IP Library Granted Patent US 7,095,362
Granted Patent B2
US 7,095,362 · App. 10/517,790 · Granted Aug 22, 2006

Radar measurement device, especially for a motor vehicle, and method for operating a radar measurement device

Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,095,362
App. No.
10/517,790
Granted
Aug 22, 2006
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention relates to a radar measuring device which, with a simple design, ensures reliable distance determination even when a mixed signal is zero, and a method for operating a radar measuring device. The radar measuring device includes: A high-frequency oscillator ( 11 ) which emits two different carrier frequency signals (F 1 , F 2 ), A first switching device ( 14 ) for switching the carrier frequency signals (F 1 , F 2 ) as a function of first pulse signals (P 1 ) and emitting radar pulse signals (T 1, 2 ), A transmission antenna ( 16 ) and a receiving antenna ( 18 ), A second switching device ( 24 ) for switching the carrier frequency signals as a function of a delayed second pulse signal (P 2 ) and emitting delayed radar pulse signals (S 1, 2 ), A mixing device ( 21 ) for mixing received radar signals (R 1, 2 ) with the delayed radar pulse signals (S 1, 2 ) and emitting mixed signals (M 1, 2 ). The phase differences between the received radar signals (R 1, 2 ) and delayed radar pulse signals (S 1, 2 ) differ by a predetermined value when the two carrier frequency signals (F 1, 2 ) are emitted. An amplitude signal is subsequently determined from the first and second mixed signal (M 1, 2 ).

Claims (45)

1. A radar measuring device, in particular for a motor vehicle, with a high-frequency oscillating device ( 11 ) which emits a first carrier frequency signal (F 1 ) and a second carrier frequency signal (F 2 ),

a first pulse-shaping device ( 12 ) which emits first pulse signals (P 1 ),

a first switching device ( 14 ) which switches the first and second carrier frequency signals (F 1 , F 2 ) as a function of the first pulse signal (P 1 ) and emits first and second radar pulse signals (T 1 , 2 ),

a transmission antenna ( 16 ) which sends out radar pulse signals (T 1 , 2 ),

a second pulse-shaping device ( 23 ) which emits second pulse signals (P 2 ) which are delayed relative to the first pulse signals (P 1 ),

a second switching device ( 24 ) which switches the first and second carrier frequency signals (F 1 , F 2 ) as a function of the second pulse signal (P 2 ) and sends out first and second delayed radar pulse signals (S 1 , 2 ),

a receiving antenna ( 18 ) which receives first and second radar signals (R 1 , R 2 ),

a mixing device ( 21 ) which mixes the received first and second radar signals (R 1 , 2 ) with the first and second delayed radar pulse signals (S 1 , 2 ) and emits first and second mixed signals (M 1 , 2 ),

a control device ( 7 ) which determines an amplitude signal from the first mixed signal (M 1 ) and the second mixed signal (M 2 ), whereby a first phase difference between the first received radar signals (R 1 ) and the first delayed radar pulse signals (S 1 ) differs from a second phase difference between the second received radar signals (R 2 ) and the second delayed radar pulse signals (S 2 ).

2. The radar measuring device as recited in claim 1 ,

wherein the high-frequency oscillating device ( 11 ) includes exactly one HF oscillator ( 11 ) capable of being adjusted by a trigger signal (U 1 , 2 ), the HF oscillator emitting the first or second carrier frequency signal (F 1 , F 2 ) as a function of the trigger signal.

3. The radar measuring device as recited in claim 2 ,

wherein the HF oscillator ( 11 ) adjusts a carrier frequency as a function of the amplitude of the trigger signal (U 1 , 1 ) and emits the carrier frequency signal (F 1 , F 2 ).

4. The radar measuring device as recited in claim 3 ,

wherein the trigger signal is a direct-current signal with at least a first and a second direct voltage (U 1 , 2 ).

5. The radar measuring device as recited in claim 4 ,

wherein it includes a direct-voltage source ( 9 , 10 ) which is capable of being adjusted by the control device ( 7 ) and emits the first and second direct voltage (U 1 , 2 ).

6. The radar measuring device as recited in claim 5 ,

wherein the adjustable direct-voltage source ( 9 , 10 ) includes a voltage divider ( 10 ) capable of being adjusted via a control signal from the control device ( 7 ).

7. The radar measuring device as recited in claim 1 ,

wherein the mixer ( 21 ) convolutes the received radar signals (R 1 , 2 ) and the delayed radar pulse signals (S 1 , 2 ).

8. The radar measuring device as recited in claim 1 , wherein it includes a time-delay device ( 22 ) with changeable time delay (Δt), which emits a delayed clock signal to the second pulse-shaping device ( 23 ).

9. The radar measuring device as recited in claim 8 ,

wherein the control device ( 7 ) scans a distance region between a minimum distance and a maximum distance by emitting a control signal to the time-delay device ( 22 ) and adjusts the various carrier frequency signals (F 1 , F 2 ) while the distance region is being scanned.

10. A method for operating a radar measuring device, comprising the following steps:

Generate a first carrier frequency signal (F 1 ),

Shape the initial pulse signals (P 1 ),

Generate the first radar pulse signals (T 1 ) from the pulse signal and the second carrier frequency signal (F 1 ),

Send out the first radar pulse signals (T 1 ),

Receive the reflected first radar signals (R 1 ),

Shape the second pulse signals (P 2 ), which are delayed relative to the first pulse signals (P 1 ),

Generate the first delayed radar pulse signals (S 1 ) from the first carrier frequency signal (F 1 ) and the second pulse signal (P 2 ),

Mix the first radar pulse signal (S 1 ) and the received first radar signal (R 1 ) and send out a first mixed signal (M 1 ),

Generate a second carrier frequency signal (F 2 ),

Generate second radar pulse signals (T 2 ) from the first pulse signal (P 1 ) and the second carrier frequency signal (F 2 ),

Send out the second radar pulse signals (T 2 ),

Receive reflected second radar signals (R 2 ),

Generate second delayed radar pulse signals (S 2 ) from the second carrier frequency signal (F 2 ) and the second pulse signal (P 2 ),

Mix the received second radar signals (R 2 ) with the second delayed radar pulse signals (S 2 ) and send out a second mixed signal (M 2 ),

whereby a first phase difference located between the first received radar signal (R 1 ) and the first delayed radar pulse signal (S 1 ) is different than a second phase difference located between the second received radar signal (R 1 ) and the second delayed radar pulse signal (S 1 ),

Determine an amplitude signal from the first mixed signal (M 1 ) and the second mixed signal (M 2 ).

11. The method as recited in claim 10 ,

wherein the two carrier frequency signals (F 1 , 2 ) are generated by changing a direct voltage (U 1 , 2 ) which triggers an HF oscillator ( 11 ).

12. The method as recited in claim 11 ,

wherein the direct voltage (U 1 , 2 ) which triggers the HF oscillator ( 11 ) is produced using a controllable voltage divider ( 10 ).

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 13, 2004
From: HOETZEL, JUERGEN; SCHMID, DIRK
To: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
Reel/Frame 016693/0326 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 102 41 463 · Sep 6, 2002 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20050225476A1 · Oct 13, 2005