Azimuth detecting apparatus and radar apparatus

A radar apparatus comprising:

• a transmitter that transmits a continuous wave;
• a receiver including a plurality of antenna elements that are arranged at predetermined intervals d, each of the antenna elements being configured to generate a signal upon receipt of a reflected continuous wave that is produced by the reflection of the continuous wave by a target;
• a first signal producer that produces first signals based on the signals generated by the antenna elements of the receiver, the first signals being equivalent to signals generated by a plurality of antenna elements that are arranged at first intervals d1, where d1 is an integral multiple of d;
• a second signal producer that produces second signals based on the signals generated by the antenna elements of the receiver, the second signals being equivalent to signals generated by a plurality of antenna elements that are arranged at second intervals d2, where d2 is an integral multiple of d and greater than d1;
• a first azimuth detector that detects, within a first azimuth detection area whose angular range is defined by d1, the azimuth of the target based on the first signals produced by the first signal producer;
• a second azimuth detector that detects, within a second azimuth detection area whose angular range is defined by d2, the azimuth of the target based on the second signals produced by the second signal producer;
• a first range detector that detects the range of the target based on the first signals produced by the first signal producer;
• a second range detector that detects the range of the target based on the second signals produced by the second signal producer;
• and
• a target identifier that identifies the target based on both the azimuth of the target detected by one of the first and second azimuth detectors and the range of the target detected by one of the first and second range detectors.