Nxp B.v.

Koninklijke Philips Corporation N.v.

U.S. Philips Corporation

St-ericsson Sa

Cicero Silveira Vaucher

Wolfdietrich G Kasperkovitz

Erwin Janssen

Bram Nauta

Remco Cornelis Herman Van De Beek

Antonius De Graauw

Cornelis Gehrels

Luc Van Dijk

Antonius Johannes Matheus De Graauw

Abdellatif Zanati

Lukas Leyten

Michael Doescher

Raf Lodewijk Jan Roovers

Pieter W Hooijmans

Kaveh Kianush

Waqas Hassan Syed

Eric Antonius Maria Klumperink

Sander Derksen

Udo F Schillhof

Mingda Huang

Stephane Darriet

Nunziatina Mezzasalma

Hubertus Hendrikus Martinus Vereijken

Bernardus Johannes Martinus Kup

Olexander Yarovyi

Nick Andrew Cancrinus

Jan Puskely

The present disclosure relates to a MIMO radar system, comprising a first beamforming network () comprising a first beam ports (A) and antenna ports (B), wherein the first beamforming network is configured to connect the first beam ports via the first antenna ports to the first antenna elements, wherein the first beamforming network is configured to generate for each first beam port a single beam pattern. The first antenna elements transmitting or receiving a single beam pattern selected from the number of single beam patterns, wherein the first antenna elements are spaced apart at a first distance selected to provide a beam pattern of the first antenna array essentially consisting of a plurality of single main lobes. The radar system also has a similar second beamforming network (). The second antenna elements of which are spaced apart at a second distance, larger than the first distance, the second distance being selected to provide a beam pattern of the second antenna array essentially consisting of multiple main lobes and multiple side lobes.

MIMO radar system

A packaged integrated circuit (IC) includes an IC die having first and second external contacts and a package substrate. The IC die is attached to the package substrate which includes a balun in a first metal layer. The balun is connected to the first and second external contacts of the IC die and to a first external contact of the package substrate. The first and second external contacts of the IC die communicate a differential signal with the package substrate, and the first external contact of the package substrate communicates a single-ended signal corresponding to the differential signal. Alternatively, the balun is connected to an external contact of the IC die and to first and second external contacts of the package substrate, in which the external contact of the IC die communicates a single-ended signal and the first and second external contacts of the package substrate communicate a differential signal.

Packaged integrated circuit device with built-in baluns

A frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) radar system includes an antenna array having C antennas where (C=A+B&#x2212;1), a first integrated circuit (IC) device including A first sensor inputs, and a second IC device including B second sensor inputs. The first sensor inputs are coupled to a first A of the antennas, and the second sensor inputs are coupled to a last B of the antennas such that a common one of the first sensor inputs and a common one of the second sensor inputs are both coupled to a common antenna. Each IC device receives reflected signals on each sensor input, and mixes the reflected signals to associated baseband signals based upon a local oscillator (LO) signal. Each LO signal has a different phase shift. The LO signals are based upon a common LO signal.

System and method for local oscillator drift estimation and compensation in cascaded sensors

Embodiments of a method and a device are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method for operating a radar system is disclosed. The method involves generating a chirp signal having a repeating pattern of chirps, each chirp in the repeating pattern of chirps having a base frequency and a chirp bandwidth, wherein the repeating pattern of chirps includes at least two chirps that differ from each other in at least one of base frequency and chirp bandwidth, transmitting a radar signal according to the chirp signal, receiving radio frequency energy that includes a reflected portion of the radar signal, and selecting for processing from the received radio frequency energy a signal that matches the repeating pattern of chirps of the chirp signal.

Radar systems and methods for operating radar systems

A front end for a radar system and method of operation are described. A timing circuit controls operation of a transmitter circuit and a receiver circuit and outputs a valid data signal indicating whether the receiver circuit will be receiving a reflected radar signal. A converter converts a received radar signal and outputs digital data. A serialising circuit receives the digital data and supplies a serial data stream including the digital data for a data processing device. The valid data signal is also communicated to the converter to cause the converter to output a bit pattern corresponding to a code word when the valid data signals indicates that the receiver circuit will not be receiving the reflected radar signal and to output a bit pattern corresponding to a data word including radar data when the valid data signals indicates that the receiver circuit will be receiving the reflected radar signal.

Front end for a radar system and method of operation a front end for a radar system

Receivers and methods of testing are described. A receiver includes a plurality of receiver channels, each including an amplifier for receiving a signal from an antenna and a mixer downstream of the amplifier. A test signal generating circuit is configured to generate test signals. A signal path connects the test signal generating circuit and each receiver channel and couples to each receiver channel at a coupling between the amplifier and a mixer. A test signal from the test signal generating circuit is injectable to the parts of the receiver channel downstream of the amplifier. The test signal may alternatively be injected into the entire receiver channel. The receivers and methods may be used in wireless systems, such as radar systems and radio systems.

Receiver testing

There is disclosed an apparatus comprising a first phase-locked loop comprising: a phase detector (), arranged to receive a reference clock signal () and a feedback clock signal () and to output a frequency control signal based on a phase difference between the reference clock signal () and the feedback clock signal (); a variable-frequency oscillator () arranged to output an oscillator signal having a frequency dependent on said frequency control signal; first divider circuitry () for generating said feedback clock signal () by frequency-dividing said oscillator signal; and second divider circuitry () for generating an output clock signal (by frequency-dividing said oscillator signal; wherein a phase relation between said first divider circuitry () and said second divider circuitry () is adjustable to delay or advance said output clock signal () relative to said feedback clock signal (). The apparatus may be a radar receiver or transceiver.

Apparatus comprising a phase-locked loop

A function monitor for a system, such as an advanced driver assistance system, comprising a first function monitor element and a second function monitor element, said first function monitor element configured to receive and collate sensor data from a plurality of sensors associated with the system and send a function warning signal to said second function monitor element when said sensor data from one or more of the plurality of sensors is indicative of a functional irregularity.

Function monitor

A radar transceiver is disclosed. The radar transceiver includes a computing unit, a sweep control unit, a set of transmitters for transmitting radar chirps to targets, a set of receivers for receiving reflected chirps from the targets, and a timing engine processor coupled to the set of transmitters and to the set of receivers and configured to transmit a first set of control signals. The timing engine processor receives a second set of control signals generated by the computing unit. The sweep control unit receives a first control signal and a second control signal from the timing engine processor. The first control signal indicating a start time of a chirp and the second control signal indicating a reset time for resetting the chirp. A controlled phased lock loop (PLL) generates a local oscillator signal which is inputted to transmitters and receivers.

Radar transceiver

A radar data processing system is disclosed. The system includes a microcontroller and a data receiver-transmitter integrated circuit coupled to the microcontroller. The data receiver-transmitter integrated circuit includes a sensor and a dedicated error indicator pin. The data receiver-transmitter integrated circuit includes an inner safety monitor and the microcontroller includes an outer safety monitor. The inner safety monitor configured to receive and collate sensor data from the plurality of sensors and send, through the dedicated error indicator pin, a function warning signal to the outer safety monitor when the sensor data from the sensor is indicative of a functional irregularity.

Functional safety monitor pin

The invention provides a testing circuit for testing a connection between a chip and external circuitry. A current source is used to inject a DC current towards the connection to be tested from the chip side. On-chip ESD protection is provided giving a path between the connection to be tested and a fixed voltage line. A shunt path is also coupled to the connection to be tested on the external circuitry side. It is determined if the current source current flows through the ESD protection circuit, and this can be used to determine whether or not the connection to be tested presents an open circuit for the DC test current.

Circuit and method for detection of IC connection failure

An apparatus for non-galvanic connection between two electrical circuits is described. A base-unit has an RF power source, a data link and an authentication controller. A contactless unit for communication with a base unit has an RF power receiver, a data link and an authentication controller. The base unit and contactless unit can form a non-galvanic connection to replace conventional connectors, for example in a USB wired bus connection.

Wireless power and data connector

A tuner for receiving a satellite broadcast signal via an antenna means, said tuner being coupled to a control unit. The tuner is characterized in that it comprises a standard bilateral digital interface for transmitting a base-band signal obtained from the received signal received via the antenna means and for receiving control signals transmitted by the control unit, said signals being transmitted/received via a first bilateral bus.

High frequency tuner

The present invention relates to a switching arrangement and method of manufacturing such an arrangement, wherein first and second series-shunt diode structures (D/D, D/D) are connected to each other in a mirrored configuration to obtain a basic switching cell. This basic switching cell can be used to build a SPDT switch which in turn can be used to build a DPDT switch or switches of higher complexity. Thereby, high isolation and low power consumption can be achieved with the additional advantage of modularity.

Modular switching arrangement

In an example embodiment, an integrated circuit comprises a mixer circuit and a local oscillator circuit. During testing a frequency divider circuit in the integrated circuit divides a local oscillator signal to a frequency below a normal operating range of the local oscillator. The integrated circuit applies the divided local oscillator signal to the mixer circuit instead of the local oscillator signal during testing. Signal properties of a signal derived from the mixer circuit are measured while the divided local oscillator signal is applied to the mixer circuit.

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Eindhoven, Netherlands

Cicero Silveira Vaucher