Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Ofer Bar Shalom

Igal Kotzer

Ofer Givati

A system in a vehicle includes a radar system with a uniform linear array (ULA) of antenna elements and a uniform rectangular array (URA) of antenna elements to receive the reflected signals resulting from the emitted radio frequency energy. The ULA is arranged perpendicular to the URA. Processing circuitry estimates one or more elevation angles using the reflected signals received by the ULA of antenna elements and estimates an azimuth angle corresponding to each of the one or more elevation angles using the one or more elevation angles and the reflected signals received by the URA of antenna elements. Each of the one or more elevation angles and the corresponding one of the azimuth angles is referred to as an angle of arrival (AOA) of the reflected signals from an object. Control of an operation of the vehicle is based on each AOA of each object.

Multi-stage angle of arrival estimate in vehicle radar system

An antenna array system includes a receiver with a plurality of receiving chains adapted to receive incoming signals from corresponding receiver antennas. A respective directional coupler is positioned in proximity to each of the plurality of receiving chains. The plurality of receiving chains is adapted to receive a respective pilot signal through the respective directional coupler, the respective pilot signal being transmitted simultaneously. A controller has a processor and tangible, non-transitory memory on which instructions are recorded for a method of calibration. One of the plurality of receiving chains is selected as a reference channel. The controller is adapted to perform calibration for the plurality of receiving chains based on the respective pilot signal, including obtaining respective chain phase values and respective gain factors. The calibration is performed without mechanical switching off or physically disconnecting the corresponding receiver antennas.

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Kiryat Ono, Israel

Ofer Bar Shalom