Sounding signal for object detection in a radar system
Examples disclosed herein relate to an antenna system in a radar system for object detection with a sounding signal. The antenna system includes a radiating array of elements configured to transmit a reference signal and an antenna controller coupled to the radiating array of elements. The antenna controller is configured to detect a set of reflections of the reference signal from an object. The antenna is configured to determine a location of the object and a mobility status from the set of reflections. The antenna controller is also configured to generate signaling indicating the location and mobility status of the object as output to identify a target object different from the object. Other examples disclosed herein relate to a radar system and a method of object detection with the radar system.
1. A sounding signal system, comprising:
an antenna configured to transmit a sounding signal into an environment; and
an antenna controller coupled to the antenna and configured to:
control beam forming and beam steering of the antenna for a determined direction;
initiate transmission of the sounding signal in the determined direction;
detect a first reflection of the sounding signal from a first reflection point in the environment;
determine a location of the first reflection point from the reflection of the sounding signal at a first time;
determine the first reflection point is within a direct line of sight from the antenna;
detect a second reflection of the sounding signal from a second reflection point at a second time after the first time;
determine the second reflection point is not within the direct line of sight from the antenna;
store the first and second reflections as a reflection set associated with the sounding signal transmitted at a first transmission time; and
determine a location of at least one object as a function of comparing multiple reflection sets, wherein the first reflection point deflects the sounding signal to the second reflection point.
2. The sounding signal system of claim 1 , wherein the antenna controller is further configured to identify a stationary object as having a zero velocity value.
3. The sounding signal system of claim 2 , wherein the antenna controller is further configured to store information of a plurality of reflection sets in memory.
4. The sounding signal system of claim 3 , wherein the antenna controller is further configured to compare the information of the plurality of reflection sets to track detected objects.
5. The sounding signal system of claim 4 , wherein the antenna controller is further configured to create a real time landscape of the environment.
6. The sounding signal system of claim 1 , wherein the sounding signal system is part of a vehicular control system and the sounding signal is transmitted from a radar module.
7. The sounding signal system of claim 1 , wherein the environmental landscape profile identifies a location of a stationary object in an environment.
8. The sounding signal system of claim 1 , wherein the antenna controller is further configured to:
receive analog data from the antenna;
perform an object recognition from the analog data, the object recognition including identification of the location, a velocity or a type of object detected.
9. A method for a sounding signal, comprising:
configuring an antenna to transmit a sounding signal into an environment;
controlling beam forming and beam steering of the antenna for a determined direction;
transmitting the sounding signal in the determined direction;
detecting a first reflection of the sounding signal from a first reflection point in the environment;
determining a location of the first reflection point from the reflection of the sounding signal at a first time;
determining the first reflection point is within a direct line of sight from the antenna;
detecting a second reflection of the sounding signal from a second reflection point at a second time after the first time;
determining the second reflection point is not within the direct line of sight from the antenna;
storing the first and second reflections as a reflection set associated with the sounding signal transmitted at a first transmission time; and
determining a location of at least one object as a function of comparing multiple reflection sets, wherein the first reflection point deflects the sounding signal to the second reflection point.
10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising distinguishing between a plurality of objects, and wherein the sounding signal is a frequency modulated continuous wave signal.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the set of reflections from the plurality of objects have approximately a same angle of arrival, and wherein the method further comprises compiling individual reflection times from the set of reflections.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the sounding signal has a boresight direction of a main reference beam and side lobe beams having angles having angular directions with respect to the boresight direction, wherein the boresight is the line of sight to a first object and the angles are directed at other objects in the environment.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein at least one object is in a non-line of sight area.
14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising scanning the sounding signal over an angular range based at least on different phase shifts applied to the reference signal.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the sounding signal is transmitted from a vehicle and the method further comprises:
identifying a path of the vehicle; and
identifying one or more other objects in the path of the vehicle as a moving target object or a stationary target object.
16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
generating a landscape layout of the vehicle to the first object based on the set of reflections; and
identifying objects in a path of the vehicle from the landscape layout.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the landscape layout is generated in real time.
18. A processing system, comprising:
a memory storage unit; and
at least one processing unit configured to:
control beam forming and beam steering of the antenna for a determined direction;
initiate transmission of the sounding signal in the determined direction;
detect a first reflection of the sounding signal from a first reflection point in the environment;
determine a location of the first reflection point from the reflection of the sounding signal at a first time;
determine the first reflection point is within a direct line of sight from the antenna;
detect a second reflection of the sounding signal from a second reflection point at a second time after the first time;
determine the second reflection point is not within the direct line of sight from the antenna;
store the first and second reflections as a reflection set associated with the sounding signal transmitted at a first transmission time; and
determine a location of at least one object as a function of comparing multiple reflection sets wherein the first reflection point deflects the sounding signal to the second reflection point.
19. The processing system of claim 18 , wherein the sounding signal comprises a frequency modulated continuous wave signal.