Dual pulsed mode FMCW radar retrofit conversion with adaptive sweep configuration

A method for retrofitting a frequency modulation continuous wave (FMCW) radar system, the method comprising:

• (a) disconnecting an antenna from the FMCW radar system;
• (b) connecting a retrofit transmit/receive module to the FMCW radar system;
• and
• (c) connecting the antenna to the retrofit transmit/receive module,
• wherein step (b) comprises:
• connecting a transmit switch in a transmit channel of the retrofit transmit/receive module to a transmitter of the FMCW radar system;
• connecting the transmit switch to a microcontroller of the FMCW radar system;
• connecting a receive switch in a receive channel of the retrofit transmit/receive module to a receiver of the FMCW radar system;
• connecting the receive switch to the microcontroller;
• connecting a variable attenuator in the transmit channel of the retrofit transmit/receive module to the microcontroller;
• and
• connecting a variable attenuator in the receive channel of the retrofit transmit/receive module to the microcontroller, and
• wherein the method further comprises reconfiguring the microcontroller to control switching states of the transmit and receive switches and control attenuation levels of the variable attenuators to enable selective operation in an FMCW mode or in either of first and second pulsed modes.

A radar system comprising a FMCW radar system, a retrofit transmit/receive module connected to the FMCW radar system, and an antenna connected to the retrofit transmit/receive module, wherein:

• the FMCW radar system comprises a transmitter, a receiver connected to the transmitter, analog-to-digital converters connected to the receiver, a digital signal processor connected to the analog-to-digital converters, and a microcontroller connected to the digital signal processor and to the transmitter;
• the retrofit transmit/receive module comprises a transmit channel and a receive channel;
• the transmit channel comprises a transmit switch that is connected to the transmitter and to the microcontroller;
• and
• the receive channel comprises a first receive switch that is connected to the receiver and to the microcontroller,
• wherein the microcontroller is further configured to:
• control switching states of the transmit switch and the first receive switch to enable selective operation in an FMCW mode or in either of a pulsed search mode or pulsed tracking mode;
• and
• control the transmitter in the pulsed search mode to generate successive linear frequency-modulated sweep signals and control the switching states of the transmit switch and first receive switch so that the transmit switch is open when the first receive switch is closed and the transmit switch is closed when the first receive switch is open during each linear frequency-modulated sweep signal.

A radar system comprising a FMCW radar system, a retrofit transmit/receive module connected to the FMCW radar system, and an antenna connected to the retrofit transmit/receive module, wherein:

• the FMCW radar system comprises a transmitter, a receiver connected to the transmitter, analog-to-digital converters connected to the receiver, a digital signal processor connected to the analog-to-digital converters, and a microcontroller connected to the digital signal processor and to the transmitter;
• the retrofit transmit/receive module comprises a transmit channel and a receive channel;
• the transmit channel comprises a transmit switch that is connected to the transmitter and to the microcontroller;
• and
• the receive channel comprises a first receive switch that is connected to the receiver and to the microcontroller,
• wherein the transmit channel further comprises a first variable attenuator connected to the transmit switch and to the microcontroller;
• wherein the receive channel further comprises a second variable attenuator connected to the receive switch and to the microcontroller;
• and
• wherein the microcontroller is further configured to control attenuation levels of the first and second variable attenuators to enable selective operation in the FMCW mode or in either of the pulsed search mode or pulsed tracking mode.

A method for operating a radar system having a transmitter connected to a retrofitted transmit/receive module, the method comprising:

• controlling a local oscillator of the transmitter to output linear frequency-modulated sweep signals, controlling switching states of transmit and receive switches of transmit and receive channels respectively of the retrofitted transmit/receive module, and controlling attenuation levels of first and second variable attenuators of the transmit and receive channels respectively SO that the radar system operates in a pulsed search mode during a first time period;
• controlling the local oscillator to output linear frequency-modulated sweep signals, controlling the switching states of the transmit and receive switches, and controlling the attenuation levels of the first and second variable attenuators so that the radar system operates in a pulsed tracking mode during a second time period subsequent to the first time period;
• and
• controlling the local oscillator to output linear frequency-modulated sweep signals, controlling the switching states of the transmit and receive switches, and controlling the attenuation levels of the first and second variable attenuators so that the radar system operates in an FMCW mode during a third time period subsequent to the first time period,
• wherein the radar system is capable of detecting targets at long range when operating in the pulsed search mode, detecting targets at mid-range when operating in the pulsed tracking mode, and detecting targets at short range when operating in the FMCW mode.