A method for providing 360° environment detection, the method comprising:
- placing a radar system onto an automobile, the radar system comprising:
- a first radar sensor, where the first radar sensor comprises:
- first transmitters that are configured to emit first signals, where the first transmitters have respective first phase codes generated therefor;
- first receivers that are configured to detect reflections;
- a first phase-locked loop (PLL) that is operably coupled to the first transmitters and the first receivers;
- and
- a first mixer that is operably coupled to the first PLL and the first receivers, where a first virtual array is formed according to the Multiple Input Multiple Output method and based upon first positions of the first transmitters and second positions of the first receivers, and further where the first virtual array comprises a first column and a first row of virtual transceivers;
- a second radar sensor, where the second radar sensor comprises:
- second transmitters that are configured to emit second signals, where the second transmitters have second phase codes generated therefor;
- second receivers that are configured to detect the reflections;
- a second PLL that is operably coupled to the second transmitters and the second receivers;
- and
- a second mixer that is operably coupled to the second PLL and the second receivers, where a second virtual array is formed according to the Multiple Input Multiple Output method and based upon third positions of the second transmitters and fourth positions of the second receivers, the second virtual array comprises a second column and a second row of virtual transceivers, and further where at least one of:
- the first column of the first virtual array overlaps with the second column of the second virtual array;
- or
- the first row of the first virtual array overlaps with the second row of the second virtual array;
- wherein overlapping columns or overlapping rows correspond to different transmitter-receiver combinations of the first and second radar sensors and are found in the same positions in a virtual overall arrangement;
- and
- a central unit that is in communication with the first radar sensor and the second radar sensor;
- and
- providing, from each of the first radar sensor and the second radar sensor to the central unit, distance to an object and speed of the object as computed by the first radar sensor and the second radar sensor.