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US 2012/0235855 A1Published application
Advanced low power personnel/vehicle detecting radar
AssigneeUniversity of Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
InventorsJAMES LYNN KURTZ, Charles Henry Overman, IV, Philip Russell Carlson
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Abstract
Embodiments of the subject invention relate to a method and apparatus for signal processing that reduces the average power used in a small size, frequency modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) radar. Such a small size, frequency modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) radar is referred to herein as a micro radar. Specific embodiments of the invention can be used to detect and/or track personnel, vehicle, and/or other targets.
Claims25
A method for monitoring a region of interest, comprising:
- (a) transmitting a transmit frequency modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) signal to a region of interest;
- (b) receiving a reflected FMCW signal from the region of interest, wherein the reflected FMCW signal is a portion of the transmit FMCW signal reflected from a target;
- (c) generating an intermediate frequency output signal from the reflected FMCW signal;
- (d) applying an analog-to-digital converter to the intermediate frequency output signal to produce a digital output signal;
- (e) performing a first one-dimensional (1D) fast Fourier transform (FFT) to the digital output signal over the modulation period to produce a first range-FFT;
- (f) repeating (e) (n−1) times over a corresponding (n−1) modulation periods to produce (n−1) additional range-FFT's, wherein the first range-FFT and the (n−1) additional range-FFT's form a set of range-FFT's;
- (g) performing a second 1D-FFT across the set of range-FFT's to produce a first Doppler-FFT;
- and
- (h) repeating (g) (m−1) times to produce (m−1) additional Doppler-FFT's, wherein the first Doppler-FFT and the (m−1) additional Doppler-FFT's form a set of Doppler-FFT's.
6 more elements
A method for monitoring a region of interest, comprising:
- (a) transmitting a transmit frequency modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) signal to a region of interest;
- (b) receiving a reflected FMCW signal from the region of interest, wherein the reflected FMCW signal is a portion of the transmit FMCW signal reflected from a target;
- (c) generating an intermediate frequency output signal from the reflected FMCW signal;
- (d) applying an analog-to-digital converter to the intermediate frequency output signal to produce a digital output signal;
- (e) filtering the digital output signal to produce a filtered digital output signal, wherein filtering the digital output signal removes portions of the digital output signal above a maximum frequency;
- and
- (f) processing the filtered digital output signal to determine a likelihood of a presence of a target.
4 more elements
A method for monitoring a region of interest, comprising:
- (a) transmitting a transmit frequency modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) signal to a region of interest;
- (b) receiving a reflected FMCW signal from the region of interest, wherein the reflected FMCW signal is a portion of the transmit FMCW signal reflected from a target;
- (c) generating an intermediate frequency output signal from the reflected FMCW signal;
- (d) applying an analog-to-digital converter to the intermediate frequency output signal to produce a digital output signal;
- (e) filtering the digital output signal to produce a filtered digital output signal, wherein filtering the digital output signal removes portions of the digital output signal above a maximum frequency;
- (f) performing a first one-dimensional (1D) fast Fourier transform (FFT) to the digital output signal over the modulation period to produce a first range-FFT;
- (g) repeating (f) (n−1) times over a corresponding (n−1) modulation periods to produce (n−1) additional range-FFT's, wherein the first range-FFT and the (n−1) additional range-FFT's form a set of range-FFT's;
- and
- (h) processing the set of range-FFT's to determine a likelihood of a presence of a target.
6 more elements
An apparatus for monitoring a region of interest, comprising:
- a transmitter, wherein the transmitter transmits a transmit frequency modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) signal to a region of interest;
- a receiver, wherein the receiver receives a reflected FMCW signal from the region of interest, wherein the reflected FMCW signal is a portion of the transmit FMCW signal reflected from a target;
- wherein the receiver generates an intermediate frequency output signal from the reflected FMCW signal;
- an analog-to-digital converter, wherein the analog-to-digital converter produces a digital output signal from the intermediate frequency output signal to produce a digital output signal;
- and
- a processor, wherein the processor performs a first range one-dimensional (1D) fast Fourier transform (FFT) to the digital output signal over the modulation period to produce a first range-FFT;
- wherein the processor performs an additional range one-dimensional (1D) fast Fourier transform to the digital output signal (n−1) times over a corresponding (n−1) modulation periods to produce (n−1) additional range-FFT's, wherein the first range-FFT and the (n−1) additional range-FFT's form a set of range-FFT's;
- wherein the processor performs a first Doppler 1D-FFT across the set of range-FFT's to produce a first Doppler-FFT;
- wherein the processor performs an additional Doppler 1D-FFT (m−1) times to produce (m−1) additional Doppler-FFT's, wherein the first Doppler-FFT and the (m−1) additional Doppler-FFT's form a set of Doppler-FFT's.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.