Radar system with overlapping virtual antennas for out-of-field-of-view detection and multipath detection

Abstract

A MIMO radar apparatus includes M simultaneously transmitting radar transmitters, N radar receivers, and control circuitry coupled thereto. Positions of the M transmitters and N receivers define M×N virtual transceiver positions; at least one virtual transceiver position coincides with another. The control circuitry transmits simultaneously radar output signals via the transmitters, receives radar return signals arising from the output signals via the receivers, and generates N corresponding electronic receiver signals, and can further generate M×N virtual transceiver signals and estimate angular positions of backscattering/backreflecting objects. Comparing signal characteristics arising from the same virtual transceiver position but from different corresponding transmitter/receiver pairs can enable identification of low-confidence estimated angular positions arising from out-of-field-of-view or multipath propagation of radar signals.