Modular radar architecture film (FM/CW or pulse) for automobile collision avoidance applications

A method for a modular radar system for automotive collision avoidance applications, comprising the steps of:

• a) transmitting through a transmit antenna one of FM/CW waveform and pulse waveform;
• b) receiving through a receive antenna one of FM/CW waveform and pulse waveform;
• c) generating a predetermined waveform through a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) coupled to said transmit antenna for said transmit antenna;
• d) modulating through a modulator coupled to said VCO said predetermined waveform of said VCO;
• e) allowing said predetermined waveform from said VCO to be transmitted for a predetermined interval through a switch coupled between said VCO and said transmit antenna so as to generate said pulse waveform;
• f) said modulating caused by a timing generator disposed thereto execute through a pre-set sequence of frequencies for either one of pulse and FM/CW modes of waveforms, said timing generator also coupled to said switch for controlling the transmission of one of said FM/CW waveform and pulse waveform;
• g) signal converting by a balanced mixer coupled to said receive antenna, said balanced mixer operative in said FM/CW mode by converting a received FM/CW waveform to a baseband signal, said balanced mixer operative in said pulse mode by converting a received pulse waveform to an IF signal;
• h) amplifying said received FM/CW waveform and for IF-amplifying said received pulse waveform, through an IF/Baseband receiver coupled to said balanced mixer, to generate an in-phase and a quadrature baseband output;
• i) generating a coherent oscillating signal of a predetermined frequency to said receiver through a coherent oscillator coupled to said IF/baseband receiver for centering said IF-amplified received pulse waveform at said predetermined frequency during pulse mode:
• and
• j) causing said VCO to maintain an offset by a predetermined frequency, through a frequency control loop coupled between said IF/Baseband receiver and said modulator, in said pulse mode between receive and transmit.