阅读说明：本技术 雷达传感器系统和用于运行雷达传感器系统的方法 (Radar sensor system and method for operating a radar sensor system ) 是由 M·迈尔 K·鲍尔 M·朔尔 于 2019-01-12 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种雷达传感器系统(100),所述雷达传感器系统具有：限定数量的高频构件(10a…10d),其中,高频构件(10a…10d)中的每个分别具有用于发送和/或接收雷达波的至少一个天线以及用于运行所述至少一个天线的至少一个天线控制器；同步网络(20),所述同步网络与所有高频构件(10a…10d)连接,并且通过所述同步网络能够由高频构件中的至少一个同步所有高频构件(10a…10d)的运行频率。(A radar sensor system (100) having: a defined number of high-frequency components (10a … 10d), wherein each of the high-frequency components (10a … 10d) has at least one antenna for transmitting and/or receiving radar waves and at least one antenna controller for operating the at least one antenna, respectively; a synchronization network (20) which is connected to all high-frequency components (10a … 10d) and by means of which the operating frequencies of all high-frequency components (10a … 10d) can be synchronized by at least one of the high-frequency components.)

1. A radar sensor system (100) having:

a defined number of high frequency members (10a … 10 n);

wherein each of the high-frequency components (10a … 10n) has at least one antenna for transmitting and/or receiving radar waves and at least one antenna controller for operating the at least one antenna, respectively;

A synchronization network (20) which is connected to all high-frequency components (10a … 10n) and by means of which the operating frequencies of all high-frequency components (10a … 10n) can be synchronized by at least one of the high-frequency components (10a … 10 n).

2. The radar sensor system (100) of claim 1, wherein the synchronization network (20) has a short wire length relative to radar resolution.

3. The radar sensor system (100) according to claim 2, characterized in that a defined relation between a length of a conducting wire of the synchronization network (20) and a span width of the radar sensor system (100) is used.

4. The radar sensor system (100) according to claim 3, wherein the length of the conductive lines is such that a one-tenth change of the interval width is provided by means of the radar sensor system (100).

5. The radar sensor system (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the high-frequency components (10a … 10n) are arranged with respect to one another in such a way that the defined groups of high-frequency components (10a … 10n) have a narrow spacing from one another in a defined manner, wherein the defined groups of high-frequency components (10a … 10n) are connected by means of synchronization lines (21).

6. The radar sensor system (100) according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the high-frequency components (10a … 10n) are arranged relative to one another in such a way that the defined groups of high-frequency components (10a … 10n) have a narrow spacing from one another in a defined manner, wherein a further high-frequency component (10a … 10n) has a synchronization network (20) of conductive lines of different length from the conductive lines of the group of high-frequency components (10a … 10n) in such a way that, in operation of the radar sensor system (100), the mixing times of the further high-frequency component (10a … 10n) are offset relative to the mixing times of the group of high-frequency components (10a … 10 n).

7. The radar sensor system (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each high frequency member (10a … 10n) is capable of acting as a primary member of the synchronization.

8. Radar sensor system according to any one of claims 2 to 7, characterised in that the high-frequency members (10a … 10n) are arranged twisted approximately 45 degrees relative to one another in a defined installation position.

9. A method for operating a radar sensor system (100), having the following steps:

-transmitting and/or receiving radar waves by means of a defined number of high-frequency members (10a … 10n), respectively by means of at least one antenna;

The operating frequency of the high-frequency components (10a … 10n) is synchronized by means of a synchronization network (20) which is connected to the defined number of high-frequency components (10a … 10d), wherein the defined high-frequency components (10a … 10n) serve as the synchronized main components.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a radar sensor system. The invention also relates to a method for operating a radar sensor system. The invention also relates to a computer program product.

Background

The market for driver assistance systems is currently under revolution. Although in the last years predominantly cost-effective sensor devices have been regarded as important, the trend of highly autonomous driving, which has much higher demands on the sensor devices, is currently being shown. More and more sensors are installed in vehicles with high driver assistance or automated driving functions for controlling and regulating functions. The sensors installed in the vehicle may be, for example, radar sensors or LIDAR sensors and must have as high an accuracy as possible. By using precise sensors, functional safety and reliability of the autonomous or partially autonomous driving function can be ensured.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the present invention is to provide a radar sensor system with improved operating characteristics, in particular with increased radar resolution.

According to a first aspect, this object is achieved by a radar sensor system having:

-a defined number of high frequency components;

-wherein each of the high frequency components has at least one antenna for transmitting and/or receiving radar waves and at least one antenna controller for operating the at least one antenna, respectively;

a synchronization network, which is connected to all high-frequency components and by means of which the operating frequencies of all high-frequency components can be synchronized by at least one high-frequency component.

In this way, a high coherence or synchronization is advantageously provided between all high-frequency components, wherein one of the high-frequency components acts as a main component, wherein all high-frequency components are connected to one another by a synchronization network. As a result, improved operating characteristics of the radar sensor system are thereby supported in the form of a high range resolution and angular resolution. Advantageously, an emergency function of the radar sensor system may also be provided, for example.

According to a second aspect, the object is achieved by a method for operating a radar sensor system, having the following steps:

-transmitting and/or receiving radar waves by means of a defined number of high-frequency components, respectively by means of at least one antenna;

-synchronizing the operating frequency of the high frequency components by means of a synchronization network connected to a defined number of high frequency components, wherein the defined high frequency components act as synchronized master components.

Advantageous embodiments of the radar sensor system are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

An advantageous embodiment of the radar sensor system is characterized in that the synchronization network has a short line length relative to the radar resolution. In this way, the adverse effects of long wires in the form of losses are reduced. For example, the propagation time of signals can be kept low, which signals therefore have to be compensated only to a small extent and therefore advantageously have to be compensated only to a small extent.

A further advantageous embodiment of the radar sensor system provides that a defined relationship is established between the length of the transmission line and the interval width (Binbreite). In this way, the compensation overhead for the high-frequency component signal is kept low in a defined manner.

A further advantageous development of the radar sensor system is characterized in that the length of the transmission line is such that a change of one-tenth of the interval width is provided by means of the radar sensor system. In this way a feasible ratio between the interval width and the length of the conductive line is achieved.

A further advantageous embodiment of the radar sensor system is characterized in that the high-frequency components are arranged relative to one another in such a way that defined groups of high-frequency components have a narrow spacing from one another in a defined manner, wherein the defined groups of high-frequency components are connected by means of a synchronization line. Advantageously, this is achieved in that high-frequency components which have a narrow, small spacing from one another do not need to be compensated. In this case, a defined length of the synchronization network lines exists between the groups formed in this way, wherein then, in the case of a total of four high-frequency components, only the first pair of high-frequency components has to be compensated with respect to the second pair of high-frequency components.

A further advantageous embodiment of the radar sensor system is characterized in that the high-frequency components are arranged relative to one another in such a way that a defined group of high-frequency components has a narrow distance from one another in a defined manner, wherein the further high-frequency component has a synchronization network conductor of such a different length than the conductor of the group of high-frequency components that, in operation of the radar sensor system, the mixing times of the further high-frequency component are offset from the mixing times of the group of high-frequency components. In this way, substantially the same signal propagation time is provided by one group, which simplifies signal processing by: only high-frequency components acting as main components with different conductor lengths have to be compensated.

A further advantageous development of the radar sensor system is characterized in that each high-frequency component can act as a synchronized master component. In this way, a high flexibility in the selection of the main component is supported.

A further advantageous development of the radar sensor system is characterized in that the high-frequency components are arranged in a defined installation position with a rotation of approximately 45 degrees to each other. Thereby minimizing the wire length and simplifying the signal transmission.

Drawings

A preferred embodiment of the radar sensor system according to the invention is further elucidated below on the basis of a highly simplified schematic drawing. Shown here are:

fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a first embodiment of the proposed radar sensor system;

fig. 2 shows a more detailed schematic diagram of the radar sensor system proposed in fig. 1;

fig. 3 shows a schematic view of another embodiment of the proposed radar sensor system;

fig. 4 shows a basic flowchart of the proposed method for operating a radar sensor system.

In the figures, identical structural elements have identical reference numerals, respectively.

Detailed Description

Current radar sensors typically have many high frequency channels for generating and for receiving radar waves. In normal operation, all high-frequency modules can be operated simultaneously. In a symmetrical configuration, such a radar sensor can be subdivided into a plurality of sub-sensors. Each sub-sensor may thus have a respective part of the high-frequency module or high-frequency channel of the radar sensor. Thus, for example, in a possible emergency operation, the sub-sensors of the radar sensor can enable autonomous driving of the vehicle at a limited speed. This can be achieved even when the components of the other sub-sensors are no longer able to function properly.

The structure of the radar sensor system can be composed of known, cost-effective basic components, for example. By paralleling a plurality of components of the same type, an improvement in the performance and accuracy of the radar sensor system can be achieved. Furthermore, by using multiple members of the same type, redundancy can be achieved to provide reliable functionality of the device. This makes it possible to technically easily implement emergency operation of the radar sensor system. However, for this purpose, in addition to the high-frequency components and the microcontroller, there must also be redundancy in terms of clock generation. The high-frequency components may be, for example, antenna controllers or amplifiers in the form of MMICs (monolithic microwave integrated circuits).

Radar sensor systems have a high coherence since all high frequency components are fed by a common clock generator with an effective or fundamental frequency. In particular, different high-frequency components can be operated at the same operating frequency, so that a redundant and coherent clock supply of a plurality of high-frequency components can be achieved.

Preferably, at least a part of the high-frequency components used in the radar sensor system can be supplied with a clock or an effective frequency. In normal operation, all high-frequency components of the radar sensor system or the antenna controller can be supplied with the same clock by at least one clock generator, and therefore all data can be calculated from one another (verrechet).

In the normal operation of the radar sensor system, the simultaneous clock supply of all antenna controllers or high-frequency components is effected by at least one clock generator. High coherence can be achieved by clock supply from one source. Alternatively or additionally, the clock supply may be built up from a plurality of clock generators running in parallel. For example, if one clock generator has a defect, at least one further clock generator can be activated or switched on by the control unit for generating the frequency.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a first embodiment of the proposed radar sensor system 100. The radar sensor system 100 has four high-frequency components 10a.. 10d, which are designed as MMICs. Here, the number four is merely exemplary, and the proposed radar sensor system 100 may also have fewer or more than four high-frequency components. A synchronization network 20 can also be seen, to which all high-frequency components 10a.. 10d are functionally connected (e.g., electrically conductive, electrically non-conductive) and which serves to synchronize the operating or LO frequencies of all high-frequency components 10a.. 10d, wherein during synchronization one high-frequency component 10a.. 10d acts as a synchronization master component and the other high-frequency components act as slave high-frequency components.

Furthermore, the radar sensor system 100 has an antenna controller of the high-frequency components 10a.. 10 d. For the sake of simplicity, the other components of the high-frequency component 10a.. 10d required for transmitting and for receiving radar waves, such as antennas, amplifiers, oscillators, etc., are not shown in the drawing.

The geometric length of the lines of the synchronization network 20 between each two high-frequency components is advantageously short relative to the radar resolution of the radar sensor system 100, so that the propagation time of the signals within the synchronization network 20 is matched to the radar resolution of the radar sensor system 100.

This results in a group of two high-frequency components 10a to 10c and 10b to 10d each, which do not have to compensate one another, since they are connected "within the group" by short lines. The result is that only a close-range group of high-frequency components needs to be compensated for one another, which in the case of the arrangement of fig. 1 corresponds to a 50% compensation of all the high-frequency components (10a.. 10d) involved.

The proposed concept can also be advantageously applied on other numbers of high-frequency components 10a.. 10 n. In this way, according to the proposed principle, a total of six high-frequency components can be arranged, for example, in 2 × 3 or 3 × 2 high-frequency members (not shown in the figures) which have a narrow, small spacing from one another in a defined manner.

The following are proposed: during the operating time of the radar sensor system 100, the synchronous high-frequency main component serves as a source of a synchronization signal ("main component"), wherein all high-frequency components are functionally connected to one another by the synchronization network 20.

In general, in a radar sensor system, one high-frequency component is assigned the role of a "main component" that performs high-frequency generation, and high-frequency synchronization signals are supplied from the other high-frequency components. A high-frequency synchronization signal is required in order to provide a high coherence of the high-frequency components 10a.. 10d, whereby a high angular resolution of the radar sensor system 100 can be achieved. For this purpose, special modules known per se are used for generating the high frequencies and for further signal processing.

However, with the increasing cost of high frequency module development (e.g., with the higher cost of masks for smaller node sizes) it has been shown that: using multiple modules of the same type may provide cost advantages even if the actual silicon area is large. In this way, the following advantageous possibilities result with the invention: a cost-effective and redundant radar sensor system is achieved.

With the aid of the invention, it is proposed that one high-frequency component 10a … 10d undertakes the mentioned task of synchronizing the remaining high-frequency components 10a … 10d, wherein the synchronization master component is connected to all high-frequency components via a synchronization network 20.

Fig. 2 shows the arrangement of the radar sensor system 100 of fig. 1 in greater detail, wherein it can be seen that the high-frequency components 10a … 10d are arranged at a defined angle (for example at 45 degrees) relative to one another in a defined installation position (for example on a circuit board) in order in this way to achieve a shorter electrical line length of the synchronization network 20, as a result of which the detection accuracy of the radar sensor system 100 can be optimized.

By arranging the high-frequency components 10a.. 10d so torsionally, the shortest possible synchronization conductor 21 is advantageously achieved. As a result, a short propagation time of the signal on the synchronization conductor 21 is thereby achieved, wherein there is still sufficient space for the transmit and receive channels to transmit the signal for the high-frequency components 10a.. 10 d.

In this context, "short" means small relative to the interval width which in principle represents the range resolution of the radar sensor system 100 and which in the case of a 1GHz stroke (Hub) corresponds to a value of 15 cm. For example, if a span width of 1/10 is considered acceptable, the electrical length of the synchronization wire 21 should not be greater than 3 cm. Here, the factor "two" originates from two paths (go and return) of the radar.

In addition to the synchronization conductor 21, the T-divider 22 is also used for dividing the power, since it has a good transmission value from the feed conductor of the T-divider 22 to the arm of the T-divider 22 (and vice versa). In the representation of fig. 2, a "feed line" is to be understood here as an intermediate, horizontal section, wherein the arm is arranged perpendicular to the feed line.

From the left side with the high- frequency components 10a, 10c to the right side with the high- frequency components 10b, 10d, the signal experiences an attenuation over the length l of the conductor 21, which may be assumed to be, for example, 1dB per centimeter. Thus, the path does not have unnecessarily high attenuation at the T-divider.

In contrast, the length between the ports of the high- frequency components 10a, 10c or the length between the ports of the high- frequency components 10b, 10d is very short, so that a higher coupling attenuation can be accepted on this path. Thus, a typical T-splitter 22 can be used overall, since a ratio between the output power and the required input power is thus achieved. Here, typical attenuation values are:

arm-to-conductive wire: -3.5dB

Arm-to-arm: -7dB

In this context, an "arm" is to be understood as a connection of the T-divider 22 from output to output.

As shown in fig. 3, in addition to the preferred embodiments of fig. 1 and 2, a further embodiment of a radar sensor system 100 can be realized by means of the present invention. However, in this case, two pairs of high- frequency components 10a, 10c and 10b, 10d having the same mixing times are not obtained, but rather a single high-frequency component (for example the high-frequency component 10a) is defined which has the following mixing times: in the operational operation of the radar sensor system 100, this mixing time is offset from the mixing time of each of the other components of the radar sensor system 100 (for example, the high-frequency component 10b … 10 d).

Here, consider: the mixers use the same LO frequency to mix at different times because the wave takes some time to travel the path on the wire. This travel time difference is manifested as a difference in the distance estimate, since the distance estimate essentially performs the following scaling: the estimated propagation time of the radar wave from the transmitter to the target and back is converted to distance by the propagation velocity of the wave.

Thus, the mentioned "emphasis" of the mixing moments is closer to the high frequency component 10b … 10d than to the high frequency component 10a, which high frequency component 10a is preferably digitally compensated. This is achieved by: the three high-frequency components (e.g., the high-frequency component 10b … 10d) have substantially the same length of the conducting wires of the synchronous network 20, wherein the fourth high-frequency component (e.g., the high-frequency component 10a) has a length of the conducting wires of the synchronous network 20 that is different from the above-described length.

If the gate (Tor) between the high- frequency components 10a, 10c according to fig. 3 is considered, an almost optimal power distribution results in the synchronous network 20 if two T-dividers 22 are used.

Common to the two above-described solutions of fig. 1, 2 or 3 is the following possibility: the different high-frequency components 10a … 10d are used as main components for generating the local oscillator frequency and are therefore used in the radar sensor system 100 with emergency function.

In the advantageous embodiment according to fig. 1, 2, both the high-frequency component 10a and the high-frequency component 10c can be used as main components due to the small spacing from each other, without additional adaptation (for example in digital compensation) having to be carried out.

If the high-frequency channels of the high- frequency components 10a, 10b are located at a great distance from one another with respect to the pair of high- frequency components 10c, 10d, the second-mentioned solution according to fig. 3 is preferred, so that a large aperture can be achieved without too great losses due to the high-frequency conducting wires.

Advantageously, the proposed method can be used not only in radar sensor systems, but also in any product having a plurality of high frequency components. Preferably, the proposed radar sensor system is used in the automotive field.

Fig. 4 shows a basic flowchart of a method for operating the radar sensor system 100.

In step 200, the transmission and/or reception of radar waves is performed by means of at least one antenna, respectively, by means of a defined number of high-frequency components 10a … 10 n.

In step 210, the synchronization of the operating frequency of the high-frequency components 10a … 10n is carried out by means of a synchronization network 20, which is connected to a defined number of high-frequency components 10a … 10d, wherein the defined high-frequency components 10a … 10n act as synchronized master components.

Advantageously, the proposed method may be implemented as software running in a controller (not shown) of the radar sensor system 100. Advantageously, a simple variability of the method is supported in this way.

Thus, a person skilled in the art may realize embodiments not yet described or only partially described above without departing from the core of the invention.