阅读说明：本技术 补偿速度相关的距离测量误差的双射束fmcw距离测量方法 (dual beam FMCW distance measurement method to compensate for velocity dependent distance measurement errors ) 是由 马塞尔·罗纳 于 2019-06-11 设计创作，主要内容包括：补偿速度相关的距离测量误差的双射束FMCW距离测量方法。本发明涉及根据频率调制连续波雷达的原理进行距离测量的距离测量方法和测距仪,其中,分别作为第一发射辐射或者作为第二发射辐射向目标发射包括规定第一调制频带(8A)的第一频率调制(1A)的第一激光辐射的至少一部分和包括规定第二调制频带(8B)的第二频率调制(1B)的第二激光辐射的至少一部分。根据本发明,确定表示第一调制频带(8A)与第二调制频带(8B)之间的频率偏移的参数(t<Sub>TOIF</Sub>),并且在确定距该目标的至少一个距离期间考虑所述参数(t<Sub>TOIF</Sub>),以得出第一频率调制(1A)与第二频率调制(1B)之间的频率差(9)。(A dual beam FMCW distance measurement method that compensates for velocity-dependent distance measurement errors. The invention relates to a distance measuring method and a distance meter for distance measurement according to the principle of frequency-modulated continuous wave radar, wherein at least one part of a first laser beam comprising a first frequency modulation (1A) defining a first modulation frequency band (8A) and at least one part of a second laser beam comprising a second frequency modulation (1B) defining a second modulation frequency band (8B) are emitted as a first emission beam or as a second emission beam, respectively, towards a target. According to the invention, a parameter (t) is determined which is representative of the frequency offset between a first modulation band (8A) and a second modulation band (8B) TOIF ) And taking into account said parameter (t) during the determination of at least one distance to the target TOIF ) To obtain a first frequencyA frequency difference (9) between the rate modulation (1A) and the second frequency modulation (1B).)

1. a distance measuring method having the steps of:

●, generates a first laser radiation and a second laser radiation, wherein,

The first laser radiation comprises a first frequency modulation (1A) defining a first modulation frequency band (8A), and

The second laser radiation comprises a second frequency modulation (1B) defining a second modulation frequency band (8B), wherein the gradient of the first frequency modulation (1A) differs from the gradient of the second frequency modulation (1B) for at least some time periods,

●, simultaneously emitting at least a portion of the first laser radiation and at least a portion of the second laser radiation, respectively, as first emitted radiation or as second emitted radiation,

● respectively receive at least a portion of the first emitted radiation returned from the target and at least a portion of the second emitted radiation returned from the target as first received radiation or as second received radiation,

● generating a first and a second mixed signal, respectively, based on a mixing of the first received radiation with a first local oscillator radiation or based on a mixing of the second received radiation with a second local oscillator radiation, for distance measurement according to the principle of frequency modulated continuous wave radar, and

●, determining at least one distance to the target based on the first mixed signal and the second mixed signal,

It is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

● determining a parameter (t) representative of a frequency offset between the first modulation band (8A) and the second modulation band (8B)_TOIF) And is and

● taking into account the parameter (t) during the determination of at least one distance to the target_TOIF) To derive a frequency difference (9) between the first frequency modulation (1A) and the second frequency modulation (1B).

2. The distance measuring method according to claim 1,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

The second frequency modulation comprises at least one time segment in which the second frequency modulation has a modulation direction opposite to the modulation direction of the first frequency modulation, in particular a modulation direction extending in the opposite direction.

3. The distance measurement method according to claim 1 or 2,

It is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the parameter (t)_TOIF) Is a time crossing at which the first frequency modulation (1A) and the second frequency modulation (1B) have the same frequency.

4. The distance measuring method according to claim 3,

It is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

determining the time intersection point (t) from the interference curve (10), in particular on the basis of a threshold value (11) of an interference signal intensity of an interference curve (10) of an overlap of at least a part of the first laser radiation and at least a part of the second laser radiation_TOIF)。

5. the distance measurement method according to any of the preceding claims,

It is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

● carry out a reference of the frequency curve of the first frequency modulation and/or the frequency curve of the second frequency modulation with respect to a reference parameter of a reference interferometer, and

● compensating for non-linearities in generating the first frequency modulation and/or the second frequency modulation based on the reference during the determining of the at least one distance.

6. The distance measurement method according to any of the preceding claims,

It is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

Based on the parameter (t) representing the frequency offset between the first modulation band (8A) and the second modulation band (8B)_TOIF) And determining the frequency difference (9) between the first frequency modulation (1A) and the second frequency modulation (1B) for a first profile parameter (13A) of the first frequency modulation (1A) and for a second profile parameter (13B) of the second frequency modulation (1B), in particular wherein the first profile parameter (13A) represents a gradient of the first frequency modulation (1A) and/or the second profile parameter (13B) represents a gradient of the second frequency modulation (1B).

7. The distance measurement method according to any of the preceding claims,

It is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

The determination of the at least one distance is performed during a measurement interval (5), wherein the measurement interval (5) and the first and second frequency modulations (1A, 1B) are adapted to each other such that the first and second emitted radiation each comprise a substantially linear frequency modulation during the measurement interval (5).

8. A rangefinder having:

● laser radiation source configured to generate first and second laser radiation, wherein,

The first laser radiation comprises a first frequency modulation (1A) defining a first modulation frequency band (8A), and

the second laser radiation comprises a second frequency modulation (1B) defining a second modulation frequency band (8B), wherein the gradient of the first frequency modulation (1A) differs from the gradient of the second frequency modulation (1B) for at least some time periods,

● an emission path configured to simultaneously emit at least a portion of the first laser radiation and at least a portion of the second laser radiation, respectively, toward a target as first emission radiation or as second emission radiation,

● receiver configured to receive at least a portion of the first emitted radiation returned from the target and at least a portion of the second emitted radiation returned from the target, respectively, as first received radiation or as second received radiation,

● a mixer configured to generate a first mixed signal and a second mixed signal based on a mixing of the first received radiation with a first local oscillator radiation or based on a mixing of the second received radiation with a second local oscillator radiation, respectively, for distance measurement according to the principle of frequency modulated continuous wave radar, an

● a processing unit configured to determine at least one distance to the target based on the first mixed signal and the second mixed signal,

It is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

The processing unit is configured to

● determining a parameter (t) representative of a frequency offset between the first modulation band (8A) and the second modulation band (8B)_TOIF) And is and

● taking into account the parameter (t) during the determination of at least one distance to the target_TOIF) To derive a frequency difference (9) between the first frequency modulation (1A) and the second frequency modulation (1B).

9. the range finder of claim 8,

It is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

The second frequency modulation comprises at least one time segment in which the second frequency modulation has a modulation direction opposite to the modulation direction of the first frequency modulation, in particular a modulation direction extending in the opposite direction.

10. The range finder of claim 8 or 9,

It is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the parameter (t)_TOIF) Is a time crossing at which the first frequency modulation (1A) and the second frequency modulation (1B) have the same frequency.

11. The range finder of claim 10,

It is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

● the range finder comprises an interferometer structure configured to generate an interference curve (10) of an overlap of at least a part of the first laser radiation and at least a part of the second laser radiation, and

●, the processing unit being configured to determine the point of intersection in time (t) from the interference curve (10)_TOIF)。

12. The range finder of claim 11,

It is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

storing a threshold value (11) for the interference signal intensity of the interference curve (10), which is in particular settable, on the processing unit, and determining the time intersection (t) on the basis of the threshold value (11) and the interference curve (10)_TOIF)。

13. The range finder of any one of claims 8 to 12,

It is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

● the distance meter comprises a reference interferometer configured to perform a reference of the frequency curve of the first frequency modulation (1A) and/or of the second frequency modulation (1B) with respect to a reference parameter of the reference interferometer, and

● the processing unit is configured to compensate for non-linearities in generating the first frequency modulation (1A) and/or the second frequency modulation (1B) based on the reference during the determination of the at least one distance.

14. The rangefinder of any of claims 8-13,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

● stores a first curve parameter (13A) for the first frequency modulation (1A) and a second curve parameter (13B) for the second frequency modulation (1B) on the processing unit, and

● the processing unit is configured to determine a frequency offset between the first and second modulation bands (8A, 8B) based on the parameter (t)_TOIF) And determining the frequency difference (9) between the first frequency modulation (1A) and the second frequency modulation (1B) further based on the first curve parameter (13A) and the second curve parameter (13B).

15. The rangefinder of any of claims 8-14,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

The range finder is configured such that,

●, a third curve parameter (13A) for the first frequency modulation and a fourth curve parameter (13B) for the second frequency modulation are determined, and

● is based on the parameter (t) representing the frequency offset between the first modulation band (8A) and the second modulation band (8B)_TOIF) And determining the frequency difference (9) between the first frequency modulation (1A) and the second frequency modulation (1B) further based on the third curve parameter (13A) and the fourth curve parameter (13B).

Technical Field

the invention relates to a distance measuring method for distance measurement according to the principle of frequency modulated continuous wave radar according to the preamble of claim 1 and a range finder according to the preamble of claim 8.

Background

various principles and methods are known in the field of electronic ranging. One approach is to transmit frequency modulated electromagnetic radiation as a transmit signal towards the target to be measured and then receive at least a portion of this radiation back from the target as a receive signal (also referred to as an echo or echo signal). In this case, the object to be measured may comprise both reflective backscatter properties (e.g. if a retroreflector is used) and diffuse backscatter properties.

Upon reception, the echo signals overlap with the local oscillator signal to produce a beat signal, wherein the beat signal has a beat frequency associated with a time of flight of the transmit signal. The distance to the target may then be derived based on the beat frequency.

The mixing/overlapping is mainly used to transform and amplify the received signal towards lower frequencies, from which the time of flight can be determined and thus the distance to the object to be measured can be determined using the known propagation speed of the radiation used.

So-called FMCW rangefinders (FMCW: "frequency modulated continuous wave" radar), also called frequency modulated continuous wave radar devices or FMCW radar devices, are capable of making absolute distance measurements of an object to be measured.

a tunable laser source is used for the FMCW arrangement. In a fundamentally simplest embodiment, the tuning of the optical frequency of the laser source is performed linearly and at a known tuning rate in this case, wherein, however, the absolute wavelength of the emission signal thus generated is known only to a certain extent. The received signal overlaps a second signal derived from the transmitted signal. The beat frequency of the resulting mixture product (interferogram) is a measure of the distance to the target.

Different refinements of this basic embodiment are known in the prior art, for example using a reference interferometer to measure the tuning behavior of the laser.

Ranging devices for implementing these methods generally use a signal generator by means of which a signal (e.g. a rising frequency ramp or a falling frequency ramp) is applied to a radiation source that can be modulated. Lasers that can be modulated are commonly used as radiation sources in the optical field. The transmitting optical unit and the receiving optical unit are used for transmitting and receiving in the optical field, and a detector for heterodyne mixing or a quadrature detector, an A/D converter and a digital signal processor are connected downstream of the transmitting optical unit and the receiving optical unit.

the change in the frequency of the transmitted signal represents the scale of the measurement. Depending on the accuracy requirements of the distance measurement, the dimension can be verified or determined more accurately by means of additional measurements. For example, sufficient linear tuning of the laser source typically requires additional effort. For this purpose, for example, a part of the emitted radiation is guided via a reference interferometer having a defined reference length. The frequency variation of the emitted radiation signal over time can be obtained from the resulting beat product based on a known reference length. If the reference length is unknown or unstable (e.g. due to temperature effects), the reference length may be determined, for example, via an additional calibration unit (e.g. a gas cell or a Fabry-Perot element).

In the most advantageous case, the target is a target that is stationary with respect to the rangefinder, i.e. a target that has a distance with respect to the rangefinder that does not vary with time. However, it is also possible to make absolute distance measurements of moving or vibrating objects with appropriate compensation measures.

Radial movement of the target relative to the rangefinder causes a doppler shift in the received frequency due to the doppler effect. However, this doppler shift can be compensated, for example, by measuring by means of a combination of successively rising and falling frequency ramps, since in the case of a target with constant radial velocity, the doppler shift is equal for both ramps, wherein, however, the beat frequencies produced by the two ramps have different signs.

However, by using opposite slopes that are consecutive in time sequence, i.e. with a continuous change of the chirp (chirp) sign, the available measurement rate is also halved. Furthermore, the method is based on a constant relative target speed provided during the cycle time of the two ramps. However, in practice, this assumption of a constant relative speed of the target with respect to the rangefinder is often inaccurate, wherein accelerations and/or vibrations of the target during the measurement process, speckle effects or other effects lead to non-negligible measurement fluctuations in the distance measurement.

to remedy these problems, for example, two simultaneous and opposite frequency ramps are used in the prior art, i.e. wherein radiation having two radiation components is emitted, wherein the frequency of the first radiation component is tuned "up", i.e. to a higher frequency, and simultaneously the frequency of the second radiation component is tuned "down", i.e. to a lower frequency. Thus, the requirement for a constant relative radial velocity of the target is limited to a short time window. Furthermore, for example, a reduction in the measurement rate can also be avoided by this so-called counter-chirp.

In order to be able to separate the radiation components in a metric manner, various measures are known in the prior art, for example polarization-based separation, spectral-based separation or algorithmic separation.

Disclosure of Invention

it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved FMCW distance measuring method and rangefinder.

this object is achieved by realizing the characterizing features of the independent claims. Features which refine the invention in an alternative or advantageous manner can be deduced from the dependent patent claims.

the invention relates to a distance measuring method, comprising the following steps: generating a first laser radiation and a second laser radiation, wherein the first laser radiation comprises a first frequency modulation defining a first modulation frequency band and the second laser radiation comprises a second frequency modulation defining a second modulation frequency band, wherein the gradient of the first frequency modulation differs from the gradient of the second frequency modulation over at least some time periods (i.e. wherein, in each case, the time period of the first frequency modulation for FMCW analysis (FMCW: frequency modulated continuous wave radar) corresponds to the time period of the second frequency modulation, in particular simultaneously, and the first frequency modulation or the second frequency modulation each comprise a different gradient corresponding to one another for FMCW analysis in these respective time periods); simultaneously emitting at least a portion of the first laser radiation and at least a portion of the second laser radiation to a target, respectively, as a first emitted radiation or as a second emitted radiation; receiving at least a portion of the first emitted radiation returned from the target and at least a portion of the second emitted radiation returned from the target as first received radiation or as second received radiation, respectively; generating a first mixed signal and a second mixed signal based on a mixture of the first received radiation and a first local oscillator radiation or based on a mixture of the second received radiation and a second local oscillator radiation, respectively, for performing range measurements according to the principle of frequency modulated continuous wave radar; and determining at least one distance to the target based on the first mixed signal and the second mixed signal.

In general, in order to perform distance measurements according to the principle of frequency modulated continuous wave radar, for example, at least a part of the first laser radiation or at least a part of the second laser radiation is provided to a local oscillator, respectively, to generate the first local oscillator radiation or the second local oscillator radiation, respectively, i.e. the first mixing signal and the second mixing signal represent beat signals, respectively, the beat frequency of which is related to the time of flight of the first emitted radiation or the second emitted radiation, respectively.

Alternatively, however, the local oscillator radiation can also be generated by a different laser radiation source.

The generation of the first and second laser radiation may for example be performed in such a way that the first and second emission radiation are emitted as two separate emission beams towards a target, or at least a part of the first laser radiation overlaps at least a part of the second laser radiation, such that the first and second emission radiation are emitted as a first and second beam component of a common overlapping beam, respectively. In particular, it is sufficient for performing the distance measurement method according to the invention if the co-overlapping beams are configured such that the reception frequencies associated with the first beam component or the second beam component, respectively, can be separated by an algorithm at the receiver. No optical separation is required.

In particular, the first mixed signal and the second mixed signal may also be two separately generated signals, for example, or the first mixed signal and the second mixed signal may be two different signal components of a common mixed signal, which is generated by a common mixing of a part of the first laser radiation, a part of the second laser radiation, a part of the first received radiation and a part of the second received radiation.

It is obvious that the distance measuring method may comprise further general method steps from the prior art that facilitate distance measurement according to the principle of frequency modulated continuous wave radar.

in particular, for example, the first laser radiation and the second laser radiation are generated in such a way that the second frequency modulation comprises at least one time segment in which the second frequency modulation has a modulation direction opposite (in particular extending in the opposite direction) to the modulation direction of the first frequency modulation, in particular wherein the first frequency modulation and the second frequency modulation are generated according to a frequency-modulated continuous wave radar having opposite chirps.

according to the invention, a parameter representative of the frequency offset between the first modulation band and the second modulation band is also determined, and said parameter is taken into account during the determination of at least one distance from the target to derive a frequency difference between the first frequency modulation and the second frequency modulation.

As already mentioned, the distance measurement in an FMCW rangefinder is based on the frequency variation of the transmitted transmission signal, whereas in the prior art the accurate determination of the absolute frequency of the generated transmission signal is usually omitted. Since the frequency variation is usually small, an implicit assumption is usually made that, for example, the frequencies of the opposite frequency ramps are the same, in order to simplify the measurement analysis. Strictly speaking, this assumption leads to no distance measurement error only if the radial target speed is equal to zero, and vice versa in the case of a non-negligible radial speed not equal to zero, in each case a distance measurement error being produced, which depends on the current set frequency values of the first laser radiation and the second laser radiation, and/or on the curve of tuned frequency values, and on the current radial speed.

This so-called dynamic error can be compensated by the invention, wherein the dynamic error can be reduced at the device in a first step by ensuring that the first laser radiation and the second laser radiation have substantially equal fundamental frequencies to each other. In particular, the first frequency modulation and the second frequency modulation are modulated relative to one another, for example, in such a way that they occur around a constant center frequency.

furthermore, according to the invention, in particular a simplified estimation term may be used for compensating the dynamic error, which depends entirely on the frequency difference between the first frequency modulation and the second frequency modulation, wherein the determination of the absolute frequency of the first frequency modulation and the second frequency modulation may be omitted.

According to one embodiment, the parameter representing the frequency offset between the first modulation band and the second modulation band is a time intersection at which the first laser radiation and the second laser radiation have the same frequency.

The time intersection point may be determined, for example, from overlapping interference curves of at least a part of the first laser radiation and at least a part of the second laser radiation. The two laser beams have the same frequency at the intersection point, wherein, for example, the overlapping interference signals at the local oscillator from the first laser radiation and the second laser radiation have a strong interference deflection at the time intersection point. The point in time at which such an interference deflection occurs (also referred to as the interference point in time) can be determined by relatively simple means, for example on the basis of a threshold value of the interference signal intensity of the interference curve.

For example, based on a prescribed measurement interval with a known time offset relative to the intersection point, based on a known parameter of the first frequency modulation and a known parameter of the second frequency modulation, an approximation of the actual frequency difference between the first frequency modulation and the second frequency modulation at a point in time within the measurement interval may be determined.

the frequency difference between the first frequency modulation and the second frequency modulation is determined on the basis of a parameter representing a frequency offset between the first modulation frequency band and the second modulation frequency band, and a first curve parameter for the first frequency modulation and a second curve parameter for the second frequency modulation, wherein in particular the first curve parameter represents a gradient of the first frequency modulation and/or the second curve parameter represents a gradient of the second frequency modulation.

In particular, the determination of the at least one distance is carried out during a measurement interval, wherein the measurement interval and the first and second frequency modulations are adapted to each other in such a way that the first and second emission radiations each comprise a substantially linear frequency modulation during the measurement interval.

Furthermore, according to a further embodiment, the frequency curve of the first frequency modulation and/or the frequency curve of the second frequency modulation are referenced with respect to a reference parameter of a reference interferometer, wherein during the determination of the at least one distance the non-linearity in the generation of the first frequency modulation and/or the second frequency modulation is compensated for on the basis of the reference. Thus, for example, the accuracy of the estimation of the approximation of the actual frequency difference between the first frequency modulation and the second frequency modulation may be enhanced by ensuring a sufficiently linear tuning of the laser source.

The invention also relates to a distance meter having a laser radiation source configured to generate a first laser radiation and a second laser radiation, wherein the first laser radiation comprises a first frequency modulation defining a first modulation band and the second laser radiation comprises a second frequency modulation defining a second modulation band, and wherein a gradient of the first frequency modulation differs from a gradient of the second frequency modulation for at least some time periods. In addition, the range finder further includes: an emission path configured to simultaneously emit at least a portion of the first laser radiation and at least a portion of the second laser radiation, respectively, as a first emission radiation or as a second emission radiation toward a target; a receiver configured to receive at least a portion of the first emitted radiation returned from the target and at least a portion of the second emitted radiation returned from the target, respectively, as first received radiation or as second received radiation; a mixer configured to generate a first mixed signal and a second mixed signal, respectively, based on a mixing of the first received radiation with a first local oscillator radiation or based on a mixing of the second received radiation with a second local oscillator radiation, for distance measurement according to the principle of frequency modulated continuous wave radar; and a processing unit configured to determine at least one distance to the target based on the first mixed signal and the second mixed signal.

It is obvious that the rangefinder may comprise other general features and components from the prior art that facilitate the distance measurement according to the principles of frequency modulated continuous wave radar. In particular, the first local oscillator radiation or the second local oscillator radiation can be generated from the first laser radiation or the second laser radiation, respectively, wherein a part of the first laser radiation or a part of the second laser radiation is guided by a local oscillator route, respectively, or the local oscillator radiation can also be generated by different laser radiation sources.

The laser radiation source and the emission path may for example be configured such that the generation of the first and second laser radiation is performed in such a way that the first and second emission radiation are emitted as two separate emission beams towards a target, or at least a part of the first laser radiation overlaps at least a part of the second laser radiation, such that the first and second emission radiation are emitted as a first or second beam component of a common overlapping beam, respectively. The method is particularly sufficient if the co-overlapping beams are configured such that the reception frequencies associated with the first beam component or the second beam component can be separated by an algorithm at the receiver.

Furthermore, the first mixed signal and the second mixed signal may be, for example, two separately generated signals, or the first mixed signal and the second mixed signal may be two different signal components of a common mixed signal, which is generated by a common mixing of a part of the first laser radiation, a part of the second laser radiation, a part of the first received radiation and a part of the second received radiation.

According to the invention, the processing unit is configured to determine a parameter representative of a frequency offset between the first modulation band and the second modulation band and to take this parameter into account during the determination of at least one distance from the target to derive a frequency difference between the first frequency modulation and the second frequency modulation.

In particular, the distance meter according to the invention is configured to perform the above-mentioned distance measuring method.

According to one embodiment, the distance meter is in particular configured such that the second frequency modulation comprises at least one time segment in which the second frequency modulation has a modulation direction which is opposite (in particular extends in the opposite direction) to the modulation direction of the first frequency modulation.

In one embodiment, the parameter indicative of the frequency offset between the first modulation band and the second modulation band is a time intersection at which the first frequency modulation and the second frequency modulation have the same frequency.

For example, in another embodiment, the distance meter has for this purpose an interferometer arrangement configured to generate an interference curve of an overlap of at least a part of the first laser radiation and at least a part of the second laser radiation, and the processing unit is configured to determine the time intersection from the interference curve.

For example, a threshold value of the interference signal intensity of the interference curve is stored on the processing unit, which threshold value can be set in particular, and the time intersection is determined on the basis of the threshold value and the interference curve.

In some cases, it is sufficient if the time dependence of the frequency of the first laser radiation and the frequency of the second laser radiation is derived from known component specifications and control signals of the distance meter (e.g. based on a known activation of a signal generator of the distance meter for generating the first frequency modulation and the second frequency modulation).

For example, according to another embodiment, a first curve parameter for the first frequency modulation and a second curve parameter for the second frequency modulation are stored on the processing unit, and the processing unit is configured to determine the frequency difference between the first frequency modulation and the second frequency modulation based on a parameter representing a frequency offset between the first modulation frequency band and the second modulation frequency band, and further based on the first curve parameter and the second curve parameter.

For example, the first curve parameter represents a gradient of the first frequency modulation and/or the second curve parameter represents a gradient of the second frequency modulation.

however, for increased accuracy or for device monitoring (e.g. detecting aging processes of the rangefinder), additional arrangements for determining the first and second frequency modulations may be installed in the rangefinder.

For example, according to a further embodiment, the distance meter comprises a reference interferometer configured to reference a frequency curve of the first frequency modulation and/or a frequency curve of the second frequency modulation with respect to a reference parameter of the reference interferometer, wherein the processing unit is configured to compensate for non-linearities in generating the first frequency modulation and/or the second frequency modulation based on the reference during the determination of the at least one distance.

In another embodiment, the range finder is configured to determine a third curve parameter for the first frequency modulation and a fourth curve parameter for the second frequency modulation, and to determine the frequency difference between the first frequency modulation and the second frequency modulation based on a parameter representing a frequency offset between the first modulation band and the second modulation band, and further based on the third curve parameter and the fourth curve parameter.

Drawings

The method according to the invention and the distance meter according to the invention are described in more detail below, purely by way of example, on the basis of exemplary embodiments which are schematically illustrated in the drawings. In the drawings, like elements are represented by like reference numerals. The embodiments are generally not shown to scale, and they should not be construed as limiting.

in the detailed description of the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows an illustrative graph of the time-sequential dependence of the transmit and receive frequencies of a frequency modulated continuous wave radar with an ascending frequency ramp and a descending frequency ramp;

figure 2 shows the transmit and receive frequencies of a frequency modulated continuous wave radar with opposite chirps;

fig. 3a and 3b show schematic illustrations of different frequency offsets between a first modulation band and a second modulation band;

FIG. 4 shows a schematic illustration of compensation parameters for dynamic errors during FMCW distance measurement with opposite chirps in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 shows a schematic illustration of an interferogram from the overlap of two FMCW radiation components at a local oscillator to determine the temporal intersection of the two radiation components;

FIG. 6 shows an illustrative diagram of an exemplary measurement sequence for determining an approximation of the frequency difference between two FMCW laser beams.

Detailed Description

fig. 1 schematically shows the time-sequential dependence of the frequency of the transmitted radiation 1 and the frequency of the received radiation 2 of a frequency-modulated continuous-wave radar (also referred to as FMCW radar arrangement) with a rising frequency ramp and a falling frequency ramp, which enables absolute distance measurement of a target to be measured.

The frequency modulated electromagnetic radiation is transmitted as a transmission signal towards an object to be measured and subsequently receives at least a portion of the radiation returned from the object as an echo signal. In this case, the object to be measured may comprise reflective backscattering properties and also diffuse backscattering properties. After reception, the echo signals are overlapped, for example, with a local oscillator signal to generate an interferogram, wherein the time of flight of the transmitted signal and thus the distance to the target can be derived from the interferogram, for example via a time-of-flight-dependent beat frequency.

The radiation generated by the FMCW rangefinder is frequency modulated by the signal generator such that, for example, a rising ramp and a falling ramp result in a time curve t of the frequency v. The rising and falling frequency ramps, each with an associated measurement range, are typically used to compensate for the doppler effect, because in the case of only one (e.g., rising) frequency ramp, the measured frequency change of the beat frequency cannot be uniquely assigned to the range or velocity contribution of the target or rangefinder.

The frequency of the transmitter changes during the time of flight 3 of the transmitted signal to the target and back. Without taking into account the doppler effect, an image 4 is thus produced in which the frequency curve of the emitted radiation is shifted in time, whereas, in contrast, with taking into account the doppler effect, the image 4 shifted in time is additionally shifted in the frequency direction. The distance measurement is carried out with respect to the measurement range 5, which is also shown in the figure, for the rising frequency ramp and the falling frequency ramp, respectively.

Since a rising frequency ramp and a falling frequency ramp are used, for example by means of triangular frequency modulation as shown, the doppler frequency, which is a measure of the relative radial velocity of the target, can be determined as an independent measurement variable in addition to the distance measurement.

For example, according to one example (by way of example only), if the target is radially far from the rangefinder, the receive frequency 2 decreases due to the doppler frequency of the rising ramp, and the difference frequency absolute value 6 of the rising ramp increases, i.e., the absolute value between the transmit frequency 1 and the receive frequency 2 in the rising ramp increases, while the difference frequency absolute value 7 of the falling ramp decreases instead.

Since the frequency offset introduced by the doppler effect is the same for both the rising and falling ramps at a constant radial velocity, e.g., the absolute values of the frequency modulation in the rising and falling ramps have equal slopes, the difference of the difference frequency with respect to the rising and falling ramps is a distance measure, independent of the radial velocity, whereas the average of the difference frequency is a measure of the radial velocity of the target.

However, the time-sequential separation between the rising frequency ramp and the falling frequency ramp assumes that the relative radial velocity of the target is constant during the distance measurement. However, this assumption is not usually provided in practice, and object vibrations, speckle effects or other effects that interfere with the interference phase can lead to non-negligible fluctuations in the measured distance.

Therefore, FMCW rangefinders with so-called opposite chirps are often used in the prior art, i.e. in which a rising frequency ramp and a falling frequency ramp are emitted substantially simultaneously, for example by means of two laser beams or two laser beam components. Then, the assumption of a constant radial velocity still has to be achieved within a short time window.

Fig. 2 schematically shows the transmit and receive frequencies of a frequency modulated continuous wave radar with opposite chirps. The radiation emitted towards the target has two radiation components, which in this case have different time-sequential variations of the frequency v, i.e. opposite frequency ramps 1A and 1B.

For example, in this case, the radiation component may be emitted as two overlapping laser beams with phase shifts of exactly 180 ° (i.e. strictly in anti-phase) of opposite chirps. The modulation depth of the two laser beams may be different. In particular, the source corresponding to the combination of the frequency modulation method and the classical incremental interferometer may not be modulated. If two laser beams are emitted via a common optical unit toward a common target and/or received thereby, it must be possible to split at the receiver into two receiving frequencies 2A and 2B, associated with opposite emission frequencies 1A and 1B, respectively, for the two laser beams to be analyzed, which in the prior art is solved, for example, algorithmically or by different polarizations of the laser beams.

Further, to explain the FMCW principle and the doppler shift, similarly to fig. 1, in addition to the doppler-shifted reception frequency 2A and the reception frequency 2B, time-shifted virtual images 4A and 4B of the transmission frequency 1A and the transmission frequency 1B modulated in opposite directions are sequentially shown without considering the doppler effect.

Similar to the use of sequential frequency ramps as shown in fig. 1, in the case where the absolute values of the frequency modulation in the rising ramp and the falling ramp have equal slopes, the difference between difference frequency 6 and difference frequency 7 between the transmit frequency and the receive frequency is a distance measure, independent of the radial velocity.

The difference in modulation frequency between the two laser beams is typically small, and therefore the absolute frequencies of the two laser beams are often not considered in conventional FMCW rangefinders. However, this results in a relative radial velocity greater than zero, resulting in a distance measurement error based on the relative radial movement of the target. Such a so-called dynamic error, which depends on the currently set frequency value of both the first frequency modulation and the second frequency modulation and/or on the curve of the tuned frequency value, can be reduced according to the invention by ensuring that the fundamental frequencies of the two laser beams (on which the emission frequency 1A and the emission frequency 1B are based) are approximately equal, in particular wherein the two emission frequencies 1A and the emission frequency 1B are for a constant center frequency v_cIn contrast, the tuning is in particular mirror-symmetrical.

In particular, according to the invention, a simplified estimation term can be used to compensate for dynamic errors that depend only on the frequency difference between the two oppositely modulated transmit frequencies 1A and 1B, so that the determination of the absolute values of the transmit frequencies 1A and 1B can be omitted.

for example, at a center frequency v for a constant_cin the case of modulation of the transmission frequency 1A and the transmission frequency 1B, it can be concluded that the modulated transmission frequencies 1A and 1B are dependent on the center frequency v_can estimated term of the frequency difference of (a). Based on design, center frequency v_cIt is generally known with sufficient accuracy, and therefore, according to the invention, it is sufficient to determine and take into account only the relative frequency difference between the two oppositely modulated transmit frequencies 1A and 1B, without determining the absolute frequencies of the two transmit beams, in order to compensate for dynamic errors.

Fig. 3a and 3B each schematically show the time dependence of the inversely modulated transmission frequencies 1A and 1B (fig. 2) of an FMCW range finder with opposite chirps, wherein the different frequency offsets between a first modulation band 8A generated by a first frequency modulation and a second modulation band 8B generated by a second frequency modulation are shown.

the respective relative frequency profiles of both the emission frequency 1A and the emission frequency 1B (i.e. the profiles of the frequency variations of both the emission frequency 1A and the emission frequency 1B) can generally be derived sufficiently accurately during operation from the enabling electronics control signal of the signal generator and the specifications of the laser source. In addition, various arrangements known from the prior art of reference interferometers can be used to compensate for non-linearities in the generation of the frequency modulation or other effects that disrupt the frequency curve.

This means, therefore, that the transmission frequency 1A and the transmission frequency 1B are each typically modulated within a prescribed modulation band 8A and modulation band 8B, which modulation bands 8A and 8B have a generally known frequency bandwidth. However, an absolute frequency assignment to the respective modulation band 8A and modulation band 8B of the transmission frequency 1A and transmission frequency 1B is generally only possible to a limited extent. For example, the absolute frequency reference of the transmit frequency 1A and the transmit frequency 1B may be changed by enabling the set parameters of the electronics, environmental effects (e.g., temperature), or aging processes of various components of the FMCW rangefinder.

thus, according to the invention, a parameter is also determined which represents the frequency offset between the two modulation bands 8A and 8B defined by the modulation of the transmission frequency 1A and the transmission frequency 1B, respectively. Based on this parameter, the relative frequency difference between the two oppositely modulated transmit frequencies 1A and 1B is determined and taken into account by means of a simplified estimation term to compensate for dynamic errors in the FMCW distance measurement. In particular, according to the invention, it is thus not necessary to determine the absolute frequencies of the two transmission frequencies.

fig. 3a shows a situation in which band 8A and band 8B still overlap. Thus, for example (as described with reference to fig. 4), the time intersection of the two transmit frequencies 1A and 1B may be determined as a parameter of the frequency offset between the first modulation band and the second modulation band. However, the distance measuring method according to the invention can also be applied to the situation according to fig. 3B, in which the two frequency bands 8A and 8B do not overlap.

Fig. 4 shows schematic frequency tuning curves for two oppositely modulated transmit frequencies 1A and 1B in FMCW distance measurement with opposite chirp and dynamic error compensation according to the invention. For the sake of simplicity, in this case the two transmission frequencies 1A and 1B of the two laser beams are passed through a signal generator for the center frequency v_cThe frequency modulation is performed substantially mirror-symmetrically. Thereby, the dynamic error, which depends on the frequency values of both the emission frequencies 1A and 1B of the two beam components and on the relative radial velocity of the target, is reduced.

as mentioned above, during operation, the respective curves of the frequency variation of both the transmission frequency 1A and the transmission frequency 1B can generally be derived sufficiently accurately depending on the parameters of the distance meter and/or by means of a measurement arrangement provided for this purpose, and the transmission frequency 1A and the transmission frequency 1B are each modulated within a defined modulation band 8A and modulation band 8B, which modulation bands 8A and 8B generally have a known frequency bandwidth. However, an absolute frequency assignment to the respective modulation bands of the transmission frequency 1A and the transmission frequency 1B is generally only possible to a limited extent.

however, for example, a parameter is now determined according to the invention, by means of which a relative frequency difference 9 of the two transmission frequencies 1A and 1B can be derived.

For example, the two laser beams have the same frequency at the intersection of the two emission frequencies 1A and 1B, wherein, for example, an interference signal 10 (as shown in fig. 5) from the overlap of the two radiation components at the local oscillator comprises a strong interference deflection at said time intersection, and the point in time t at which the interference deflection occurs can be detected with relatively simple means (for example, based on a defined threshold 11 for the interference signal 10)_TOIF(interference time point).

FIG. 6 shows an exemplary measurement sequence in which the frequency of the first laser radiation generating the radio frequency 1A is tuned such that the interference time point t_TOIFNear the frequency inflection point 12 of the first (or second) transmit frequency 1A but outside the measurement interval 5. Due to the detected interference time t_TOIFThen, an unambiguous reference point is known, at which the two transmission frequencies 1A and 1B have the same frequency. The measuring interval 5 has, for example, a distance t with respect to the interference point t_TOIFWherein the frequency difference between the transmit frequency 1A and the transmit frequency 1B is not equal to zero at the measurement interval.

Then, at a point in time within the measurement interval 5, the actual frequency difference 9 between the two opposite transmit frequencies 1A and 1B can be, for example, by means of a relative interference point in time t_TOIFIs estimated by the approximation 90 of (a).

For example, the approximation 90 is based on theoretical values of the frequency gradient 13A and the frequency gradient 13B of both the first transmission frequency 1A and the second transmission frequency 1B or values determined with a reference interferometer, and with respect to the interference time point t_TOIFIn particular wherein the tuning of the laser beam within the measuring range 5 is performed substantially linearly.

It will be obvious that these illustrate only schematically possible exemplary embodiments. The different methods can also be combined with each other and with methods according to the prior art.

For example, the dynamic error and the possibility of deriving a simplified estimate to compensate for the dynamic error can be mathematically described as follows. It goes without saying, however, that this mathematical description is given by way of example only and should not be construed in any way as limiting the invention.

as described above, for example, in the case where the absolute values of the frequency modulation in the rising ramp and the falling ramp have equal slopes, the difference between the difference frequency 6 and the difference frequency 7 (see fig. 2) between the transmission frequency and the reception frequency is a distance measure, regardless of the radial velocity.

for simplicity, perfect mirror symmetric triangular frequency modulation as shown in fig. 2 is assumed below. The interference frequency thus generated (i.e. the interference frequency f of the rising ramp) may be such that the corresponding frequency of the rising ramp or of the falling ramp overlaps with the associated local oscillator signal, each generated from the same radiation source_TA(t) and interference frequency f of the falling ramp_TB(t)) is distributed into a time-of-flight component f_τAnd Doppler component f_Doppler. For example, f_TA(t) can be represented as

wherein r is_TIndicating the distance, v, to the target_TRepresents the target speed, c represents the speed of light, and λ_A(t) represents a wavelength or v_A(t) denotes the frequency of the laser beam, here the first laser beam 1A (fig. 2). If it is notThen for f_TB(t) only the sign of the time-of-flight component changes.

Thus, the interference frequency of both the rising ramp and the falling ramp can be written as

Thereby forming a distance r for the target_TAnd a target velocity v_Twherein λ is_A、λ_BIs a wavelength, or v_A、v_Brespectively, the frequencies of the first laser beam 1A and the second laser beam 1B (fig. 2). From this, the following distances to the target are derived

Assuming that the variation in wavelength is small, i.e. λ ≈ λ_A(t)≈λ_B(t) a first estimate of the distance to the target may be derivedThat is to say that the first and second electrodes,

thus it follows that

The equation now shows that there is a wavelength difference between the first laser beam 1A and the second laser beam 1B, i.e. at λ_A≠λ_Bfor the target speed v_Tabove zero, a dynamic error is caused which depends on the frequency/wavelength values of both the first laser beam 1A and the second laser beam 1B.

for r_TThe above equation of (a) can also be written as a function of optical frequency, rather than optical wavelength, i.e.,

If the tuning of the frequency of the rising ramp or the frequency of the falling ramp, respectively, is parameterized on the basis of a center frequency v (t) which usually varies in a time sequence, i.e.,

v_A(t)＝v(t)+dv(t)

v_B(t)＝v(t)-dv(t)

Thus it follows that

If the first laser radiation and the second laser radiation are now tuned relative to one another, the center frequency v (t) is thus constant, and a second, improved, estimate term follows, which depends on the frequency difference dv (t) between the first laser radiation and the second laser radiation and the center frequency v (t) or the center wavelength λ:

the term represents the distance to the previous estimatewithout the need to know exactly the absolute wavelength of the first laser beam 1A and the absolute wavelength of the second laser beam 1B. In this case, the task is to determine the frequency difference dv (t) because, by design, the center wavelength λ is usually already known with sufficient accuracy.