Back to results
US 5,546,088 AGranted
High-precision radar range finder
AssigneeDeutsche Aerospace AG
InventorsGunther Trummer, Richard Korber
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention pertains to a radar range finder for high-precision, contactless range measurement, which is based on the FMCW principle and operates with digital signal processing at a limited frequency shift. One exemplary embodiment is described.
Claims19
Radar range finder using the FMCW principle and operating in a frequency range of 24.125 GHz.+-.125 MHz, comprising:
- high frequency signal generating means for emitting a high frequency signal for range determination including a transmitter/receiver unit generating range gates and means for approximately determining a range between said transmitter/receiver unit and a reflection surface by determining a maximum allowable frequency shift;
- means for successively decreasing the frequency shift until an integer multiple of range gates generated corresponds to an exact distance between the transmitting element and the reflection surface and for using the maximum amplitude of the spectrum of the measurement sequence as an indicator of an optimal frequency shift;
- and
- control loop means including an oscillator, a directional coupler, a divider chain, a counter as well as a microprocessor and a digital analog converter for forming a frequency whose integer multiple is the actual transmitted frequency.
1 more element
A method for measuring distance, the method comprising the steps of:
- emitting an emitted signal to be reflected by a target;
- receiving a reflected signal reflected from the target;
- frequency modulating said emitted signal over an initial bandwidth, said initial bandwidth having at least one range gate;
- decreasing said initial bandwidth until an adapted bandwidth is reached, said adapted bandwidth having an integer multiple of range gates substantially equal to the distance;
- comparing said emitted signal with said reflected signal at said adapted bandwidth to determine a measurement of the distance.
2 more elements
A range finder comprising:
- transmitter means for generating an emitted signal to be reflected by a target, said transmitter means frequency modulating said emitted signal over an initial bandwidth, said initial bandwidth having at least one range gate, said transmitter means decreasing said initial bandwidth until an adapted bandwidth is reached, said adapted bandwidth having an integer multiple of range gates substantially equal to the distance;
- receiver means for receiving a reflected signal reflected from the target;
- processor means for comparing said emitted signal with said reflected signal at said adapted bandwidth to determine a measurement of the distance.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.