Veoneer US, Inc.

The Whitaker Corporation

M/a -Com, Inc.

Other

Tyco Electronics Corporation

Autoliv Asp, Incorporated

Veoneer, Inc.

Kenneth Vincent Puglia

Bernard De Mersseman

Peter Hansson

Emil Hallstig

Jonas Wihlbeck

Hermann Henftling

Dirk Steinbuch

A detection system includes a signal transmitter for transmitting transmitted signals into a region and a receiver for receiving reflected signals generated by reflection of the transmitted signals and for generating receive signals indicative of the reflected signals. A processor coupled to the receiver receives the receive signals and processes the receive signals to generate detections of one or more objects in the region. The processing includes altering phase shift to generate phase-modulated signals from the receive signals and generating the detections from the phase-modulated signals.

Direct detection LiDAR system and method with synthetic doppler processing

A LiDAR system includes an optical source for generating a continuous wave (CW) optical signal. A control processor generates a pulse-position modulation (PPM) signal, and an amplitude modulation (AM) modulator generates a pulse-position amplitude-modulated optical signal, which is transmitted through a transmit optical element into a region. A receive optical element receives reflected versions of the pulse-position amplitude-modulated optical signal reflected from at least one target object in the region. An optical detector generates a first baseband signal. A signal processor receives the first baseband signal and processes the first baseband signal to generate an indication related to a target object in the region.

LiDAR homodyne transceiver using pulse-position modulation

A LiDAR detection system includes optical sources generating a plurality of output optical signals disposed along a first direction. A modulation circuit applies an output signal from a signal generator to the optical sources to modulate the output optical signals such that the output optical signals are envelope-modulated output optical signals having frequency-modulated modulation envelopes. A scanning device scans the output optical signals into a region over a second direction. A receiver comprising a two-dimensional array of optical detectors receives return optical signals and generates receive signals indicative of the return optical signals. The return optical signals impinge on a mask between the region and the array, the mask comprising a plurality of apertures aligned with a first dimension of the array. The receive signals are generated for a set of detectors in the array disposed along the first dimension of the array and aligned with the mask apertures.

Scanning LiDAR system and method

A LiDAR system and method includes a pulse modulation circuit and an amplitude modulation circuit for applying pulse modulation and amplitude modulation to a continuous signal to generate a plurality of amplitude-modulated pulses of the continuous signal. An optical modulation circuit applies the amplitude-modulated pulses of the continuous signal to an optical signal to generate a pulse amplitude-modulated (PAM) optical signal. Optical transmission elements transmit the PAM optical signal into a region, and optical receiving elements receive reflected optical signals from the region. Receive signal processing circuitry uses quadrature detection to process the reflected optical signals.

Direct detection LiDAR system and method with pulse amplitude modulation (AM) transmitter and quadrature receiver

Scanning lidar system and method

A LiDAR system includes a signal generator for generating an output signal having a variable frequency. A modulation circuit receives the output signal from the signal generator and modulates the output signal to generate a pulsed modulation envelope signal configured to comprise a plurality of pulses, two or more of the plurality of pulses having two or more respective different frequencies. The modulation circuit applies the pulsed modulation envelope signal to an optical signal to generate a pulse-envelope-modulated optical signal comprising a plurality of pulses modulated by the pulsed modulation envelope signal. Optical transmission elements transmit the pulse-envelope-modulated optical signal into a region. Optical receiving elements receive reflected optical signals from the region. Receive signal processing circuitry receives the reflected optical signals and uses quadrature detection to process the reflected optical signals.

Direct detection LiDAR system and method with step frequency modulation (FM) pulse-burst envelope modulation transmission and quadrature demodulation

A LiDAR system and method include a signal generator generating an output signal having a variable frequency. A modulation circuit receives the output signal from the signal generator and applies the output signal from the signal generator to an optical signal to generate an envelope-modulated optical signal having a frequency-modulated (FM) modulation envelope. Optical transmission elements transmit the envelope-modulated optical signal into a region. Optical receiving elements receive reflected optical signals from the region. Receive signal processing circuitry receives the reflected optical signals and uses quadrature detection to process the reflected optical signals.

Direct detection LiDAR system and method with frequency modulation (FM) transmitter and quadrature receiver

A radar system and method for determining the range and, optionally, the azimuth of a target, while maintaining a high transmitting duty factor is provided. A waveform generator is connected to an antenna aperture by a transmit-receive switch, and the waveform is transmitted for more than half of the period of time of the sum of the transmission period and the receiving period. For a frequency-modulated continuous-wave waveform (FMCW), the receiver may be turned on for short intervals at a rate which is at least the Nyquist rate for the signal received from at target. A monopulse or frequency-scanned antenna may be used to determine azimuth as well as range.

Time duplex apparatus and method for radar sensor front-ends

A multi-frequency signal source and a method for providing a multi-frequency signal source with phase-lock capability are provided. The multi-frequency signal source includes a plurality of single-section filters each configured to provide oscillation of a signal at a different frequency. The multi-frequency signal source further includes a phase lock component providing a reference signal to control the oscillation at each of the frequencies.

Multi-frequency signal source

A sensor front end for an electronic radar sensor is disclosed that provides for a lower parts count while providing technical functionality by using multifunction parts, i.e., parts that are used both in transmitting and receiving. The sensor front end includes a continuous wave signal source that functions as a signal source when the front end is transmitting a signal and as a local oscillator when the front end is receiving a signal. The sensor front end also includes a tri-mode mixer that functions as a phase-modulator and transmit switch when the front end is transmitting a signal and as a mixer/down-converter when the front end is receiving a signal. The sensor front end further includes a common aperture antenna that acts as both a transmitting antenna for transmitting a sensor signal and for receiving a reflected signal from a object. A phase shifter can be added to provide a predetermined phase shift in the transmitted sensor signal, the received reflected signal, or both, such that in-phase and quadrature signal components are provided. In addition, phase coding may be added to the signal to reduce the degenerative impact of interfering signals. A receiver module is coupled to the tri-mode mixer such that, when receiving a reflected signal, the receiver provides a baseband sensor output signal that can be used to determined the position and velocity of the object. A sampling module can be added such that the sensor output signal is sampled and provided as an analog signal, or the sampled sensor output signal can be provided to an analog-to-digital converter to convert the sensor output signal into a digital format, or both.

Sensor front-end with phase coding capability

A method for measuring range and bearing of an object. At least a portion of a first signal is transmitted from a sensor. The transmitted signal is reflected from an object and received by the sensor. At least a portion of the first signal is applied a first mixer and a second mixer. The received signal is applied to the first mixer and the second mixer. A second signal is generated from the first mixer, and a third signal is generated from the second mixer when the portion of the first signal that was transmitted overlaps the reflected signal at least partially. Bearing angle, degree on or off boresight and object range may be determined from the second and third signals, or a combination thereof. Also disclosed is a sensor for object range and bearing measurement.

Sensor front-end for range and bearing measurement

A sensor front end is disclosed that is able to discriminate objects based on their range from the sensor. The sensor includes an antenna that transmits a sensor signal and, if an object is present receives a reflected signal therefrom. A pulsed oscillator provides a pulsed first signal having a first frequency and phase, and wherein the pulsed oscillator provides the pulsed first signal for a predetermined pulse duration and with a predetermined pulse repetition frequency. The pulsed oscillator provides the pulsed first signal to a first input port of a dual mode mixer that is further coupled to the antenna via a second port. The dual mode mixer transmits a portion of the pulsed first signal from the first input port to the second port and thus to the antenna to be transmitted as the sensor signal. In addition, the dual mode mixer uses a portion of the first signal to mix with the received reflected signal. The dual mode mixer then provides a mixed signal as an output at a third port. Thus, the pulsed first signal provides both the signal to be transmitted as the sensor signal and the local oscillator signal for the mixer as well. The dual mode mixer will only provide a mixed signal output if the received reflected signal is present in the dual mode mixer concurrently with the pulsed first signal. Accordingly, an object can only be detected when the range to the object is such that the signal propagation time to and from the object is less than or equal to the predetermined pulse length of the pulsed first signal.

Sensor front-end for vehicle closing velocity sensor

A microwave sensor for determining the velocity and direction of a moving object comprises a mixer, phase shifter, and receive/transmit antenna mounted in series, the mixer having a single intermediate frequency output. The intermediate frequency output is switched synchronously with the phase shifter which is switched between 0.degree. phase shift and 45.degree. phase shift. Although the mixer has only a single intermediate frequency output, the switching provides two output channel signals and with a phase difference of 90.degree. therebetween to enable determination of the direction of movement. The single intermediate frequency channel provides intrinsic gain matching of the output channels which eliminates the need for tuning in order to balance output channels as required in conventional sensor.

Microwave sensor for object motion detection

A low-cost, high-resolution radar based detection system has a pulse repetition frequency generator connected to first and second narrow pulse modulators. A transmit channel is connected to the first narrow pulse modulator and emits pulse modulated carrier based transmit signals having a prescribed carrier frequency and a prescribed duration. A receive channel is connected to the second narrow pulse modulator. A time delay circuit delays the output of the second pulse modulator to the receive channel and a mixer mixes a portion of one of the pulse modulated carrier based transmit signals reflected from an object with the output of the second narrow pulse modulator.

Growing community of inventors

Westford, MA, United States of America

Kenneth Vincent Puglia