Modular radar systems

An automotive vehicle comprising:

• a plurality of modular radar systems including a first modular radar system and a second modular radar system, the first modular radar system installed on a first side of the vehicle and the second modular radar system installed on a second side of the vehicle;
• and
• each of the first and second modular radar systems, comprising:
• a radio frequency (RF) section configured to transmit and receive RF signals and comprising an antenna array and an RF transceiver that are controllable to focus operation in one of a plurality of fields of view (FOVs), including a first FOV and a second FOV;
• and
• a control section comprising a controller for performing signal processing operations on return RF signals received at the RF receiver, the controller configured to identify a side of the vehicle in which the modular radar system is installed and direct the RF section to focus transmission and reception in one of the first FOV or the second FOV based on the side of the side of the vehicle in which the modular radar system is installed;
• wherein the controller is configured to:
• determine a side of the vehicle in which the modular radar system is installed through calibration operations, wherein the modular radar system transmits RF energy and listens for a reflection from a predetermined target mounted on one side of the vehicle, and the modular radar system determines whether a reflection from the predetermined target has been detected;
• direct the RF section to focus operations to the FOV that is predetermined to be used for a modular radar module that is mounted on a same side of the vehicle as the predetermined target when a reflection has been detected;
• and
• direct the RF section to focus operations to the FOV that is predetermined to be used for a modular radar system that is not mounted on the same side of the vehicle as the predetermined target when a reflection has not been detected.

A method in a modular radar system for use in an automotive vehicle, the modular radar system comprising a radio frequency (RF) section configured to transmit and receive RF signals and comprising an antenna array and an RF transceiver that are controllable to focus operation in one of a plurality of fields of view (FOVs), including a first FOV and a second FOV, and a control section configured to identify a side of the vehicle in which the modular radar system is installed and direct the RF section to focus transmission and reception in one of the first FOV or the second FOV based on the side of the side of the vehicle in which the modular radar system is installed, the method comprising:

• transmitting RF energy and listening for a reflection of the RF energy from a predetermined target mounted on one side of the vehicle;
• determining a whether a reflection from the predetermined target has been detected;
• directing the RF section to focus operations to the FOV that is predetermined to be used for a modular radar system that is mounted on a same side of the vehicle as the predetermined target when a reflection has been detected;
• and
• directing the RF section to focus operations to the FOV that is predetermined to be used for a modular radar system that is not mounted on the same side of the vehicle as the predetermined target when a reflection has not been detected.