WO2025079035A1

WO2025079035A1 - An architecture for software-defined radar, and applications thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2025079035A1
Application number: PCT/IB2024/059986
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ophir Shabtay; Alon Cohen; Oren Shalita; Naftali LANDSBERG; Nati Dinur; Ziv Barak; Danniel Nahmanny; Guy MAGLED
Original assignee: Mobileye Vision Technologies Ltd
Current assignee: Mobileye Vision Technologies Ltd
Priority date: 2023-10-13
Filing date: 2024-10-11
Publication date: 2025-04-17
Anticipated expiration: 2026-04-13

Abstract

Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product embodiments for providing an architecture to route radar signals in an analog signal format. A radar system or radar board may receive a radio frequency (RF) signal via an RF front-end system. The RF front-end system may include an antenna array and/or an RF circuit configured to capture high frequency radar signals. The RF front-end system down-converts received radar signals into a baseband signal. The RF front-end system then routes this baseband signal to a separate baseband processing system in an analog format. The baseband processing system performs the conversion of the analog signal to a digital format with processing separate from the RF front-end system. The baseband processing system then applies the digital signal data to a radar-based imaging process. The routing in the baseband analog format may allow for improved signal resiliency.

Description

AN ARCHITECTURE FOR SOFTWARE-DEFINED RADAR, AND APPLICATIONS THEREOF

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/590,163 filed October 13, 2023, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD

[0002] The field relates to radar devices, for example, processing radio frequency radar signals and routing the processed signals in an analog format.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Radar is a technology that uses radio waves to detect and measure the distance, speed, and direction of objects. Automotive radar is a type of radar that is integrated into vehicles to enhance safety and performance. Automotive radar can perform various functions, such as adaptive cruise control, collision avoidance, blind spot detection, lane change assist, parking assist, and traffic sign recognition. Automotive radar is a key component of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving technologies.

[0004] To generate and process radar images, there is a need for computational speed to quickly process received signals. Processing received signals in a fast manner enables real- world and/or real-time techniques. For example, this enables functionality for autonomous vehicles, vehicles that include advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), drones, low altitude flying machines, and/or other robotic devices. Such data may be processed to detect one or more objects in the real -world environment.

[0005] While radar systems that process radio frequency (RF) signals may exist, such systems face an architectural bottleneck that limits signal processing speed. For example, there is a tension between having highly sensitive receivers and/or antenna arrays that capture radio frequency radar signals and how these received signals are ultimately converted into a digital format for processing. Conventional architectures may limit scalability for larger antenna array configurations, complicate board routing, increase power costs, and/or limit performance despite advances in back-end processor technology.

SUMMARY

[0006] Disclosed herein are system, apparatus, device, method and/or computer program product embodiments, and/or combinations and sub-combinations thereof, for providing an architecture to route radar signals in an analog signal format.

[0007] A radar system or radar board may receive a radio frequency (RF) signal via an RF front-end system. For example, the RF front-end system may include an antenna array and/or an RF circuit, integrated circuit, and/or chip configured to capture high frequency signals. For example, this may include radar signals and/or signals having a frequency of 70-300 GHz. In some embodiments, the received RF signal may be a millimeter wave (mmW) signal. Such signals may be received and/or processed to perform radar-based imaging analyses.

[0008] Upon receiving the RF signal, the RF front-end system down-converts the signal into a baseband signal. The RF front-end system may include one or more mixers, low- noise amplifiers (LNA), programmable amplifiers (PA), down-converters, up-converters, baseband filters, and/or other filters. Using one or more of these components, the RF frontend system extracts the baseband signal from the RF signal. In some embodiments, the baseband signal has a bandwidth that is less than or equal to one gigahertz.

[0009] The RF front-end system then routes this baseband signal to a baseband processing system. The RF front-end system routes the baseband signal in an analog format rather than in a digital format. Upon receiving the baseband signal, the baseband processing system applies an analog-to-digital converter to the baseband signal. This may convert the signal into a digital format. This conversion may occur after the baseband processing system has already received the baseband signal in an analog format. After converting the baseband signal to a digital format, the baseband processing system may perform digital signal processing to execute a radar imaging process using the baseband signal data.

[0010] This architecture may use analog signaling rather than digital signaling to route signals from the RF front-end system to the baseband processing system. Communicating an analog signal from the RF front-end system to the baseband processing system may provide several benefits. For example, communicating the baseband signal instead of a higher frequency signal may provide signal isolation that avoids interference. For example, on a hardware circuit board, there may be interference from other signals that may be avoided. Similarly, the baseband signal may also be less sensitive to errors or noise from the other components on the circuit board. The architecture may also allow for the use of a sensitive RF chip and/or a large antenna array while keeping these components disconnected from the smaller back-end processor. The separation between the RF chip and the back-end processor may allow for independent improvements, upgrades, and/or modifications to either component. For example, the RF chip may be optimized for mmW detection and performance while the back-end processor may be optimized for digital processing. This separation may allow for long-term cost, power, and/or area reductions for a software-defined radar package that includes one or more RF front-end systems and baseband processing systems.

DESCRIPTION OF DIAGRAMS

[0011] The accompanying drawings are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification.

[0012] FIG. 1 depicts a block diagram of a radar signal processing system, according to some embodiments.

[0013] FIG. 2A depicts a block diagram of a radar board, according to some embodiments.

[0014] FIG. 2B depicts a block diagram of a radar board implementing digital-to-analog converters in transmitters, according to some embodiments.

[0015] FIG. 3A depicts a flowchart illustrating a method for communicating an analog signal from a radio front-end system to a baseband processing system, according to some embodiments.

[0016] FIG. 3B depicts a flowchart illustrating a method for radio signal processing using a closed loop transmission and reception scheme, according to some embodiments.

[0017] FIG. 4A depicts a flowchart illustrating a method for processing an analog baseband system, according to some embodiments.

[0018] FIG. 4B depicts a flowchart illustrating a method for radio signal processing using a closed loop transmission and reception scheme at a baseband processing system, according to some embodiments. [0019] FIG. 5 depicts an example embedded system useful for implementing various embodiments.

[0020] In the drawings, like reference numbers generally indicate identical or similar elements. Additionally, generally, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the drawing in which the reference number first appears.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] Provided herein are system, apparatus, device, method and/or computer program product embodiments, and/or combinations and sub-combinations thereof, for providing an architecture to route radar signals in an analog signal format.

[0022] In some embodiments, a baseband processing system may be coupled to one or more radio frequency (RF) front-end systems. The RF front-end systems may include one or more components for receiving radar signals. The radar signals may have a millimeter wavelength (mmW) and/or have a frequency between 70-300 GHz. Such signals may be received for radar analysis and/or imaging. For example, the baseband processing system and/or the RF front-end systems may be packaged in a software-defined digital radar architecture. This package may transmit and/or receive radar signals to perform an imaging of an environment surrounding the package. In some embodiments, one or more packages may be installed and/or networked in a system. For example, this may be a vehicle system. The use of one or more RF front-end systems and/or baseband processing systems may provide radar data for analysis and/or imaging analysis for the vehicle system.

[0023] To increase the accuracy and/or speed of analyzing receiving radar signals, RF front-end systems may provide baseband signals to baseband processing systems in an analog format. This analog format provides resiliency against signal interference and/or isolation between the RF front-end systems and the baseband processing system.

[0024] Various embodiments of these features will now be discussed with respect to the corresponding figures.

[0025] FIG. 1 depicts a block diagram of a radar signal processing system 100, according to some embodiments. Radar signal processing system 100 includes a baseband processing system 110 and one or more radio frequency (RF) front-end systems 120. Baseband processing system 110 may include one or more analog-to-digital converters / digital-to- analog converters (ADC / DAC) 115. As further described below, radar signal processing system 100, baseband processing system 110, and/or the one or more RF front-end systems 120 may execute the methods and/or programming described with reference to FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B, FIG. 4A, and/or FIG. 4B. These methods may be used separately and/or in combination to route baseband signals in an analog format from an RF front-end system 120 to baseband processing system 110. The baseband signals may have been extracted from RF radar signals received by an RF front-end system 120.

[0026] Baseband signals may refer to one or more signals in a range of frequencies that has not been modulated to a higher frequency. For example, a received baseband signal may be a signal that has been demodulated and/or down-converted. The baseband signal may be near zero in frequency and/or near a DC frequency. The baseband signal may have a removed high frequency component. For example, if a 100 GHz radar signal was transmitted and a reflected signal was detected, this received signal may also include the high frequency component. The baseband processing performed by the RF front-end system 120 may remove the high frequency component. For example, this may be performed via filtering and/or other down-conversion processes. The remaining signal may then be a baseband signal, which may occupy a lower bandwidth space. For example, the bandwidth may be within one gigahertz. The bandwidth of the baseband signal may be near a zero frequency value. In some embodiments, the baseband signal may be a low-pass signal. In some embodiments, the baseband signal may be determined using an I/Q process and/or circuitry. “I/Q” may refer to an in-phase component and a quadrature component. RF front-end system 120 may use I/Q sampling and/or processing to identify the baseband signal. The baseband signal may include an in-phase component and a quadrature component. In this configuration, the RF front-end system 120 and/or ADC / DAC 115 may be configured to communicate I/Q-based baseband signals.

[0027] The RF front-end system 120 may be configured to transmit and/or receive radar signals. For example, radar signal processing system 100 may be a software-defined radar system. To provide software-defined radar functionality, the RF front-end system 120 may include one or more antenna arrays. For example, this may include an active phased array antenna. The antenna array may be used to transmit and/or receive radio signals. RF frontend system 120 may also include one or more mixers, low-noise amplifiers (LNA), programmable amplifiers (PA), down-converters, up-converters, baseband filters, and/or other filters. RF front-end system 120 may also use MIMO configurations. RF front-end system 120 may use these components to transmit, receive, and/or process radar signals. In some embodiments, RF front-end system 120 may be an RF circuit, integrated circuit, silicon package, and/or chip configured to capture high frequency signals. For example, this may include radar signals and/or signals having a frequency of 70-300 GHz. In some embodiments, the received RF signal may be a millimeter wave (mmW) signal. Such signals may be received to perform radar analysis and/or imaging analysis.

[0028] When receiving a radar signal at an antenna array, RF front-end system 120 may extract a baseband signal from the radar signal. For example, this baseband signal may be extracted using a baseband filter and/or a down-converter. The extracted baseband signal may have a bandwidth of less than one gigahertz. The RF front-end system 120 may transmit this baseband signal to baseband processing system 110 in an analog format. For example, this may be via a lead, wire, and/or other routing on a circuit board. In this configuration, the RF front-end system 120 does not perform digital processing. Rather, the RF front-end system 120 performs analog processing while baseband processing system 110 performs the analog to digital conversion along with the digital processing. In some embodiments, RF front-end system 120 is a dedicated analog processing unit.

[0029] This analog processing and/or delivery of the baseband signal in an analog format avoids drawbacks and/or bottlenecks that may occur if the RF front-end system 120 were to perform digital processing and/or deliver digital information. For example, RF front-end system 120 and baseband processing system 110 may be physical components on a circuit board. To route signals between these components, there are power costs as well as complex or complicated board routings. If the mmW version or high bandwidth version of the signal were to be routed to the baseband processing system 110, there may be bottleneck because additional memory and/or processing would be needed at the RF front-end system 120. Having the RF front-end system 120 generate an analog and baseband version of the received signal, however, alleviates issues with this bottleneck and/or provides the signal to the baseband processing system 110 in a resilient manner. This also provided memory savings at the RF front-end system 120. In this manner, RF front-end system 120 may route analog signals along a board instead of digital signals. These analog signals may be a down-converted version of the RF radar signal.

[0030] Baseband processing system 110 may receive the baseband signal from RF frontend system 120. Baseband processing system 110 may convert this analog signal to a digital format using an ADC 115. This may provide a digital front-end for a software- defined radar system. FIG. 1 depicts the capabilities for ADCs / DACs 115, but baseband processing system 110 may not necessarily implement both. Using an ADC, baseband processing system 110 may convert the analog signal into a digital format for further analysis and/or manipulation. In some embodiments, baseband processing system 110 may also use baseband processing techniques for correcting mismatches and/or to provide analog impairment fixes. For example, baseband processing system 110 may use an I/Q filter to account for an in-phase component and a quadrature component. RF front-end system 120 may also implement an I/Q filter. Baseband processing system 110 may also use an oscillator and/or a real-time clock to aid with analog-to-digital and/or digital-to- analog conversion. In some embodiments, ADC / DAC 115 includes an input stage for filter, gain, and/or balance. Baseband processing system 110 may communicate signal waveform data to and/or receive signal waveform data from RF front-end system 120.

[0031] Returning to the scenario where baseband processing system 110 has received an analog signal and has converted the signal to a digital format, baseband processing system 110 may then perform additional radar processing on the signal. For example, this may include radar-based imaging determinations. Baseband processing system 110 may implement digital signal processing techniques. Baseband processing system 110 may perform match filtering, Doppler analysis, and/or angle of arrival (AoA) analysis based on the received signals. In some embodiments, baseband processing system 110 may also perform higher layers of analysis such as object detection, object tracking, and/or object classification. Baseband processing system 110 may include one or more processors and/or memory used to perform this digital signal processing. In some embodiments, baseband processing system 110 may be implemented using product 500 as described with reference to FIG. 5.

[0032] In some embodiments, integrating ADC / DAC 115 into baseband processing system 110 may provide separation between baseband processing system 110 and RF frontend systems 120. For example, the RF front-end systems 120 may be in separate silicon packages relative to baseband processing system 110. This separation may allow the postADC or pre-DAC digital logic to become smaller in physical size along with the size of baseband processing system 110. For example, as processor technology advances, the size of baseband processing system 110 may become smaller. In view of the separation, the RF front-end systems 120 may remain separate processes, which may be optimized for mmW RF designs. This architecture allows baseband processing system 110 to be independently modified as processing speed and/or performance advances are developed for software- defined radar. This architecture allows for a shrinking of baseband processing system 110 in terms of power, area, and/or costs.

[0033] As previously explained, this architecture may be applied to radar-based imaging systems. For example, radar-based imaging systems may implement a large antenna array at the RF front-end systems 120. Matching of elements at the RF front-end systems 120 with the antenna array may also confirm functionality. While such large antenna arrays may persist to allow for more sensitive detection, baseband processing system 110 may still shrink to provide the savings previously discussed. This may be applicable even when a particular baseband processing system 110 receives signals from multiple RF front-end systems 120. The analog communications also help to maintain resiliency in this architecture where RF front-end systems 120 and baseband processing system 110 are separate components of a software-defined radar system.

[0034] Similarly, the separation or split between RF signal processing and digital signal processing may allow for optimizing processing functionality. For example, a RF front-end system 120 may be optimized for mmW processing with mmW processing that may not be digital-friendly. By separating the RF and digital signal processing, the architecture described herein allows for selection of an RF signal processing technique that can be tailored independently from a digital signal processing technique. This selection of the RF signal processing technique may occur in a manner that does not limit the selection of an optimized digital signal processing technique. For example, the architecture and separation may allow for the use of advanced digital processing nodes. This may provide long-term cost, power, and/or area reduction for a radar package. These savings may be significant for software-defined radar, which may utilize intensive digital computations.

[0035] The separation and/or architecture may also provide leakage cancellation. For example, the digital processing may be located at a distance away from the RF front-end system 120 that provides leakage isolation. For example, this may be a particular distance on a circuit board. This leakage isolation may provide increased accuracy for radar-based imaging. [0036] The separation and/or architecture also provides freedom for designing and/or selecting a location for RF front-end systems 120. For example, this separation may allow for the use of a waveguide technique, which may rely on sparsity in the locations of RF front-end systems 120. Implementing a waveguide technique may aid in avoiding insertion loss for mmW signals and/or improve an overall signal-to-noise ratio (SNR).

[0037] FIG. 2A depicts a block diagram of a radar board 200A, according to some embodiments. Radar board 200A may be an example configuration of a radar signal processing system 100 as described with reference to FIG. 1. For example, radar board 200A may be a circuit board with one or more components used to transmit and/or receive radar signals. Radar board 200A may split a baseband processing system 210 from radio frequency (RF) front-end components, such as RF receiver 230 and/or transmitter 220. As previously explained, these components may be used to facilitate software-defined imaging radar.

[0038] RF receiver 230 and/or transmitter 220 may be components implemented in RF front-end system 120 as described with reference to FIG. 1. Baseband processing system 210 may be similar to baseband processing system 110. For example, these may be components on a printed circuit board (PCB), integrated circuit, and/or a system-on-chip (SoC). On radar board 200A, RF receivers 230 and/or transmitters 220 may be connected to baseband processing system 110 via leads and/or other circuit board routing. RF receivers 230 and/or transmitters 220 may be dispersed at different locations on radar board 200A. While these components may be considered as logically part of an RF front-end system 120, the functionality may be split between RF receivers 230 and/or transmitters 220. Transmitters 220 may transmit radar signals generated by baseband processing system 210. RF receivers 230 may receive radar signals and/or down-convert these radar signals into baseband signals. RF receivers 230 may provide the down-converted radar signals to baseband processing system 210 in an analog format. Baseband processing system 210 may communicate signal waveform data to transmitters 220 and/or receive signal waveform data from RF receivers 230.

[0039] Baseband processing system 210 may include ADCs 212 and/or DACs 214. As previously explained, an ADC 212 may convert a received analog baseband signal into a digital format for additional processing. DAC 214 may be used in a software-defined radar system to transmit radar signals. Baseband processing system 210 may identify the frequencies and/or timing for transmitted radar signals. For example, baseband processing system 210 may employ one or more radar techniques for the transmission and/or reception of radar signals. These techniques may include using a continuous wave radar. This may use a continuous electromagnetic and/or RF wave in the transmission. Similarly, baseband processing system 210 may use a pulsed radar transmission to transmit an interrogation signal in pulses. These pulses may be reflected back to a receiver. For example, the reflection may be an echo that can be used to measure distance based on delay. In some embodiments, baseband processing system 210 may also provide processing to a moving target indication and/or Doppler detection. When transmitting and/or receiving radar signals, baseband processing system 210 may control for and/or may be configured based on factors including pulse power, center frequency, pulse width, pulse repetition interval, duty cycle, pulse waveform, pulse delay, range resolution, element in the array, phase shift, group delay shift, calibration correction, interferencejamming, and/or other factors.

[0040] To address these factors, baseband processing system 210 may provide digital instructions based on a software defined radar configuration. In some embodiments, baseband processing system 210 may utilize multiple independent channels and/or a MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) scheme. This may include multichannel phased array radars and/or multiple antennas for different ranges.

[0041] Upon setting the desired transmission and/or reception configurations, baseband processing system 210 may transmit radar signals using DACs 214. The DACs 214 may convert digital instructions into analog signals for transmission by transmitter 220. RF receivers 230 may include antenna arrays that receive the reflected radar signal. RF receivers 230 may implement the functionality of RF front-end system 120 to down-convert a received radar signal to a baseband signal. RF receivers 230 may then route the analog signal to baseband processing system 210 for conversion using ADC 212.

[0042] In some embodiments, the leads and/or traces connecting baseband processing system 210 to RF receivers 230 and/or transmitters 220 may be considered. Factoring parameters such as the length of a signal path on radar board 200A may improve accuracy, improve calibration, and/or provide error correction for signals processed by baseband processing system 210. This may apply in scenarios where lead lengths may differ between components. For example, different signal path lengths may occur when designing radar board 200A. Production goals and/or other size or configuration specifications may result in different signal path lengths. When the signal path lengths differ, the signals received by baseband processing system 210 may encounter different phase errors in the received signals. For example, the phase error between different antenna elements may be more pronounced. To account for this potential error, baseband processing system 210 may store data related to the signal path length. This may include path length data and/or phase offset data. This data may be stored in a table in memory. For example, this may be a calibration table. Using this phase offset determination, baseband processing system 210 may perform calibration to align the phases of received signals. Accounting for different path lengths and/or correcting potential phase errors may provide an additional degree of freedom for path length designs on radar board 200A.

[0043] When implementing the signal path routing and/or connections, several factors may be considered. For example, the path length and/or length of a connection between baseband processing system 210 and an RF receiver 230 or transmitter 220 may be considered. The length may vary based on the design of radar board 200A, PCB design considerations, and/or PCB materials. Using offset correction, mismatches in length may be calibrated. In some embodiments, baseband processing system 210 may also account for different routing formats for analog signals. For example, single-ended, differential, and/or Substrate Integrated Waveguide (SIW) data paths may be used on radar board 200A. For example, the PCB design and/or layout may be generated to provide signal integrity.

[0044] In some embodiments, radar board 200A may be implemented using multiple boards. In this case, baseband processing system 210 may also consider signal transfers between boards. For example, the signals may be routed via connectors between the boards. Baseband processing system 210 may account for such routing to maintain signal integrity.

[0045] In some embodiments, a baseband signal may be modulated to an intermediate frequency for routing on radar board 200A. This may aid in avoiding potential direct current (DC) noise issues. Baseband processing system 210 may then demodulate this intermediary signal. This technique may also be used to maintain PCB signal integrity.

[0046] FIG. 2B depicts a block diagram of a radar board 200B implementing digital-to- analog converters 214 in transmitters 220, according to some embodiments. Radar board 200B may be an example configuration of a radar signal processing system 100 as described with reference to FIG. 1. For example, radar board 200B may be a circuit board with one or more components used to transmit and/or receive radar signals. Radar board 200B may split a baseband processing system 210 from radio frequency (RF) front-end components, such as RF receiver 230 and/or transmitter 220. As previously explained, these components may be used to facilitate software-defined imaging radar.

[0047] Radar board 200B may include components similar to radar board 200A as described with referenced to FIG. 2 A. For example, radar board 200B may include baseband processing system 210, RF receivers 230, and/or transmitters 220. Radar board 200B may also include ADCs 212 and/or DACs 214. The configuration of radar board 200B may differ from radar board 200 A by locating the DACs 214 in respective transmitters 220. This may provide a hybrid architecture. For example, baseband processing system 210 may transmit signals to transmitter 220 in a digital manner. This may have a lower bandwidth. Communications between RF receiver 230 and baseband processing system 210 may still be in an analog format. In some embodiments, moving the DACs 214 from the baseband processing system 210 to transmitter 220 may provide space savings on radar board 200B. For example, this may reduce the area occupied by baseband processing system 210 and/or reduce the size of a chip implementing baseband processing system 210.

[0048] FIG. 3A depicts a flowchart illustrating a method 300A for communicating an analog signal from a radio front-end system to a baseband processing system, according to some embodiments. Method 300A shall be described with reference to FIG. 1; however, method 300A is not limited to that example embodiment. For example, method 300A may also be implemented using the radar board 200A or 200B described with reference to FIG. 2 A or FIG. 2B.

[0049] In an embodiment, baseband processing system 110 and RF front-end system 120 may utilize method 300A to process a received radar signal. For example, this may be used in radar-based imaging. RF front-end system 120 may route a baseband signal in an analog format to baseband processing system 110 for processing. The foregoing description will describe an embodiment of the execution of method 300 A with respect to baseband processing system 110 and RF front-end system 120. While method 300A is described with reference to baseband processing system 110 and RF front-end system 120, elements of method 300 A may be executed on any computing device, such as, for example, the computer system described with reference to FIG. 5 and/or processing logic that may comprise hardware (e.g., circuitry, dedicated logic, programmable logic, microcode, etc.), software (e.g., instructions executing on a processing device), or a combination thereof.

[0050] It is to be appreciated that not all steps may be needed to perform the disclosure provided herein. Further, some of the steps may be performed simultaneously, or in a different order than shown in FIG. 3 A, as will be understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art.

[0051] At 305, RF front-end system 120 receives a radio signal having a millimeter wavelength (mmW). This may be a radio frequency signal and/or a radar signal. For example, the radar signal may be a reflected signal. A transmitter implemented in a software-defined radar system may have transmitted a radar signal for imaging purposes. The received radio signal may be the reflected signal generated after an object has reflected the signal. RF front-end system 120 may receive the signal via an antenna array.

[0052] At 310, RF front-end system 120 extracts a baseband signal from the radio signal. For example, RF front-end system 120 may down-convert the radio signal to a baseband signal. RF front-end system 120 may use one or more mixers, down-converters, baseband filters, noise filters, and/or other filters to generate the baseband signal. The baseband signal may have a lower bandwidth relative to the received radio signal. For example, the baseband signal may have a bandwidth lower than one gigahertz. This may provide additional isolation and/or avoid interference as the baseband signal is routed to baseband processing system 110.

[0053] At 315, RF front-end system 120 transmits the baseband signal in an analog format to baseband processing system 110. As previously explained, RF front-end system 120 may not perform any digital conversion of the baseband signal. Rather, RF front-end system 120 may perform analog manipulation and/or filtering to generate the baseband signal. RF front-end system 120 may then deliver the baseband signal to baseband processing system 110 via a circuit board lead and/or other circuit board routing.

[0054] At 320, baseband processing system 110 receives the baseband signal in the analog format from the RF front-end system 120. This may be from a lead or circuit board connection between baseband processing system 110 and RF front-end system 120.

[0055] At 325, baseband processing system 110 converts the baseband signal to a digital format using an analog-to-digital converter (ADC). For example, baseband processing system 110 may use one or more analog-to-digital converters / digital-to-analog converters (ADC / DAC) 115. The converting to the digital format may be formed on baseband processing system 110 instead ofRF front-end system 120. This provides memory savings on RF front-end system 120 and/or alleviates a bottleneck that may have required a highspeed service connection had the digital conversion been performed at the RF front-end system 120. Instead, baseband processing system 110 may convert the analog baseband signal to a digital format for additional processing.

[0056] At 330, baseband processing system 110 applies the baseband signal in the digital format to a radar-based imaging process. For example, baseband processing system 110 may include one or more processors and/or memory configured to perform additional radarbased imaging. This imaging may analyze one or more baseband signals which may be received from one or more RF front-end systems 120. For example, baseband processing system 110 may be implemented in a vehicle. The vehicle may be an automobile. Baseband processing system 110 may analyze signals from multiple points and/or multiple RF frontend systems 120 dispersed on the vehicle. In some embodiments, the signal analysis may include match filtering, Doppler analysis, and/or angle of arrival (AoA) analysis based on the received signals. In some embodiments, baseband processing system 110 may also perform higher layers of analysis such as object tracking and/or object classification. This may also be performed at another system connected to baseband processing system 110. For example, baseband processing system 110 may transmit the digital signal data to another system for processing.

[0057] FIG. 3B depicts a flowchart illustrating a method 300B for radio signal processing using a closed loop transmission and reception scheme, according to some embodiments. Method 300B shall be described with reference to FIG. 1; however, method 300B is not limited to that example embodiment. For example, method 300B may also be implemented using the radar board 200 A or 200B described with reference to FIG. 2 A or FIG. 2B.

[0058] In an embodiment, baseband processing system 110 and RF front-end system 120 may utilize method 300B to transmit a radar signal and/or process a received radar signal that has been reflected. For example, this may be used in radar-based imaging. Baseband processing system 110 may transmit a digital instruction and/or a digital signal to RF frontend system 120. RF front-end system 120 may then transmit a corresponding radio signal. RF front-end system 120 may then receive a reflected radio signal, identify a corresponding baseband signal, and/or route the baseband signal in an analog format to baseband processing system 110 for processing. The foregoing description will describe an embodiment of the execution of method 300B with respect to baseband processing system 110 and RF front-end system 120. While method 300B is described with reference to baseband processing system 110 and RF front-end system 120, elements of method 300B may be executed on any computing device, such as, for example, the computer system described with reference to FIG. 5 and/or processing logic that may comprise hardware (e.g., circuitry, dedicated logic, programmable logic, microcode, etc.), software (e.g., instructions executing on a processing device), or a combination thereof.

[0059] It is to be appreciated that not all steps may be needed to perform the disclosure provided herein. Further, some of the steps may be performed simultaneously, or in a different order than shown in FIG. 3B, as will be understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art.

[0060] At 350, baseband processing system 110 transmits a digital instruction to RF frontend system 120. The digital instruction may instruct RF front-end system 120 to transmit a radio signal having a millimeter wavelength. This digital instruction may be a digital signal. For example, baseband processing system 110 may transmit a digital instruction to a transmitter. The transmitter may be part of RF front-end system 120. As further explained throughout this disclosure, RF front-end system 120 may identify a baseband signal and provide this in an analog format to baseband processing system 110. In using both digital and analog transmissions between baseband processing system 110 and RF front-end system 120, a hybrid architecture may be used.

[0061] At 355, RF front-end system 120 transmits the radio signal. For example, RF frontend system 120 may include a transmitter. The transmitter may include a digital-to-analog converter. Upon receiving the digital instruction, the transmitter may transmit the corresponding analog radio signal. The digital instruction may be a digital signal and/or may indicate parameters for the radio signal to be sent from the RF front-end system 120.

[0062] At 360, RF front-end system 120 receives a reflected radio signal. This may be similar to 305 as described with reference to FIG. 3A. The reflected radio signal may correspond to the reflection of the transmitted radio after it has encountered an object.

[0063] At 365, RF front-end system 120 extracts a baseband signal from the radio signal. This may occur in a manner similar to 310 as described with reference to FIG. 3 A. At 370, RF front-end system 120 transmits the baseband signal in an analog format to baseband processing system 110. This may occur in a manner similar to 315 as described with reference to FIG. 3 A. At 375, baseband processing system 110 receives the baseband signal in the analog format from the RF front-end system 120. This may occur in a manner similar to 320 as described with reference to FIG. 3A. At 380, baseband processing system 110 converts the baseband signal to a digital format using an analog-to-digital converter (ADC). This may occur in a manner similar to 325 as described with reference to FIG. 3 A. At 385, baseband processing system 110 applies the baseband signal in the digital format to a radarbased imaging process. This may occur in a manner similar to 330 as described with reference to FIG. 3 A.

[0064] FIG. 4A depicts a flowchart illustrating a method 400A for processing an analog baseband system, according to some embodiments. Method 400A shall be described with reference to FIG. 1; however, method 400A is not limited to that example embodiment. For example, method 400A may also be implemented using baseband processing system 210 described with reference to FIG. 2 A and FIG. 2B.

[0065] In an embodiment, baseband processing system 110 may utilize method 400A to process a received radar signal. For example, this may be used in radar-based imaging. RF front-end system 120 may route a baseband signal in an analog format to baseband processing system 110 for processing. The foregoing description will describe an embodiment of the execution of method 400A with respect to baseband processing system 110. While method 400A is described with reference to baseband processing system 110 and RF front-end system 120, elements of method 400 A may be executed on any computing device, such as, for example, the computer system described with reference to FIG. 5 and/or processing logic that may comprise hardware (e.g., circuitry, dedicated logic, programmable logic, microcode, etc.), software (e.g., instructions executing on a processing device), or a combination thereof.

[0066] It is to be appreciated that not all steps may be needed to perform the disclosure provided herein. Further, some of the steps may be performed simultaneously, or in a different order than shown in FIG. 4A, as will be understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art.

[0067] At 405, baseband processing system 110 receives, from an RF front-end system 120 configured to process signal having a millimeter wavelength frequency, a baseband signal, wherein the baseband signal is extracted from a radio signal having a millimeter wavelength by the RF front-end system 120 and delivered to the baseband processing system in an analog format. This may occur in a manner similar to 305 to 320 as described with reference to FIG. 3 A.

[0068] At 410, baseband processing system 110 converts the baseband signal to a digital format using an ADC. This may occur in a manner similar to 325 as described with reference to FIG. 3 A.

[0069] At 415, baseband processing system 110 applies the baseband signal in the digital format to a radar-based imaging process. This may occur in a manner similar to 330 as described with reference to FIG. 3 A.

[0070] FIG. 4B depicts a flowchart illustrating a method 400B for radio signal processing using a closed loop transmission and reception scheme at a baseband processing system, according to some embodiments. Method 400B shall be described with reference to FIG. 1; however, method 400B is not limited to that example embodiment. For example, method 400B may also be implemented using the radar board 200A or 200B described with reference to FIG. 2 A or FIG. 2B.

[0071] In an embodiment, baseband processing system 110 may utilize method 400B to transmit a radar signal and/or process a received radar signal. For example, this may be used in radar-based imaging. Baseband processing system 110 may transmit a digital instruction and/or a digital signal to RF front-end system 120. RF front-end system 120 may then transmit a corresponding radio signal. RF front-end system 120 may then receive a reflected radio signal, identify a corresponding baseband signal, and/or route the baseband signal in an analog format to baseband processing system 110 for processing. The foregoing description will describe an embodiment of the execution of method 400B with respect to baseband processing system 110. While method 400B is described with reference to baseband processing system 110 and RF front-end system 120, elements of method 400B may be executed on any computing device, such as, for example, the computer system described with reference to FIG. 5 and/or processing logic that may comprise hardware (e.g., circuitry, dedicated logic, programmable logic, microcode, etc.), software (e.g., instructions executing on a processing device), or a combination thereof.

[0072] It is to be appreciated that not all steps may be needed to perform the disclosure provided herein. Further, some of the steps may be performed simultaneously, or in a different order than shown in FIG. 4B, as will be understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art.

[0073] At 450, baseband processing system 110 transmits a digital instruction to a transmitter. The transmitter may be a transmitter 220 and/or may be part of RF front-end system 120. The digital instruction may instruct transmitter 220 and/or RF front-end system 120 to transmit a radio signal having a millimeter wavelength. This digital instruction may be a digital signal. Transmitter 220 may then use this digital instruction to transmit the corresponding analog radio signal. The transmitter 220 may use digital-to-analog converter 214 to perform this conversion and/or transmission. The digital instruction may be a digital signal and/or may indicate parameters for the radio signal to be sent from the transmitter 220 and/or RF front-end system 120.

[0074] At 455, baseband processing system 110 receives, from an RF front-end system 120 configured to process signal having a millimeter wavelength frequency, a baseband signal, wherein the baseband signal is extracted from a radio signal having a millimeter wavelength by the RF front-end system 120 and delivered to the baseband processing system in an analog form. The baseband signal may have been extracted from a reflected radio signal received by the RF front-end system 120. This may be similar to 405 as described with reference to FIG. 4A. As further explained throughout this disclosure, RF front-end system 120 may identify a baseband signal and provide this in an analog format to baseband processing system 110. In using both digital and analog transmissions between baseband processing system 110 and RF front-end system 120 for transmission and reception, a hybrid architecture may be used.

[0075] At 460, baseband processing system 110 converts the baseband signal to a digital format using an ADC. This may occur in a manner similar to 410 as described with reference to FIG. 4A. At 465, baseband processing system 110 applies the baseband signal in the digital format to a radar-based imaging process. This may occur in a manner similar to 415 as described with reference to FIG. 4 A.

[0076] Reference is made to Fig. 5 which schematically illustrates a product of manufacture 500, in accordance with some demonstrative aspects. Product 500 may include one or more tangible computer-readable (“machine-readable”) non-transitory storage media 502, which may include computer-executable instructions, e.g., implemented by logic 504, operable to, when executed by at least one computer processor, enable the at least one computer processor to implement one or more operations and/or functionalities described with reference to any of the Figs. 1-4, and/or one or more operations described herein. The phrases “non-transitory machine-readable medium” and “computer-readable non-transitory storage media” may be directed to include all machine and/or computer readable media, with the sole exception being a transitory propagating signal.

[0077] In some demonstrative aspects, product 500 and/or machine-readable storage media 502 may include one or more types of computer-readable storage media capable of storing data, including volatile memory, non-volatile memory, removable or non-removable memory, erasable or non-erasable memory, writeable or re-writeable memory, and the like. For example, machine-readable storage media 502 may include, RAM, DRAM, Double- Data-Rate DRAM (DDR-DRAM), SDRAM, static RAM (SRAM), ROM, programmable ROM (PROM), erasable programmable ROM (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), flash memory (e.g., NOR or NAND flash memory), content addressable memory (CAM), polymer memory, phase-change memory, ferroelectric memory, silicon-oxide-nitride-oxide-silicon (SONOS) memory, a disk, a hard drive, and the like. The computer-readable storage media may include any suitable media involved with downloading or transferring a computer program from a remote computer to a requesting computer carried by data signals embodied in a carrier wave or other propagation medium through a communication link, e.g., a modem, radio or network connection.

[0078] In some demonstrative aspects, logic 504 may include instructions, data, and/or code, which, if executed by a machine, may cause the machine to perform a method, process and/or operations as described herein. The machine may include, for example, any suitable processing platform, computing platform, computing device, processing device, computing system, processing system, computer, processor, or the like, and may be implemented using any suitable combination of hardware, software, firmware, and the like. [0079] In some demonstrative aspects, logic 504 may include, or may be implemented as, software, a software module, an application, a program, a subroutine, instructions, an instruction set, computing code, words, values, symbols, and the like. The instructions may include any suitable type of code, such as source code, compiled code, interpreted code, executable code, static code, dynamic code, and the like. The instructions may be implemented according to a predefined computer language, manner or syntax, for instructing a processor to perform a certain function. The instructions may be implemented using any suitable high-level, low-level, object-oriented, visual, compiled and/or interpreted programming language, machine code, and the like.

[0080] It is to be appreciated that the Detailed Description section, and not any other section, is intended to be used to interpret the claims. Other sections can set forth one or more but not all exemplary embodiments as contemplated by the inventor(s), and thus, are not intended to limit this disclosure or the appended claims in any way.

[0081] While this disclosure describes exemplary embodiments for exemplary fields and applications, it should be understood that the disclosure is not limited thereto. Other embodiments and modifications thereto are possible, and are within the scope and spirit of this disclosure. For example, and without limiting the generality of this paragraph, embodiments are not limited to the software, hardware, firmware, and/or entities illustrated in the figures and/or described herein. Further, embodiments (whether or not explicitly described herein) have significant utility to fields and applications beyond the examples described herein.

[0082] Embodiments have been described herein with the aid of functional building blocks illustrating the implementation of specified functions and relationships thereof. The boundaries of these functional building blocks have been arbitrarily defined herein for the convenience of the description. Alternate boundaries can be defined as long as the specified functions and relationships (or equivalents thereof) are appropriately performed. Also, alternative embodiments can perform functional blocks, steps, operations, methods, etc. using orderings different than those described herein.

[0083] References herein to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “an example embodiment,” or similar phrases, indicate that the embodiment described can include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment can not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it would be within the knowledge of persons skilled in the relevant art(s) to incorporate such feature, structure, or characteristic into other embodiments whether or not explicitly mentioned or described herein. Additionally, some embodiments can be described using the expression “coupled” and “connected” along with their derivatives. These terms are not necessarily intended as synonyms for each other. For example, some embodiments can be described using the terms “connected” and/or “coupled” to indicate that two or more elements are in direct physical or electrical contact with each other. The term “coupled,” however, can also mean that two or more elements are not in direct contact with each other, but yet still co-operate or interact with each other.

[0084] The breadth and scope of this disclosure should not be limited by any of the abovedescribed exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A method for radar-based image processing, comprising: receiving, at a radio frequency (RF) front-end system, a radio signal having a millimeter wavelength; extracting, by the RF front-end system, a baseband signal from the radio signal; transmitting, from the RF front-end system and to a baseband processing system, the baseband signal in an analog format; receiving, at the baseband processing system and from the RF front-end system, the baseband signal in the analog format; converting, by the baseband processing system, the baseband signal to a digital format using an analog-to-digital converter; and applying, by the baseband processing system, the baseband signal in the digital format to a radar-based imaging process. The method of claim 1, wherein extracting the baseband signal further comprises: down-converting the radio signal.

3 The method of claim 1, wherein the baseband signal has a bandwidth that is less than or equal to one gigahertz. The method of claim 1, wherein the RF front-end system includes an antenna array and wherein the radio signal is received by the antenna array.

5 The method of claim 1, wherein extracting the baseband signal further comprises: applying I/Q sampling to the radio signal.

6 The method of claim 1, wherein the radar-based imaging process includes an object detection process.

7 The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving, by the baseband processing system, a plurality of baseband signals in an analog format from a plurality of RF front-end systems dispersed on an automobile; converting the plurality of baseband signals to the digital format; and applying the plurality of baseband signals in the digital format to the radar-based imaging process. A method for radar-based image processing, comprising: receiving, at a baseband processing system and from a radio frequency (RF) receiver configured to process signals having a millimeter wavelength frequency, a baseband signal, wherein the baseband signal is extracted from a radio signal having a millimeter wavelength by the RF receiver and delivered to the processor in an analog format; converting, by the baseband processing system, the baseband signal to a digital format using an analog-to-digital converter; and applying, by the baseband processing system, the baseband signal in the digital format to a radar-based imaging process. The method of claim 8, wherein the baseband signal has a bandwidth that is less than or equal to one gigahertz. The method of claim 8, wherein the radar-based imaging process includes an object detection process. The method of claim 8, wherein the radar-based imaging process includes a match filtering analysis. The method of claim 8, wherein the radar-based imaging process includes a Doppler analysis. The method of claim 8, wherein the radar-based imaging process includes angle of arrival (Ao A) analysis.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising: receiving, by the baseband processing system, a plurality of baseband signals in an analog format from a plurality of RF receivers dispersed on an automobile; converting the plurality of baseband signals to the digital format; and applying the plurality of baseband signals in the digital format to the radar-based imaging process.

15. A radar-based image processing system, comprising: a plurality of radio frequency (RF) receivers and transmitters configured to process signals having a millimeter wavelength frequency; and at least one processor coupled to the plurality of RF receivers and transmitters, wherein the at least one processor is configured to communicate signal waveform data with the plurality of RF receivers and transmitters via analog signals, and wherein the at least one processor is further configured to: transmit, to a transmitter of the plurality of RF receivers and transmitters, a digital instruction to transmit a radio signal having a millimeter wavelength; receive, from an RF receiver of the plurality of RF receivers and transmitters, an analog baseband signal, wherein the analog baseband signal is extracted by the RF receiver from a reflected radio signal corresponding to the radio signal having the millimeter wavelength; convert the baseband signal to a digital format using an analog-to-digital converter; and apply the baseband signal in the digital format to a radar-based imaging process.

16. The radar-based image processing system of claim 15, wherein the radar-based imaging process includes an object detection process.

17. The radar-based image processing system of claim 15, wherein the radar-based imaging process includes a match filtering analysis.

18. The radar-based image processing system of claim 15, wherein the radar-based imaging process includes a Doppler analysis.

19. The radar-based image processing system of claim 15, wherein the radar-based imaging process includes angle of arrival (AoA) analysis.

20. The radar-based image processing system of claim 15, wherein the plurality of RF receivers and transmitters are dispersed on an automobile and wherein the at least one processor is further configured to: receive a plurality of baseband signals in an analog format from the plurality of RF receivers and transmitters; convert the plurality of baseband signals to the digital format; and apply the plurality of baseband signals in the digital format to the radar-based imaging process.