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JP7501111B2 - Radar device and control method thereof - Google Patents
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JP7501111B2 - Radar device and control method thereof - Google Patents

Radar device and control method thereof Download PDF

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JP7501111B2
JP7501111B2 JP2020091349A JP2020091349A JP7501111B2 JP 7501111 B2 JP7501111 B2 JP 7501111B2 JP 2020091349 A JP2020091349 A JP 2020091349A JP 2020091349 A JP2020091349 A JP 2020091349A JP 7501111 B2 JP7501111 B2 JP 7501111B2
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祥剛 大塩
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Omron Corp
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    • GPHYSICS
    • G01MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01SRADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
    • G01S13/00Systems using the reflection or reradiation of radio waves, e.g. radar systems; Analogous systems using reflection or reradiation of waves whose nature or wavelength is irrelevant or unspecified
    • G01S13/88Radar or analogous systems specially adapted for specific applications
    • G01S13/93Radar or analogous systems specially adapted for specific applications for anti-collision purposes
    • G01S13/931Radar or analogous systems specially adapted for specific applications for anti-collision purposes of land vehicles
    • GPHYSICS
    • G01MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01SRADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
    • G01S13/00Systems using the reflection or reradiation of radio waves, e.g. radar systems; Analogous systems using reflection or reradiation of waves whose nature or wavelength is irrelevant or unspecified
    • G01S13/02Systems using reflection of radio waves, e.g. primary radar systems; Analogous systems
    • G01S13/06Systems determining position data of a target
    • G01S13/08Systems for measuring distance only
    • G01S13/32Systems for measuring distance only using transmission of continuous waves, whether amplitude-, frequency-, or phase-modulated, or unmodulated
    • G01S13/34Systems for measuring distance only using transmission of continuous waves, whether amplitude-, frequency-, or phase-modulated, or unmodulated using transmission of continuous, frequency-modulated waves while heterodyning the received signal, or a signal derived therefrom, with a locally-generated signal related to the contemporaneously transmitted signal
    • GPHYSICS
    • G01MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01SRADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
    • G01S13/00Systems using the reflection or reradiation of radio waves, e.g. radar systems; Analogous systems using reflection or reradiation of waves whose nature or wavelength is irrelevant or unspecified
    • G01S13/02Systems using reflection of radio waves, e.g. primary radar systems; Analogous systems
    • G01S13/06Systems determining position data of a target
    • G01S13/08Systems for measuring distance only
    • G01S13/32Systems for measuring distance only using transmission of continuous waves, whether amplitude-, frequency-, or phase-modulated, or unmodulated
    • G01S13/34Systems for measuring distance only using transmission of continuous waves, whether amplitude-, frequency-, or phase-modulated, or unmodulated using transmission of continuous, frequency-modulated waves while heterodyning the received signal, or a signal derived therefrom, with a locally-generated signal related to the contemporaneously transmitted signal
    • G01S13/343Systems for measuring distance only using transmission of continuous waves, whether amplitude-, frequency-, or phase-modulated, or unmodulated using transmission of continuous, frequency-modulated waves while heterodyning the received signal, or a signal derived therefrom, with a locally-generated signal related to the contemporaneously transmitted signal using sawtooth modulation
    • GPHYSICS
    • G01MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01SRADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
    • G01S13/00Systems using the reflection or reradiation of radio waves, e.g. radar systems; Analogous systems using reflection or reradiation of waves whose nature or wavelength is irrelevant or unspecified
    • G01S13/02Systems using reflection of radio waves, e.g. primary radar systems; Analogous systems
    • G01S13/06Systems determining position data of a target
    • G01S13/08Systems for measuring distance only
    • G01S13/32Systems for measuring distance only using transmission of continuous waves, whether amplitude-, frequency-, or phase-modulated, or unmodulated
    • G01S13/34Systems for measuring distance only using transmission of continuous waves, whether amplitude-, frequency-, or phase-modulated, or unmodulated using transmission of continuous, frequency-modulated waves while heterodyning the received signal, or a signal derived therefrom, with a locally-generated signal related to the contemporaneously transmitted signal
    • G01S13/345Systems for measuring distance only using transmission of continuous waves, whether amplitude-, frequency-, or phase-modulated, or unmodulated using transmission of continuous, frequency-modulated waves while heterodyning the received signal, or a signal derived therefrom, with a locally-generated signal related to the contemporaneously transmitted signal using triangular modulation
    • GPHYSICS
    • G01MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01SRADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
    • G01S13/00Systems using the reflection or reradiation of radio waves, e.g. radar systems; Analogous systems using reflection or reradiation of waves whose nature or wavelength is irrelevant or unspecified
    • G01S13/02Systems using reflection of radio waves, e.g. primary radar systems; Analogous systems
    • G01S13/06Systems determining position data of a target
    • G01S13/42Simultaneous measurement of distance and other co-ordinates
    • GPHYSICS
    • G01MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01SRADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
    • G01S13/00Systems using the reflection or reradiation of radio waves, e.g. radar systems; Analogous systems using reflection or reradiation of waves whose nature or wavelength is irrelevant or unspecified
    • G01S13/02Systems using reflection of radio waves, e.g. primary radar systems; Analogous systems
    • G01S13/50Systems of measurement based on relative movement of target
    • G01S13/58Velocity or trajectory determination systems; Sense-of-movement determination systems
    • G01S13/583Velocity or trajectory determination systems; Sense-of-movement determination systems using transmission of continuous unmodulated waves, amplitude-, frequency-, or phase-modulated waves and based upon the Doppler effect resulting from movement of targets
    • G01S13/584Velocity or trajectory determination systems; Sense-of-movement determination systems using transmission of continuous unmodulated waves, amplitude-, frequency-, or phase-modulated waves and based upon the Doppler effect resulting from movement of targets adapted for simultaneous range and velocity measurements
    • GPHYSICS
    • G01MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01SRADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
    • G01S7/00Details of systems according to groups G01S13/00, G01S15/00, G01S17/00
    • G01S7/02Details of systems according to groups G01S13/00, G01S15/00, G01S17/00 of systems according to group G01S13/00
    • G01S7/023Interference mitigation, e.g. reducing or avoiding non-intentional interference with other HF-transmitters, base station transmitters for mobile communication or other radar systems, e.g. using electro-magnetic interference [EMI] reduction techniques
    • GPHYSICS
    • G01MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01SRADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
    • G01S7/00Details of systems according to groups G01S13/00, G01S15/00, G01S17/00
    • G01S7/02Details of systems according to groups G01S13/00, G01S15/00, G01S17/00 of systems according to group G01S13/00
    • G01S7/35Details of non-pulse systems
    • G01S7/352Receivers
    • G01S7/356Receivers involving particularities of FFT processing

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Radar, Positioning & Navigation (AREA)
  • Remote Sensing (AREA)
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Description

本発明は、レーダ装置とその制御方法に関する。 The present invention relates to a radar device and a control method thereof.

従来例1に係るレーダ装置において、周波数が連続的に変化するチャープ波を送信して物標との距離及び相対速度を検出するFCM(Fast Chirp Modulation)方式のレーダ装置が用いられている。この従来例1に係るレーダ装置では、レーダ間の相互干渉を回避するために、チャープ信号を不等間隔(ランダム)で送信していた(例えば、特許文献1参照)。 The radar device according to the first conventional example uses a fast chirp modulation (FCM) radar device that detects the distance and relative speed of a target by transmitting chirp waves whose frequency changes continuously. In the radar device according to the first conventional example, chirp signals are transmitted at irregular intervals (randomly) to avoid mutual interference between radars (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

また、チャープ波の干渉を高精度に検出するために、以下の構成を有する従来例2に係るレーダ装置が提案されている。ここで、送信部は、周波数が連続的に変化するチャープ信号によって複数のチャープ波が繰り返される送信波を出力する。これに応答して、受信部は、物標による送信波の反射波に応じた受信信号とチャープ信号とから生成されるチャープ波毎のビート信号に対して第1のFFT処理を行った後、第1のFFT処理の結果である周波数スペクトルのピーク状態を複数のチャープ波間で比較することでチャープ波の干渉の有無を判定する。 In addition, in order to detect chirp wave interference with high accuracy, a radar device according to the following conventional example 2 has been proposed. Here, the transmitting unit outputs a transmission wave in which multiple chirp waves are repeated by a chirp signal whose frequency changes continuously. In response to this, the receiving unit performs a first FFT process on a beat signal for each chirp wave generated from the chirp signal and a received signal corresponding to the reflected wave of the transmission wave by the target, and then determines the presence or absence of chirp wave interference by comparing the peak state of the frequency spectrum, which is the result of the first FFT process, between the multiple chirp waves.

特開平10-105228号公報Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-105228 特開2019-158828号公報JP 2019-158828 A

しかしながら、従来例1に係るレーダ装置では、チャープ信号の受信間隔が等間隔でなくなるために、物標の相対速度を誤って推定するという問題点があった。 However, the radar device according to the first conventional example had a problem in that the chirp signals were not received at equal intervals, leading to an erroneous estimation of the relative speed of the target.

また、従来例2に係るレーダ装置では、たしかにスペクトラム間の干渉を高精度に検出することができるが、干渉有りのスペクトラムを除去するなどによって、物標の位置及び相対速度の推定精度が低いという問題点があった。 In addition, the radar device according to Conventional Example 2 can indeed detect interference between spectra with high accuracy, but has the problem that the accuracy of estimating the position and relative velocity of a target is low due to the need to remove spectra with interference.

本発明の目的は以上の問題点を解決し、従来技術に比較して、干渉判定の有無に関係無く、物標の位置及び相対速度の推定精度を高くすることができるレーダ装置とその制御方法を提供することにある。 The object of the present invention is to solve the above problems and provide a radar device and a control method thereof that can improve the accuracy of estimating the position and relative velocity of a target, regardless of whether or not interference is detected, compared to conventional techniques.

本発明に係るレーダ装置は、
複数の送信チャープ信号を、送信間隔信号に基づいて、不等間隔で送信する無線送信部と、前記複数の送信チャープ信号が物標で反射された後、前記反射された複数の送信チャープ信号を受信する無線受信部とを備えるレーダ装置であって、
前記無線受信部は、
前記複数の送信チャープ信号を所定の受信間隔で複数の受信チャープ信号として受信し、
前記受信された複数の受信チャープ信号と、前記複数の送信チャープ信号とを混合することで、複数のビート信号を検出し、
前記送信間隔信号に基づいて、前記複数のビート信号に対して前記各受信間隔が実質的に同一になるように信号補間処理を実行することで、等間隔の複数のビート信号を生成し、
前記等間隔の複数のビート信号に基づいて、前記物標との相対速度を推定する。
The radar device according to the present invention comprises:
A radar device comprising: a radio transmitting unit that transmits a plurality of transmission chirp signals at irregular intervals based on a transmission interval signal; and a radio receiving unit that receives the plurality of transmission chirp signals after the plurality of transmission chirp signals are reflected by a target,
The wireless receiving unit includes:
receiving the plurality of transmitted chirp signals as a plurality of received chirp signals at a predetermined reception interval;
detecting a plurality of beat signals by mixing the plurality of received chirp signals with the plurality of transmitted chirp signals;
generating a plurality of equally-spaced beat signals by performing a signal interpolation process on the plurality of beat signals based on the transmission interval signal so that the reception intervals of the plurality of beat signals are substantially the same;
A relative velocity with respect to the target is estimated based on the plurality of equally spaced beat signals.

従って、本発明に係るレーダ装置等によれば、従来技術に比較して、干渉判定の有無に関係無く、物標の位置及び相対速度の推定精度を高くすることができる。 Therefore, the radar device according to the present invention can improve the accuracy of estimating the position and relative velocity of a target, regardless of whether interference is detected, compared to conventional techniques.

実施形態に係るレーダ装置100の構成例を示すブロック図である。1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a radar device 100 according to an embodiment. 実施形態に係る、送信チャープ信号の送信間隔が不等間隔であるレーダ装置の動作例の第1の部分を示す波形図である。FIG. 11 is a waveform diagram showing a first part of an operation example of a radar device according to an embodiment in which the transmission intervals of transmission chirp signals are unequal. 実施形態に係る、送信チャープ信号の送信間隔が不等間隔であるレーダ装置の動作例の第2の部分を示す波形図、位相図及びスペクトル図である。10A to 10C are waveform, phase and spectrum diagrams showing a second part of an operation example of a radar device according to an embodiment in which the transmission intervals of transmission chirp signals are unequal. 図1のレーダ装置100により実行される距離、速度及び到来角度推定処理を示すフローチャートである。2 is a flowchart showing a range, speed and arrival angle estimation process executed by the radar device 100 of FIG. 1 . 比較例1に係る、送信チャープ信号の送信間隔が等間隔であるレーダ装置の動作例の第1の部分を示す波形図及びスペクトル図である。10A to 10C are waveform and spectrum diagrams showing a first part of an operation example of a radar device in which the transmission chirp signals are transmitted at equal intervals in accordance with Comparative Example 1; 比較例1に係る、送信チャープ信号の送信間隔が等間隔であるレーダ装置の動作例の第2の部分を示す波形図、位相図及びスペクトル図である。10A to 10C are waveform, phase and spectrum diagrams showing a second part of an example of operation of a radar device in which the transmission chirp signals are transmitted at equal intervals in accordance with Comparative Example 1; 比較例2に係る、送信チャープ信号の送信間隔が不等間隔であるレーダ装置の動作例の第1の部分を示す波形図及びスペクトル図である。11A and 11B are waveform and spectrum diagrams showing a first part of an operation example of a radar device in which the transmission intervals of transmission chirp signals are unequal, in accordance with Comparative Example 2; 比較例2に係る、送信チャープ信号の送信間隔が不等間隔であるレーダ装置の動作例の第2の部分を示す波形図、位相図及びスペクトル図である。10A to 10C are waveform, phase and spectrum diagrams showing a second part of an example of operation of a radar device in which the transmission intervals of transmission chirp signals are unequal, in accordance with Comparative Example 2;

以下、添付図面を参照して、比較例及び実施形態に係る、FCM方式を用いたレーダ装置とその制御方法の実施形態について説明する。なお、この実施形態により本発明が限定されるものではない。 Below, an embodiment of a radar device using the FCM method and a control method thereof according to a comparative example and an embodiment will be described with reference to the attached drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.

(比較例1)
図4A及び図4Bは、比較例1に係る、送信チャープ信号の送信間隔が等間隔であるレーダ装置の動作例の波形図、位相図及びスペクトル図である。以下、図4A及び図4Bを参照して、比較例1に係る、送信チャープ信号の送信間隔が等間隔であるレーダ装置の動作例の概要について説明する。
(Comparative Example 1)
4A and 4B are waveform diagrams, phase diagrams, and spectrum diagrams of an operation example of a radar device in which the transmission chirp signals are transmitted at equal intervals according to Comparative Example 1. Below, an overview of the operation example of a radar device in which the transmission chirp signals are transmitted at equal intervals according to Comparative Example 1 will be described with reference to Figs. 4A and 4B.

図4A(a)において、無線送信部は、所定の送信間隔信号に基づいて、周波数が連続的に高くなる複数の送信チャープ信号Stを所定の送信間隔Tで繰り返し、物標に向けて無線送信する。ここで、送信間隔Tは次式で表され、送信チャープ信号Stによらず一定である。なお、nは1を超える整数である。 In FIG. 4A(a), the wireless transmission unit wirelessly transmits multiple transmission chirp signals St with successively higher frequencies at a predetermined transmission interval T based on a predetermined transmission interval signal toward a target. Here, the transmission interval T is expressed by the following formula and is constant regardless of the transmission chirp signal St. Note that n is an integer greater than 1.

T=t-tn-1, n>1 T = tn - tn-1 , n > 1

ここで、tは送信開始時刻である。 Here, t n is the transmission start time.

図4A(b)及び(c)において、無線受信部は、物標で反射された複数の送信チャープ信号Stを受信して、受信した送信チャープ信号である受信チャープ信号Srと、送信した送信チャープ信号Stとを混合した後ローパスフィルタリングすることで、複数のビート信号y(t)~y(t)を検出する。ここで、ビート信号y(t)は次式で表される。 4A(b) and (c), the wireless receiving unit receives multiple transmitted chirp signals St reflected by targets, mixes a received chirp signal Sr, which is the received transmitted chirp signal, with the transmitted transmitted chirp signal St, and then performs low-pass filtering to detect multiple beat signals y 1 (t) to y 3 (t). Here, beat signal y n (t) is expressed by the following equation:

(t)=sin(2πft+θ yn (t)=sin( 2πfBt + θn )

ここで、fはビート周波数であり、位相差θは次式で表される。 Here, f B is the beat frequency, and the phase difference θ n is expressed by the following equation.

θ=4πv(t-t)/λ θ n =4πv(t n -t 1 )/λ

ここで、vは物標の相対速度[m/s]であり、λは送信チャープ信号を含む無線信号の波長である。 where v is the relative velocity of the target [m/s] and λ is the wavelength of the radio signal including the transmitted chirp signal.

図4A(d)において、ビート信号y(t)に対してFFT(Fast Fourier Transformation)を実行することで、ビート信号y(t)の距離スペクトラムR(ω)に変換する。ここで、ビート信号y(t)の距離スペクトラムR(ω)は次式で表される。 4A(d), the beat signal yn (t) is converted to a distance spectrum Rn (ω) of the beat signal yn (t) by performing FFT (Fast Fourier Transformation). Here, the distance spectrum Rn (ω) of the beat signal yn (t) is expressed by the following equation.

(ω)=10log10|Y(ω)|
|Y(ω)|exp(-jω+θ)=FFT[y(t)]
R n (ω) = 10 log 10 | Y n (ω) | 2
|Y n (ω)|exp(−jω+θ n )=FFT[y n (t)]

ここで、FFT[]は高速フーリエ変換の演算子である。 Here, FFT[ ] is the Fast Fourier Transform operator.

図4B(a)において、ビート信号y(t)の距離スペクトラムR(ω)のピーク値Rnpを検出した後、図4B(b)において、その位相θを抽出する。 In FIG. 4B(a), a peak value R np of the distance spectrum R n (ω) of the beat signal y n (t) is detected, and then in FIG. 4B(b), its phase θ n is extracted.

抽出したビート信号y(t)の距離スペクトラムR(ω)のピーク値Rnpの位相θを時間軸上で表すと図4B(c)のようになり、このグラフに対してFFTを実行することで、図4B(d)の速度スペクトラムV(ω)に変換してそのピーク値に基づいて、物標の相対速度vを、次式を用いて計算することができる。 When the phase θn of the peak value Rnp of the distance spectrum Rn (ω) of the extracted beat signal yn (t) is represented on the time axis, it becomes as shown in FIG. 4B(c). By performing an FFT on this graph, it is converted into the velocity spectrum V(ω) of FIG. 4B(d). Based on the peak value, the relative velocity v of the target can be calculated using the following equation.

v=λΔθ/(4πT)
Δθ=θ-θ
v = λΔθ / (4πT)
Δθ= θ2θ1

(比較例2)
これに対して、送信間隔Tが不等間隔Tであるときの比較例2について、図5A及び図5Bを参照して説明する。図5A及び図5Bは、比較例2に係る、送信チャープ信号Stの送信間隔が不等間隔であるレーダ装置の動作例を示す波形図、位相図及びスペクトル図である。
(Comparative Example 2)
In contrast, a comparative example 2 in which the transmission interval T is an irregular interval Tn will be described with reference to Fig. 5A and Fig. 5B. Fig. 5A and Fig. 5B are waveform diagrams, phase diagrams, and spectrum diagrams showing an operation example of a radar device in which the transmission intervals of the transmission chirp signal St are irregular according to the comparative example 2.

図5A(a)において、無線送信部は、所定の送信間隔信号に基づいて、周波数が連続的に高くなる複数の送信チャープ信号Stを不等送信間隔Tで繰り返し、物標に向けて無線送信する。ここで、送信間隔Tは次式で表され、送信チャープ信号Stによらず一定ではない。なお、nは1を超える整数である。 5A(a), the wireless transmitter repeatedly transmits a plurality of transmission chirp signals St with successively increasing frequencies at unequal transmission intervals Tn based on a predetermined transmission interval signal, and wirelessly transmits the signals to a target. Here, the transmission intervals Tn are expressed by the following equation and are not constant regardless of the transmission chirp signal St. Here, n is an integer greater than 1.

=t’-t’n-1, n>1 T n =t' n -t' n-1 , n>1

ここで、t’は送信開始時刻である。 Here, t'n is the transmission start time.

図5A(b)及び(c)において、無線受信部は、物標で反射された複数の送信チャープ信号Stを受信して、受信した送信チャープ信号である受信チャープ信号Srと、送信した送信チャープ信号Sとを混合した後ローパスフィルタリングすることで、複数のビート信号y(t)~y(t)を検出する。ここで、ビート信号y(t)は次式で表される。 5A(b) and (c), the wireless receiving unit receives multiple transmitted chirp signals S t reflected by targets, mixes the received transmitted chirp signal Sr with the transmitted transmitted chirp signal S t , and then performs low-pass filtering to detect multiple beat signals y 1 (t) to y 3 (t), where beat signal y n (t) is expressed by the following equation:

(t)=sin(2πft+θ yn (t)=sin( 2πfBt + θn )

ここで、fはビート周波数であり、位相差θは次式で表される。 Here, f B is the beat frequency, and the phase difference θ n is expressed by the following equation.

θ=4πv(t’-t’)/λ θ n =4πv(t' n -t' 1 )/λ

ここで、vは物標の相対速度[m/s]であり、λは送信チャープ信号Sを含む無線信号の波長である。 Here, v is the relative velocity of the target [m/s], and λ is the wavelength of the radio signal including the transmitted chirp signal S t .

図5A(d)において、ビート信号y(t)に対してFFT(Fast Fourier Transformation)を実行することで、ビート信号y(t)の距離スペクトラムR(ω)に変換する。ここで、ビート信号y(t)の距離スペクトラムR(ω)は次式で表される。 5A(d), the beat signal yn (t) is converted to a distance spectrum Rn (ω) of the beat signal yn (t) by performing FFT (Fast Fourier Transformation). Here, the distance spectrum Rn (ω) of the beat signal yn (t) is expressed by the following equation.

(ω)=10log10|Y(ω)|
|Y(ω)|exp(-jω+θ)=FFT[y(t)]
R n (ω) = 10 log 10 | Y n (ω) | 2
|Y n (ω)|exp(−jω+θ n )=FFT[y n (t)]

図5B(a)において、ビート信号y(t)の距離スペクトラムR(ω)のピーク値Rnpを検出した後、図5B(b)において、その位相θを抽出する。 In FIG. 5B(a), a peak value R np of the distance spectrum R n (ω) of the beat signal y n (t) is detected, and then in FIG. 5B(b), its phase θ n is extracted.

抽出したビート信号y(t)の距離スペクトラムR(ω)のピーク値Rnpの位相θを時間軸上で表すと図5B(c)のようになり、これを真値と比較すると、図5B(d)に示すようになり、推定値は真値からずれることがわかる。このグラフに対してFFTを実行することで、図5B(e)の速度スペクトラムV(ω)に変換してそのピーク値に基づいて、物標の相対速度vを計算することができるが、物標の相対速度vにおいて誤差が発生することは明らかである。 When the phase θn of the peak value Rnp of the distance spectrum Rn (ω) of the extracted beat signal yn (t) is represented on the time axis, it becomes as shown in Fig. 5B(c), and when this is compared with the true value, it becomes as shown in Fig. 5B(d), and it is clear that the estimated value deviates from the true value. By performing an FFT on this graph, it can be converted into the velocity spectrum V(ω) of Fig. 5B(e) and the relative velocity v of the target can be calculated based on the peak value, but it is clear that an error will occur in the relative velocity v of the target.

すなわち、相対速度vは次式で表されるが、分母の送信間隔Tが一定ではないために、相対速度vに誤差が発生する。 That is, the relative speed v is expressed by the following equation, but because the transmission interval T in the denominator is not constant, an error occurs in the relative speed v.

v=λΔθ/(4πT)
Δθ=θ-θ
v = λΔθ / (4πT)
Δθ= θ2 −θ1

(実施形態)
本発明に係る実施形態では、前記の誤差を減少させるために、比較例2において、複数のビート信号が等間隔になるように、受信間隔を補正することを特徴としている。
(Embodiment)
In the embodiment according to the present invention, in order to reduce the above-mentioned error, in the comparative example 2, the reception intervals are corrected so that a plurality of beat signals are spaced at equal intervals.

図1は実施形態に係るレーダ装置100の構成例を示すブロック図である。以下、レーダ装置100の構成例について説明する。 Figure 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a radar device 100 according to an embodiment. The example of the configuration of the radar device 100 is described below.

図1において、レーダ装置100は、例えばFCM(Fast Chirp Modulation)方式を用いて、物標との距離及び相対速度を推定する。FCM方式では、周波数が連続的に変化する複数のチャープ信号が繰り返される送信チャープ信号を、物標に対して無線送信して、検出範囲内に存在する各物標との距離及び相対速度を検出する。具体的には、FCM方式は、複数のチャープ信号Stを生成する変調信号と物標による送信信号の反射波を受信して得られる受信信号とから生成されたチャープ信号毎の複数のビート信号y(t)に対して2次元高速フーリエ変換処理(以下、2次元FFT処理という)を実行して物標との距離及び相対速度を推定する。なお、2次元FFT処理は、距離FFT処理及び速度FFT処理の2回のFFT処理を含む。 In Fig. 1, the radar device 100 estimates the distance and relative speed of a target by using, for example, an FCM (Fast Chirp Modulation) method. In the FCM method, a transmission chirp signal, which is a repetition of multiple chirp signals whose frequencies change continuously, is wirelessly transmitted to the target to detect the distance and relative speed of each target present within a detection range. Specifically, the FCM method estimates the distance and relative speed of the target by performing two-dimensional fast Fourier transform processing (hereinafter referred to as two-dimensional FFT processing) on multiple beat signals y n (t) for each chirp signal generated from a modulated signal that generates multiple chirp signals St and a received signal obtained by receiving a reflected wave of the transmission signal by the target. Note that the two-dimensional FFT processing includes two FFT processes, a distance FFT process and a speed FFT process.

図1において、レーダ装置100は、無線送信部1と、無線受信部2と、信号処理部3とを備える。ここで、無線送信部1は、送信制御部10と、変調信号生成部11と、発振器12と、電力増幅器13と、送信アンテナ14とを備える。また、無線受信部2は、1個以上のN個の受信アンテナ21-1~21-N(以下、総称して符号21を付す)と、複数N個の低雑音増幅器22-1~22-N(以下、総称して符号22を付す)と、複数N個の混合器23-1~23-N(以下、総称して符号23を付す)と、複数N個のローパスフィルタ(LPF)24-1~24-N(以下、総称して符号24を付す)と、複数N個のAD変換器(ADC)25-1~25-N(以下、総称して符号25を付す)とを備える。さらに、信号処理部3は、複数N個の受信間隔補正部31-1~31-N(以下、総称して符号31を付す)と、複数N個の距離及び速度推定部32-1~32-N(以下、総称して符号32を付す)と、到来角度推定部33とを備える。 In FIG. 1, the radar device 100 includes a wireless transmitter 1, a wireless receiver 2, and a signal processor 3. Here, the wireless transmitter 1 includes a transmission controller 10, a modulated signal generator 11, an oscillator 12, a power amplifier 13, and a transmission antenna 14. The wireless receiver 2 includes one or more N receiving antennas 21-1 to 21-N (hereinafter collectively referred to as 21), a plurality of N low noise amplifiers 22-1 to 22-N (hereinafter collectively referred to as 22), a plurality of N mixers 23-1 to 23-N (hereinafter collectively referred to as 23), a plurality of N low pass filters (LPFs) 24-1 to 24-N (hereinafter collectively referred to as 24), and a plurality of N analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) 25-1 to 25-N (hereinafter collectively referred to as 25). Furthermore, the signal processing unit 3 includes a plurality of N reception interval correction units 31-1 to 31-N (hereinafter collectively referred to as 31), a plurality of N distance and speed estimation units 32-1 to 32-N (hereinafter collectively referred to as 32), and an arrival angle estimation unit 33.

無線送信部1の送信制御部10は、互いに不等の送信間隔Tを有する送信間隔信号Siを発生して変調信号生成部11及び受信間隔補正部31に出力する。変調信号生成部11は例えば鋸波形状などの三角波形状で周波数が変化する変調信号を生成し、発振器12に出力する。発振器12は、変調信号に従って、不等の送信間隔Tを有する送信チャープ信号Stを生成して、電力増幅器13を介して送信アンテナ14に出力されて、送信チャープ信号Stを含む無線信号が送信アンテナ14から物標に向けて放射される。 A transmission control unit 10 of the wireless transmission unit 1 generates a transmission interval signal Si having unequal transmission intervals Tn and outputs the signal to a modulation signal generation unit 11 and a reception interval correction unit 31. The modulation signal generation unit 11 generates a modulation signal whose frequency changes in a triangular wave shape, such as a sawtooth wave shape, and outputs the modulation signal to an oscillator 12. The oscillator 12 generates a transmission chirp signal St having unequal transmission intervals Tn in accordance with the modulation signal, which is output to a transmission antenna 14 via a power amplifier 13, and a wireless signal including the transmission chirp signal St is radiated from the transmission antenna 14 toward a target.

なお、発振器12からの送信チャープ信号Stは無線受信部2の混合器23にも分配される。また、送信間隔信号Siは無線受信部2の受信間隔補正部31にも分配される。 The transmission chirp signal St from the oscillator 12 is also distributed to the mixer 23 of the wireless receiver 2. The transmission interval signal Si is also distributed to the reception interval correction unit 31 of the wireless receiver 2.

無線受信部2において、アレーアンテナを構成する複数N個の受信アンテナ21は、物標からの反射波である、送信チャープ信号Stを含む無線信号を、受信チャープ信号Srを含む受信無線信号として受信し、受信無線信号を低雑音増幅器22を介して混合器23に出力する。各混合器23は、各低雑音増幅器22からの受信無線信号に含まれる受信チャープ信号Srと、発振器12からの送信チャープ信号Stとを混合して、各ローパスフィルタ24に出力する。各ローパスフィルタ24は、入力される混合結果の信号から不要な信号成分を除去するためのローパスフィルタリングを行うことで、ビート周波数fを有するビート信号y(t)を検出して各AD変換器25に出力する。各AD変換器25は入力されるビート信号y(t)をデジタル形式のビート信号にAD変換して信号処理部3の各受信間隔補正部31に出力する。 In the radio receiving unit 2, a plurality of N receiving antennas 21 constituting an array antenna receive radio signals including a transmission chirp signal St, which is a reflected wave from a target, as a reception radio signal including a reception chirp signal Sr, and output the reception radio signal to a mixer 23 via a low-noise amplifier 22. Each mixer 23 mixes the reception chirp signal Sr included in the reception radio signal from each low-noise amplifier 22 with the transmission chirp signal St from the oscillator 12, and outputs the result to each low-pass filter 24. Each low-pass filter 24 performs low-pass filtering to remove unnecessary signal components from the input mixed signal, thereby detecting a beat signal yn (t) having a beat frequency fB and outputting the result to each AD converter 25. Each AD converter 25 AD-converts the input beat signal yn (t) into a digital beat signal, and outputs the digital beat signal to each reception interval correction unit 31 of the signal processing unit 3.

なお、図1に示す受信アンテナ21等の個数Nは、例えば1以上である。本実施形態において、距離の推定、又は速度の推定は1個の受信アンテナ21で可能であるが、到来角度の推定まで行なう場合2個以上の受信アンテナ21が必要である。 The number N of the receiving antennas 21, etc. shown in FIG. 1 is, for example, 1 or more. In this embodiment, distance estimation or speed estimation is possible with one receiving antenna 21, but two or more receiving antennas 21 are required to estimate the angle of arrival.

信号処理部13は、例えば、CPU(Central Processing Unit)、ROM(Read Only Memory)、RAM(Random Access Memory)、入出力ポート等を含むマイクロコンピュータで構成され、レーダ装置100の全体を制御する。 The signal processing unit 13 is configured by a microcomputer including, for example, a central processing unit (CPU), a read only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), input/output ports, etc., and controls the entire radar device 100.

各受信間隔補正部31は、送信制御部10からの送信間隔信号Siに基づいて、入力されるビート信号y(t)を所望の最大検知速度を満たす送信間隔Tよりも短い間隔で信号補間処理を行うことで、所定の等間隔Tであるビート信号yen(t)を生成する。ここで、等間隔Tであるビート信号yen(t)は次式で表される。 Each reception interval correction unit 31 performs signal interpolation processing on the input beat signal yn (t) at intervals shorter than the transmission interval Tn that satisfies the desired maximum detectable speed, based on the transmission interval signal Si from the transmission control unit 10, to generate beat signals yn (t) with a predetermined equal interval T. Here, the beat signals yn (t) with equal intervals T are expressed by the following equation.

en(t)
=y(t)+(y(t)-yn-1(t))/(t-t’n-1
×(t’-t’n-1
y en (t)
= yn (t) + ( yn (t) - yn-1 (t)) / (tn - t'n-1 )
× (t' n - t' n - 1 )

ここで、信号補間(内挿)を行っているが、本発明はこれに限らず、信号補外処理(外挿)を行って、所定の等間隔Tであるビート信号yen(t)を生成してもよい。なお、信号補間処理は、例えば線形補間法、多次スプライン関数法、ラグランジェ補間法、指数スプライン補間法、最小二乗法を用いた補間法などの公知の信号補間法を用いることができる。 Here, signal interpolation (interpolation) is performed, but the present invention is not limited to this, and signal extrapolation processing (extrapolation) may be performed to generate beat signals y en (t) having predetermined equal intervals T. Note that the signal interpolation processing can use known signal interpolation methods such as linear interpolation, multi-order spline function method, Lagrange interpolation method, exponential spline interpolation method, and least squares method-based interpolation method.

各距離及び速度推定部32は、各受信間隔補正部31から出力されるビート信号yen(t)に対してそれぞれ公知の2次元FFT処理(距離FFT処理及び速度FFT処理)を行い、かかる2次元FFT処理の結果に基づいて物標の距離及び相対速度を演算して到来角度推定部33に出力する。なお、各距離及び速度推定部32はさらに、前記の距離FFT処理の結果を用いて干渉の有無を判定してもよい。 Each distance and velocity estimation unit 32 performs known two-dimensional FFT processing (distance FFT processing and velocity FFT processing) on the beat signal y en (t) output from each reception interval correction unit 31, calculates the distance and relative velocity of the target based on the result of the two-dimensional FFT processing, and outputs the calculated distance and relative velocity to the arrival angle estimation unit 33. Each distance and velocity estimation unit 32 may further determine the presence or absence of interference using the result of the distance FFT processing.

すなわち、各距離及び速度推定部32は、ビート信号yen(t)におけるピーク状態の違いに着目して干渉を検出する。具体的には、距離FFT処理の結果それぞれのピーク状態(ピーク値、ピーク数、ピークの位置)を複数の受信チャープ信号Sr間で比較することで複数の受信チャープ信号の干渉の有無を判定する。例えば、複数の受信チャープ信号のうち、他の受信チャープ信号とはピークの数や、ピークの位置等のピーク状態が異なるチャープ信号があった場合、かかるチャープ信号が干渉を受けていると判定する。このように、レーダ装置100では、距離FFT処理の結果のピーク状態を比較することで、受信チャープ信号の干渉を高精度に検出することができる。特に、レーダ装置100以外の、例えば他車両に搭載されたレーダ装置との干渉も高精度に検出することができる。 That is, each distance and speed estimation unit 32 detects interference by focusing on the difference in the peak state in the beat signal y en (t). Specifically, the presence or absence of interference between the multiple received chirp signals Sr is determined by comparing the peak states (peak value, number of peaks, and position of peaks) of the results of the distance FFT processing between the multiple received chirp signals Sr. For example, if there is a chirp signal among the multiple received chirp signals that has a different peak state, such as the number of peaks or the position of peaks, from the other received chirp signals, it is determined that the chirp signal is being interfered with. In this way, the radar device 100 can detect interference of the received chirp signal with high accuracy by comparing the peak states of the results of the distance FFT processing. In particular, interference with a radar device other than the radar device 100, for example, mounted on another vehicle, can also be detected with high accuracy.

到来角度推定部33は、複数の受信チャープ信号Sr又はそれに基づいて生成されたビート信号y(t)に基づいて、所定の公知の到来角度演算処理により物標の到来角度を推定する。例えば、来角度推定部33は、受信アンテナ21で受信された複数個の受信信号に基づく複数個のビート信号y(t)の周波数スペクトルそれぞれの同一距離ビンのピークの位相の違いにより物標の到来角度を推定する。なお、同一距離ビンのピークの位相の違いにより、同一距離ビンに複数の物標が存在することが検出された場合、それら複数の物標それぞれについて角度推定を行う。なお、到来角度推定部33における角度の推定は、例えば、ESPRIT(Estimation of Signal Parameters via Rotational Invariance Techniques)、DBF(Digital Beam Forming)、又はMUSIC(Multiple Signal Classification)などの公知の推定方式を用いて実行される。 The arrival angle estimator 33 estimates the arrival angle of the target by a predetermined known arrival angle calculation process based on the multiple received chirp signals Sr or the beat signal yn (t) generated based on the multiple received chirp signals Sr. For example, the arrival angle estimator 33 estimates the arrival angle of the target based on the difference in phase of the peaks of the same distance bin of each of the frequency spectra of the multiple beat signals yn (t) based on the multiple received signals received by the receiving antenna 21. Note that, when it is detected that multiple targets exist in the same distance bin based on the difference in the phase of the peaks of the same distance bin, the arrival angle estimator 33 performs angle estimation for each of the multiple targets. Note that the angle estimation in the arrival angle estimator 33 is performed using a known estimation method such as ESPRIT (Estimation of Signal Parameters via Rotational Invariance Techniques), DBF (Digital Beam Forming), or MUSIC (Multiple Signal Classification).

到来角度推定部33は、演算した物標で反射された無線信号の到来角度に加えて、各距離及び速度推定部32において推定された、物標との距離及び相対速度に係る情報を他制御装置200に出力する。なお、図1において、他制御装置200は、他のレーダ装置、又は、当該レーダ装置100及び他のレーダ装置を統括的に制御する制御装置である。 The arrival angle estimation unit 33 outputs information related to the distance and relative speed to the target estimated by each distance and speed estimation unit 32, in addition to the calculated arrival angle of the radio signal reflected by the target, to the other control device 200. Note that in FIG. 1, the other control device 200 is another radar device, or a control device that comprehensively controls the radar device 100 and the other radar devices.

図2A及び図2Bは、実施形態に係る、送信チャープ信号の送信間隔が不等間隔であるレーダ装置の動作例を示す波形図及びスペクトル図である。 2A and 2B are waveform and spectrum diagrams showing an example of the operation of a radar device according to an embodiment in which the transmission chirp signals are transmitted at irregular intervals.

図2A(a)において、無線送信部1は、送信間隔信号Siに基づいて、周波数が連続的に高くなる複数の送信チャープ信号Stを不等送信間隔Tで繰り返し、物標に向けて無線送信する。ここで、送信間隔Tは次式で表され、送信チャープ信号Stによらず一定ではない。なお、nは1以上の整数である。 2A(a), the wireless transmitter 1 wirelessly transmits a plurality of transmission chirp signals St, the frequencies of which successively increase, at unequal transmission intervals Tn , to a target, based on a transmission interval signal Si. Here, the transmission interval Tn is expressed by the following equation and is not constant regardless of the transmission chirp signal St, where n is an integer of 1 or more.

=t’-t’n-1, n>1 T n =t' n -t' n-1 , n>1

ここで、t’は送信開始時刻である。 Here, t'n is the transmission start time.

図2A(b)及び(c)において、無線受信部2は、物標で反射された複数の送信チャープ信号Stを受信して、受信した送信チャープ信号である受信チャープ信号Srと、送信した送信チャープ信号Sとを混合した後ローパスフィルタリングすることで、複数のビート信号y(t)~y(t)を検出する。ここで、ビート信号y(t)は次式で表される。 2A(b) and (c), the wireless receiving unit 2 receives multiple transmitted chirp signals St reflected by targets, mixes the received transmitted chirp signal Sr with the transmitted transmitted chirp signal S t , and then performs low-pass filtering to detect multiple beat signals y 1 (t) to y 3 (t). Here, the beat signal y n (t) is expressed by the following equation:

(t)=sin(2πft+θ yn (t)=sin( 2πfBt + θn )

ここで、fはビート周波数であり、位相差θは次式で表される。 Here, f B is the beat frequency, and the phase difference θ n is expressed by the following equation.

θ=4πv(t’-t’)/λ θ n =4πv(t' n -t' 1 )/λ

ここで、vは物標の相対速度[m/s]であり、λは送信チャープ信号Sを含む無線信号の波長である。 Here, v is the relative velocity of the target [m/s], and λ is the wavelength of the radio signal including the transmitted chirp signal S t .

図2A(d)において、各受信間隔補正部31は、送信制御部10からの送信間隔信号Siに基づいて、入力されるビート信号y(t)を所望の最大検知速度を満たす送信間隔Tよりも短い間隔で信号補間処理を行うことで、所定の等間隔Tであるビート信号yen(t)を生成する。ここで、等間隔Tであるビート信号yen(t)は次式で表される。 2A(d), each reception interval correction unit 31 performs signal interpolation processing on the input beat signal yn (t) at intervals shorter than the transmission interval Tn that satisfies the desired maximum detectable speed, based on the transmission interval signal Si from the transmission control unit 10 , to generate beat signals yn (t) with a predetermined equal interval T. Here, the beat signals yn (t) with equal intervals T are expressed by the following equation.

en(t)
=y(t)+(y(t)-yn-1(t))/(t-t’n-1
×(t’-t’n-1
y en (t)
= yn (t) + ( yn (t) - yn-1 (t)) / (tn - t'n-1 )
× (t' n - t' n-1 )

図2B(a)において、信号補間された等間隔のビート信号yen(t)に対してFFT(Fast Fourier Transformation)を実行することで、等間隔のビート信号ye(t)の距離スペクトラムR(ω)に変換する。ここで、等間隔のビート信号yen(t)の距離スペクトラムR(ω)は次式で表される。 2B(a), an FFT (Fast Fourier Transformation) is performed on the signal-interpolated equally-spaced beat signal y en (t) to convert it into a distance spectrum R n (ω) of the equally-spaced beat signal y en (t). Here, the distance spectrum R n ( ω) of the equally-spaced beat signal y en (t) is expressed by the following equation.

(ω)=10log10|Yen(ω)|
|Yen(ω)|exp(-jω+θ)=FFT[yen(t)]
R n (ω) = 10 log 10 | Y en (ω) | 2
|Y en (ω)|exp(-jω+θ n )=FFT[y en (t)]

図2B(b)において、等間隔のビート信号yen(t)の距離スペクトラムR(ω)のピーク値Rnpを検出した後、図2B(c)において、その位相θを抽出する。 In FIG. 2B(b), a peak value R np of the distance spectrum R n (ω) of the equally spaced beat signal y en (t) is detected, and then in FIG. 2B(c), its phase θ n is extracted.

生成した等間隔のビート信号yen(t)の距離スペクトラムR(ω)のピーク値Rnpの位相θを時間軸上で表すと、比較例1と同様に、図2B(c)のようになり、従来技術に比較して、高精度で物標との距離及び相対速度を推定することができる。このグラフに対してFFTを実行することで、図2B(d)の速度スペクトラムV(ω)に変換してそのピーク値に基づいて、物標の相対速度vを計算することができるが、物標の相対速度vにおいて誤差が発生しない。 When the phase θn of the peak value Rnp of the distance spectrum Rn (ω) of the generated equally-spaced beat signal yen (t) is represented on the time axis, it becomes as shown in Fig. 2B(c) as in Comparative Example 1, and the distance and relative velocity to the target can be estimated with higher accuracy than in the prior art. By performing an FFT on this graph, it is possible to convert it into the velocity spectrum V(ω) in Fig. 2B(d) and calculate the relative velocity v of the target based on the peak value, and no error occurs in the relative velocity v of the target.

図3は、図1のレーダ装置100により実行される距離、速度及び到来角度推定処理を示すフローチャートである。 Figure 3 is a flowchart showing the distance, speed and arrival angle estimation process performed by the radar device 100 of Figure 1.

図3のステップS1において、無線送信部1は、チャープ信号を所定の不等間隔で送信し、当該不等間隔を含む送信間隔信号Siを受信間隔補正部31に出力する。 In step S1 of FIG. 3, the wireless transmission unit 1 transmits a chirp signal at a predetermined irregular interval and outputs a transmission interval signal Si including the irregular interval to the reception interval correction unit 31.

次いで、ステップS2において、無線受信部2は、チャープ信号を受信し、受信チャープ信号と送信チャープ信号とを混合して低域通過フィルタリングすることで複数のビート信号を検出し、検出した複数のビート信号をAD変換して信号処理部3に出力する。ステップS3において、信号処理部3の受信間隔補正部31は、送信間隔信号Siに基づいて、複数のビート信号に対して各受信間隔が同一になるように、信号補間処理を実行することで、等間隔のビート信号列を生成する。 Next, in step S2, the wireless receiving unit 2 receives the chirp signal, mixes the received chirp signal with the transmitted chirp signal, and performs low-pass filtering to detect multiple beat signals, and outputs the detected multiple beat signals to the signal processing unit 3 after AD conversion. In step S3, the receiving interval correction unit 31 of the signal processing unit 3 generates an evenly spaced beat signal sequence by performing signal interpolation processing based on the transmitting interval signal Si so that the receiving intervals of the multiple beat signals are the same.

さらに、ステップS4において、信号処理部3の距離及び速度推定部32は、等間隔のビート信号列に対して距離及び速度推定処理を実行することで、各ビート信号に対応する距離及び速度を演算する。なお、ここで、各距離スペクトラム間の干渉の有無を判定してもよく、干渉があるときは、干渉有りの距離スペクトラムを除去するなどにして干渉の影響を除去した所定の距離スペクトラムに変換して距離及び相対速度の推定、及び到来角度の推定を行うことで、より高精度な推定を行うことができる。 Furthermore, in step S4, the distance and velocity estimation unit 32 of the signal processing unit 3 performs distance and velocity estimation processing on the equally spaced beat signal sequence to calculate the distance and velocity corresponding to each beat signal. Note that here, the presence or absence of interference between each distance spectrum may be determined, and if there is interference, the distance spectrum with interference may be removed, or otherwise converted into a predetermined distance spectrum from which the effects of interference have been removed, and then distance and relative velocity estimation and arrival angle estimation may be performed with higher accuracy.

次いで、ステップS5において、信号処理部3の到来角度推定部33は、各受信アンテナ21により受信された受信チャープ信号の位相差に基づいて到来角度推定処理を実行して、各ビート信号に対応する到来角度を演算する。さらに、ステップS6において、推定された距離、速度及び到来角度を含む推定結果信号を他制御装置200に出力して当該推定処理を終了する。 Next, in step S5, the arrival angle estimation unit 33 of the signal processing unit 3 executes an arrival angle estimation process based on the phase difference of the received chirp signals received by each receiving antenna 21, and calculates the arrival angle corresponding to each beat signal. Furthermore, in step S6, an estimation result signal including the estimated distance, speed, and arrival angle is output to the other control device 200, and the estimation process is terminated.

(実施形態の効果)
以上説明したように、本実施形態に係るレーダ装置100によれば、各受信アンテナ21に対応して各受信間隔補正部31を設けることで、無線受信部2において等間隔のビート信号yen(t)を生成することができ、これに基づいて、物標との距離、相対速度及び到来角度を推定することで、従来技術と比較して高精度な推定を行うことができる。
(Effects of the embodiment)
As described above, according to the radar device 100 of this embodiment, by providing each reception interval correction unit 31 corresponding to each reception antenna 21, it is possible to generate equally spaced beat signals y en (t) in the wireless reception unit 2. By estimating the distance to the target, the relative speed, and the arrival angle based on this, it is possible to perform estimation with higher accuracy than with the conventional technology.

また、各距離及び速度推定部32において、ビート信号yen(t)の干渉状態を検出することで、干渉の有無を判定し、干渉有りのビート信号yen(t)を除去して、物標との距離、相対速度及び到来角度を推定することで、従来技術に比較して高精度な推定を行うことができる。すなわち、距離及び相対速度の推定を行う前に、送信間隔とビート信号の関係性を用いて、等間隔な受信間隔で得られたビート信号に補正することにより、干渉回避と速度推定を両立できるようになった。言い換えれば、干渉が発生した場合に、干渉の影響を除去し、正確に距離、相対速度及び到来角度の推定を行うことができる。 Furthermore, each distance and speed estimation unit 32 detects the interference state of the beat signal y en (t) to determine the presence or absence of interference, removes the beat signal y en (t) with interference, and estimates the distance, relative speed, and arrival angle from the target, thereby enabling more accurate estimation than in the prior art. That is, before estimating the distance and relative speed, the beat signal is corrected to one obtained at equal reception intervals using the relationship between the transmission interval and the beat signal, making it possible to achieve both interference avoidance and speed estimation. In other words, when interference occurs, the effect of the interference can be removed and the distance, relative speed, and arrival angle can be accurately estimated.

すなわち、本実施形態によれば、干渉判定の有無に関係なく適用可能である。 In other words, this embodiment can be applied regardless of whether or not interference detection is performed.

(変形例)
以上の実施形態では、送信チャープ信号Stは、周波数が連続的に増加する(すなわち、アップチャープ)場合を示したが、周波数が連続的に減少する(すなわち、ダウンチャープ)チャープ信号であってもよい。また、それらの組み合わせであってもよい。
(Modification)
In the above embodiment, the transmission chirp signal St has a continuously increasing frequency (i.e., an up-chirp), but it may be a chirp signal whose frequency decreases continuously (i.e., a down-chirp), or a combination thereof.

以上の実施形態では、FCM方式を用いたレーダ装置について説明したが、本発明はこれに限らず、FMCW変調方式又はパルス圧縮変調方式を用いたレーダ装置に適用可能である。 In the above embodiment, a radar device using the FCM method has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this and can be applied to radar devices using the FMCW modulation method or the pulse compression modulation method.

以上の実施形態では、物標の位置及び相対速度を推定しているが、本発明はこれに限らず、物標の相対速度のみを推定するように構成してもよい。 In the above embodiment, the position and relative velocity of the target are estimated, but the present invention is not limited to this, and may be configured to estimate only the relative velocity of the target.

以上の実施形態に対してさらなる効果や変形例は、当業者によって容易に導き出すことができる。このため、本発明のより広範な態様は、以上のように表しかつ記述した特定の詳細及び代表的な実施形態に限定されるものではない。したがって、添付の特許請求の範囲及びその均等物によって定義される総括的な発明の概念の精神または範囲から逸脱することなく、様々な変更が可能である。 Further advantages and modifications to the above embodiments may be readily derived by those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details and representative embodiments shown and described above. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.

以上詳述したように、本発明に係るレーダ装置とその制御方法によれば、従来技術に比較して、干渉判定の有無に関係無く、物標の位置及び相対速度の推定精度を高くする。例えば、道路監視向けミリ波レーダにおいて、干渉回避と速度推定精度を達成するための技術手段として用いることができる。具体的なアプリケーションとしては、信号機や交通標識などに当該レーダ装置を取り付け、車両の位置と速度を検知し、渋滞緩和のためのトラフィックカウンを行うことができる。 As described above in detail, the radar device and the control method thereof according to the present invention improve the estimation accuracy of the target position and relative speed compared to the conventional technology, regardless of the presence or absence of interference determination. For example, it can be used as a technical means for achieving interference avoidance and speed estimation accuracy in a millimeter wave radar for road monitoring. As a specific application, the radar device can be attached to traffic lights and traffic signs to detect the position and speed of vehicles and perform traffic counting to ease congestion.

すなわち、レーダ間の干渉を回避しつつ、速度推定をより正確に行うことができる。これにより、ユーザは、反射物体である物標の正確な位置情報(距離及び相対速度、到来角度である方位)を得ることができ、自動運転の補助や交通事故の発生低減に繋がる。 In other words, it is possible to perform more accurate speed estimation while avoiding interference between radars. This allows users to obtain accurate position information (distance, relative speed, and azimuth, which is the angle of arrival) of targets that are reflective objects, which will assist autonomous driving and reduce the occurrence of traffic accidents.

1 無線送信部
2 無線受信部
10 送信制御部
11 変調信号生成部
12 発振器
13 電力増幅器
14 送信アンテナ
21,21-1~21-N 受信アンテナ
22,22-1~22-N 低雑音増幅器
23,23-1~23-N 混合器
24,24-1~24-N ローパスフィルタ(LPF)
25,25-1~25-N AD変換器(ADC)
31,31-1~31-N 受信間隔補正部
32,32-1~32-N 距離及び速度推定部
33 到来角度推定部
100 レーダ装置
200 他制御装置
1 Radio transmitter 2 Radio receiver 10 Transmission control unit 11 Modulation signal generator 12 Oscillator 13 Power amplifier 14 Transmitting antennas 21, 21-1 to 21-N Receiving antennas 22, 22-1 to 22-N Low noise amplifiers 23, 23-1 to 23-N Mixers 24, 24-1 to 24-N Low pass filter (LPF)
25, 25-1 to 25-N Analog-to-digital converter (ADC)
31, 31-1 to 31-N reception interval correction units 32, 32-1 to 32-N distance and speed estimation unit 33 arrival angle estimation unit 100 radar device 200 other control devices

Claims (10)

複数の送信チャープ信号を、送信間隔信号に基づいて、不等間隔で送信する無線送信部と、前記複数の送信チャープ信号が物標で反射された後、前記反射された複数の送信チャープ信号を受信する無線受信部とを備えるレーダ装置であって、
前記無線受信部は、
前記複数の送信チャープ信号を複数の受信チャープ信号として受信し、
前記受信された複数の受信チャープ信号と、前記複数の送信チャープ信号とを混合することで、複数のビート信号を検出し、
前記送信間隔信号に基づいて、前記複数のビート信号に対して、前記複数の受信チャープ信号として受信するときの各受信間隔が実質的に同一になるように信号補間処理を実行することで、等間隔の複数のビート信号を生成し、
前記等間隔の複数のビート信号に基づいて、前記物標との相対速度を推定し、
前記無線受信部はさらに、
前記等間隔の複数のビート信号を、ビート信号の複数の距離スペクトラムに変換し、
前記ビート信号の複数の距離スペクトラムのピーク状態を抽出し、
複数の距離スペクトラムのピーク状態に基づいて、前記複数の受信チャープ信号間の干渉の有無を判定する、
レーダ装置。
A radar device comprising: a radio transmitting unit that transmits a plurality of transmission chirp signals at irregular intervals based on a transmission interval signal; and a radio receiving unit that receives the plurality of transmission chirp signals after the plurality of transmission chirp signals are reflected by a target,
The wireless receiving unit is
receiving the plurality of transmit chirp signals as a plurality of receive chirp signals;
detecting a plurality of beat signals by mixing the plurality of received chirp signals with the plurality of transmitted chirp signals;
generating a plurality of equally-spaced beat signals by performing a signal interpolation process on the plurality of beat signals based on the transmission interval signal so that the reception intervals of the plurality of beat signals when received as the plurality of received chirp signals are substantially the same;
estimating a relative velocity between the target and the target based on the plurality of equally spaced beat signals ;
The wireless receiving unit further comprises:
converting the plurality of equally spaced beat signals into a plurality of distance spectra of beat signals;
extracting peak states of a plurality of distance spectra of the beat signal;
determining whether or not there is interference between the plurality of received chirp signals based on peak states of the plurality of distance spectra;
Radar equipment.
前記無線受信部は、前記等間隔の複数のビート信号に基づいて、前記物標との距離をさらに推定する、
請求項1に記載のレーダ装置。
The wireless receiving unit further estimates a distance to the target based on the plurality of equally spaced beat signals.
The radar device according to claim 1 .
前記送信チャープ信号は、連続的に変化する周波数をそれぞれ有する、
請求項1又は2に記載のレーダ装置。
The transmit chirp signals each have a continuously varying frequency.
3. A radar device according to claim 1 or 2.
前記無線受信部は、前記受信された複数の受信チャープ信号又は複数のビート信号に基づいて、前記物標の到来角度を推定する、
請求項1~3のうちのいずれか1つに記載のレーダ装置。
The wireless receiving unit estimates an arrival angle of the target based on the received chirp signals or beat signals.
The radar device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.
前記無線受信部は、前記干渉があると判定された受信チャープ信号の距離スペクトラムを、前記干渉の影響を除去した所定の距離スペクトラムに変換した後、変換された距離スペクトラムに基づいて前記物標との距離及び相対速度を推定する、
請求項に記載のレーダ装置。
the wireless receiving unit converts a range spectrum of the received chirp signal determined to have interference into a predetermined range spectrum from which the influence of the interference has been removed, and then estimates a range and a relative speed to the target based on the converted range spectrum;
The radar device according to claim 1 .
連続的に変化する周波数をそれぞれ有する複数の送信チャープ信号を、送信間隔信号に基づいて、不等間隔で送信する無線送信部と、前記複数の送信チャープ信号が物標で反射された後、前記反射された複数の送信チャープ信号を受信する無線受信部とを備えるレーダ装置の制御方法であって、
前記制御方法は、
前記複数の送信チャープ信号を受信間隔で複数の受信チャープ信号として受信するステップと、
前記受信された複数の受信チャープ信号と、前記複数の送信チャープ信号とを混合することで、複数のビート信号を検出するステップと、
前記送信間隔信号に基づいて、前記複数のビート信号に対して、前記複数の受信チャープ信号として受信するときの各受信間隔が実質的に同一になるように信号補間処理を実行することで、等間隔の複数のビート信号を生成するステップと、
前記等間隔の複数のビート信号に基づいて、前記物標との相対速度を推定するステップと、
前記等間隔の複数のビート信号を、ビート信号の複数の距離スペクトラムに変換するステップと、
前記ビート信号の複数の距離スペクトラムのピーク状態を抽出するステップと、
複数の距離スペクトラムのピーク状態に基づいて、前記複数の受信チャープ信号間の干渉の有無を判定するステップと、
を含むレーダ装置の制御方法。
A method for controlling a radar device including a wireless transmitter that transmits a plurality of transmission chirp signals, each having a continuously changing frequency, at irregular intervals based on a transmission interval signal, and a wireless receiver that receives the plurality of transmission chirp signals after the plurality of transmission chirp signals are reflected by a target, the method comprising:
The control method includes:
receiving the plurality of transmit chirp signals as a plurality of receive chirp signals at a receive interval;
detecting a plurality of beat signals by mixing the plurality of received chirp signals with the plurality of transmitted chirp signals;
generating a plurality of equally spaced beat signals by performing signal interpolation processing on the plurality of beat signals based on the transmission interval signal so that the reception intervals of the plurality of beat signals when received as the plurality of received chirp signals are substantially the same;
estimating a relative velocity between the target and the target based on the plurality of equally spaced beat signals;
converting the plurality of equally spaced beat signals into a plurality of distance spectra of beat signals;
extracting a plurality of peak states of the distance spectrum of the beat signal;
determining whether interference exists between the plurality of received chirp signals based on peak states of the plurality of distance spectra;
A method for controlling a radar device comprising the steps of:
前記制御方法は、
前記等間隔の複数のビート信号に基づいて、前記物標との距離を推定するステップを、
さらに含む、請求項に記載のレーダ装置の制御方法。
The control method includes:
estimating a distance to the target based on the plurality of equally spaced beat signals;
The method for controlling a radar device according to claim 6 , further comprising:
前記送信チャープ信号は、連続的に変化する周波数をそれぞれ有する、
請求項6又は7に記載のレーダ装置の制御方法。
The transmit chirp signals each have a continuously varying frequency.
A method for controlling a radar device according to claim 6 or 7 .
前記受信された複数の受信チャープ信号又は複数のビート信号に基づいて、前記物標の到来角度を推定するステップをさらに含む請求項6~8のうちのいずれか1つに記載のレーダ装置の制御方法。 9. The method for controlling a radar device according to claim 6 , further comprising the step of estimating an arrival angle of the target based on the received chirp signals or beat signals. 前記干渉があると判定された受信チャープ信号の距離スペクトラムを、前記干渉の影響を除去した所定の距離スペクトラムに変換した後、変換された距離スペクトラムに基づいて前記物標との距離及び相対速度を推定するステップを、
さらに含む請求項に記載のレーダ装置の制御方法。
a step of converting a range spectrum of the received chirp signal determined to have interference into a predetermined range spectrum from which the influence of the interference has been removed, and then estimating a range and a relative velocity to the target based on the converted range spectrum;
The method for controlling a radar device according to claim 6 , further comprising:
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