METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR NON-LINE OF SIGHT RADAR
In accordance with various implementations, a radar system comprising a non-line of sight (NLOS) module to enhance operation of the radar system is provided. In various embodiments, the NLOS module is a radar repeater module with phase shifters to generate an indication of an object detected in a NLOS area. In various embodiments, the NLOS module includes a reflector structure configured to reflect or redirect radar signals from a train on the tracks into a NLOS area. The NLOS module can include a receive antenna, a transmit antenna configured to transmit one or more received radar signals into a NLOS area, and a phase shifting module for applying a phase shift to a radar signal reflected from an object in the NLOS area that is outside an operational range of the radar unit.
1 . A non-line of sight (NLOS) module, comprising:
a receive antenna configured to receive one or more radar signals from a radar unit;
a transmit antenna configured to transmit at least one radar signal from the one or more received radar signals into a NLOS area, the NLOS area being outside an operational range of the radar unit; and
a phase shifting module coupled between the receive antenna and the transmit antenna,
wherein the phase shifting module is configured to apply a phase shift to a radar signal reflected from an object in the NLOS area.
2 . The NLOS module of claim 1 , wherein the receive antenna is further configured to generate a response signal that is transmitted to the radar unit based on the received reflected radar signal from the object in the NLOS area.
3 . The NLOS module of claim 1 , wherein the phase shift corresponds to a first frequency or a frequency change that identifies the NLOS module.
4 . The NLOS module of claim 1 , wherein the one or more radar signals comprises a Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) for determining a mobility information of the object in the NLOS area, the mobility information comprising at least one of a physical distance, a speed, or a velocity of the object with respect to a position of the NLOS module.
5 . The NLOS module of claim 1 , wherein the NLOS module is part of a radar system operationally deployed in a transportation network.
6 . The NLOS module of claim 1 , wherein the phase shifting module is further configured to apply a unique phase shift for each of a plurality of objects that are detected in the NLOS area.
7 . The NLOS module of claim 1 , wherein the phase shifting module comprises a silicon germanium (SiGe) based radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC).
8 . The NLOS module of claim 1 , wherein the NLOS module is one of a plurality of radar repeater modules deployed in a transportation network.
9 . A method of using a non-line of sight (NLOS) module, comprising:
receiving one or more radar signals from a radar unit;
transmitting at least one radar signal from the one or more received radar signals into a NLOS area, the NLOS area being outside an operational range of the radar unit;
applying a phase shift to a radar signal reflected from an object in the NLOS area;
generating a response signal based on the phase-shifted radar signal; and
transmitting the response signal to the radar unit.
10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the phase shift applied to the radar signal reflected from the object in the NLOS area corresponds to a first frequency or a frequency change that identifies the NLOS module.
11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the one or more received radar signals comprises a Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW), the method further comprising:
determining a mobility information of the object in the NLOS area, the mobility information comprising at least one of a physical distance, a speed, or a velocity of the object with respect to a position of the NLOS module.
12 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the NLOS module is part of a radar system operationally deployed in a transportation network, the method further comprising:
deploying a second NLOS module as a repeater module in the radar system of the transportation network.
13 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
applying a unique phase shift for each of a plurality of objects that are detected in the NLOS area.
14 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the phase shift is applied via a silicon germanium (SiGe) based phase shifting module comprising a radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC).
15 . A non-line of sight (NLOS) module, comprising:
a substrate;
an attachment structure that positions the NLOS module on a fixed surface, the attachment structure coupled to a first side of the substrate; and
a reflector structure comprising a plurality of unit cells, wherein the plurality of unit cells are configured to reflect an incident wave from a radar unit into a NLOS area of the radar unit,
wherein a beam width of the reflected wave from the reflector structure is greater than a beam width of the incident wave from the radar unit.
16 . The NLOS module of claim 15 , wherein the NLOS area is outside an operational range of the radar unit.
17 . The NLOS module of claim 15 , wherein the NLOS module is positioned proximate a curved portion of a train track.
18 . The NLOS module of claim 15 , wherein the NLOS module is positioned proximate a tunnel.
19 . The NLOS modules of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of unit cells comprises at least two different cell sizes.
20 . The NLOS module of claim 15 , wherein the reflector structure comprises a reflector configuration based on the beam width of the incident want, the beam width of the reflected wave, and the NLOS area of the radar unit.