Aptiv Technologies Limited

Aptiv Technologies Ag

Zhengyu Peng

James F Searcy

Ashikur Rahman

Zhengzheng Li

Christopher D Gianelli

The techniques of this disclosure enable frequency-modulated continuous-wave radar-based detection of living objects. Instead of generating a chirp pattern with each chirp separated by an idle period, a radar generates a chirp pattern with multiple chirps separated by an idle period. From applying a Fourier transform to receiver signals for each frame, the radar determines an amplitude as a function of range for each frame. The radar computes the standard deviation between the amplitudes of two frames and then, for each additional frame, the radar incrementally updates the standard deviation to be inclusive of the amplitude contribution of the additional frame. That is, rather than recalculate the standard deviation for each new frame, the radar increments the standard deviation by a fraction of the amplitude for the new frame, which is proportionate to the total quantity of frames generated thus far. In response to the standard deviation satisfying a noise threshold, the radar outputs an indication of a living object.

Frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) radar-based detection of living objects

This document describes techniques and systems directed at slow-time modulation for multiple radar channels. A set of transmit channels are modulated using code sequences to phase-modulate transmission signals. A second set of transmit channels are modulated using the same codes for phase modulation as well as using a frequency phase shift. Demodulation is achieved by multiplying received signals by the code sequences. Fast Fourier transforms (FFT) are applied to the received signals to generate a range-Doppler map for each receive channel. A non-coherent integration is performed on the range-Doppler maps to form a range-Doppler average map. The range-Doppler average map is shifted by the frequency phase shift, and the minimal of the range-Doppler average map and the shifted range-Doppler average map is retained. These techniques may reduce the impact of signal residue and increase angular resolution by enabling multiple transmit channels to be utilized.

Slow-time modulation for multiple radar channels

An illustrative example sensor device includes a transmitter and a receiver having at least one lobe and at least null. A cover near the transmitter and the receiver includes a surface facing toward the transmitter and the receiver. The surface is at an angle relative to the receiver to direct at least some radiation transmitted by the transmitter and reflected from the surface toward the at least one null of the receiver.

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Westfield, IN, United States of America

Zhengyu Peng