Enables effective use of advanced modulation techniques (like OFDM) in radar, which were previously limited by interference issues.

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Patent Abstract

The invention describes a method for reducing interference effects in a radar system, which has at least two, in particular spatially separated, transceiver units (S1, S2), wherein the method comprises the following steps: - a transmission step (VS1), wherein a first transmission signal (sigTX1) of the first transceiver unit (Si) is sent to and received by a second transceiver unit (S2) and a second transmission signal (sigTX2) of the second transceiver unit (S2) is sent to and received by the first transceiver unit (S1) over a radio channel (T), wherein the transmission signals (sigTX1 and sigTX2) are modulated according to an orthogonal frequency multiplex method; and - a pre-correction step (VS2), wherein correction values (y1, y2, y3) are determined from the received transmission signals (sigRX1 and sigRX2), and are, in particular, exchanged between the transceiver stations (S1, S2), wherein the received transmission signals (sigRX1 and sigRX2) are post-processed on the basis of the correction values (y1, y2 and y3) such that effects of interference quantities, in particular of phase noise and/or a temporal offset and/or unknown initial phase positions, are reduced, and preferably compensated for. The invention furthermore describes a radar system according to claim 14 and a use of a method according to claim 18. The invention achieves particularly accurate localization of the transceiver units, modulation of the signals of the transceiver units according to an orthogonal frequency modulation method, and/or of passive objects.