System and method for emulating diffuse targets

A method of emulating echo signals reflected from emulated targets, including a diffuse target having a plurality of scattering centers, in response to a frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) radar signal transmitted by a radar under test, the method comprising:

• receiving the FMCW radar signal from the radar under test, the FMCW radar signal having radar signal frequencies linearly modulated between a first frequency and a second frequency;
• generating a noise-like signal having frequencies within predetermined frequency limits, and a spectral shape such that amplitudes of the noise-like signal vary in a predetermined manner with respect to the frequencies, for emulating the diffuse target;
• providing a frequency offset signal based on at least the noise-like signal;
• mixing the frequency offset signal with the received FMCW radar signal to provide a return signal comprising an emulated echo signal reflected from the diffuse target;
• and
• transmitting the return signal to the radar under test.

A system for emulating echo signals in response to a frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) radar signal transmitted by a radar under test, the system comprising:

• a frequency offset transceiver comprising a receiver configured to receive the FMCW radar signal from the radar under test, a transmitter configured to transmit a return signal to the radar under test, and a mixer, wherein the FMCW radar signal has frequencies linearly modulated between a first frequency and a second frequency;
• and
• a signal generator configured to:
• generate a noise-like signal for emulating a diffuse target, the noise-like signal having frequencies within a predetermined band limit, and having a spectral shape such that amplitudes of the noise-like signal vary in a predetermined manner with respect to the frequencies;
• generate a tone signal for emulating a non-diffuse target, the tone signal having at least one frequency tone within the predetermined band limit, the at least one frequency tone have a frequency indicating to a distance to the non-diffuse target from the radar under test and an amplitude indicating the distance to the non-diffuse target from the radar under test and a radar cross section (RCS) of the non-diffuse target;
• and
• sum the noise-like signal and the tone signal to provide a frequency offset signal;
• and
• a controller programmed to control the signal generator to generate the noise-like signal based on desired characteristics of the diffuse target and the tone signal based on desired characteristics of the non-diffuse target,
• wherein the mixer of the frequency offset transceiver mixes the FMCW radar signal and the frequency offset signal to provide the return signal, and wherein the return signal includes an emulated echo signal of the diffuse target and another emulated echo signal of the non-diffuse target.