Fast chirp synthesis via segmented frequency shifting
AssigneeAyDeeKay LLC
InventorTom Heller
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In an illustrative integrated circuit, a chirp generator provides a chirp signal having linearly-ramped chirp intervals, while a shift frequency generator provides a signal having a different shift frequency during each of multiple segments in each chirp interval. A modulator combines the signals to derive a segmented chirp signal having multiple linearly-ramped chirp segments in each chirp interval. The modulator may be a single sideband modulator to provide frequency up-shifted and frequency down-shifted chirp segments. The segmented chirp signal may be suppressed during resettling intervals of the original chirp signal.
Claims20
An integrated circuit that comprises:
- a chirp generator configured to provide a chirp signal having linearly-ramped chirp intervals;
- a shift frequency generator configured to provide shift frequency signals having different shift frequencies during each of multiple segments in each chirp interval, wherein the chirp signal spans a first frequency and a second frequency;
- a modulator configured to provide a segmented chirp signal based at least in part on the chirp signal and the shift frequency signals, the segmented chirp signal having multiple linearly-ramped chirp segments in each chirp interval, wherein the multiple linearly-ramped chirp segments in the segmented chirp signal comprise a saw-tooth pattern;
- wherein the segmented chirp signal spans a third frequency and a fourth frequency;
- and
- wherein the third frequency and fourth frequency are within the span of the first frequency of the chirp signal and the second frequency of the chirp signal.
A method that comprises:
- by an integrated circuit:
- generating a chirp signal having linearly-ramped chirp intervals, wherein the chirp signal spans a first frequency and a second frequency;
- generating shift frequency signals having a different shift frequencies during each of multiple segments in each chirp interval, wherein the shift frequency signals span a third frequency and a fourth frequency;
- wherein the third frequency and fourth frequency are within the span of the first frequency of the chirp signal and the second frequency of the chirp signal;
- and
- providing a segmented chirp signal based at least in part on the chirp signal and the shift frequency signals, the segmented chirp signal having multiple linearly-ramped chirp segments in each chirp interval, wherein the multiple linearly-ramped chirp segments in the segmented chirp signal comprise a saw-tooth pattern.
A radar device, comprising:
- a chirp generator configured to provide a chirp signal having linearly-ramped chirp intervals, wherein the chirp signal spans a first frequency and a second frequency;
- a shift frequency signal generator configured to provide shift frequency signals having different shift frequency during each of multiple segments in each chirp interval, wherein the shift frequency signals span a third frequency and a fourth frequency;
- wherein the third frequency and fourth frequency are within the span of the first frequency of the chirp signal and the second frequency of the chirp signal;
- and
- a modulator configured to provide a segmented chirp signal based at least in part on the chirp signal and the shift frequency signals, the segmented chirp signal having multiple linearly-ramped chirp segments in each chirp interval, wherein the multiple linearly-ramped chirp segments in the segmented chirp signal comprise a saw-tooth pattern.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.