Frequency-Modulated Continuous-Wave Radar

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Frequency-Modulated Continuous-Wave Radar

transmitted signal
received
echo signal

Figure 1: Ranging with an FMCW system


CW radars have the disadvantage that they cannot measure distance, because it lacks the timing
mark necessary to allow the system to time accurately the transmit and receive cycle and
convert the measured round-trip-time into range. In order to correct for this problem, phase or
frequency shifting methods can be used. In the frequency shifting method, a signal that
constantly changes in frequency around a fixed reference is used to detect stationary objects
and to measure the rage. In such aFrequency-Modulated Continuous Wave radars (FMCW), the
frequency is generally changed in a linear fashion, so that there is an up-and-down or a
sawtooth-like alternation in frequency. If the frequency is continually changed with time, the
frequency of the echo signal will differ from that transmitted and the difference Δf will be
proportional to round trip time Δt and so the range R of the target too. When a reflection is
received, the frequencies can be examined, and by comparing the received echo with the actual
step of transmitted frequency, you can do a range calculation similar to using pulses:
R c0 · |Δt | = c0 · |Δf | c0 = speed of (1)
= where light =
2 2 · (df/dt) : 3·108 m/s
Δt =
measured
time-
difference
[s]
R = distance
altimeter to
terrain [m]
df/dt =
transmitters
frequency shift
Accordingly, measuring the difference between the transmitted and received frequencies gives
the range to the stationary target. It is generally not easy to make a broadcaster that can send
out random frequencies cleanly, so instead these frequency-modulated continuous-wave radar,
use a smoothly varying “ramp” of frequencies up and down. If the frequency modification is
linearly over a wide area, so within this region by a frequency comparison Δf, the distance can
be determined on a simple way. Since that only the absolute value of the difference can be
measured, the results with increasing frequency modification equal to a decreasing frequency
change at a static scenario. Sawtooth modulation forms are preferred for imaging radar;
triangular shaped modulation is used more for non-imaging radars.
Characteristic feature of an FMCW radar is:
 the distance measurement is done by comparing the actual frequency of the received
signal to a given reference (usually direct the transmitted signal):
 the duration of the transmitted signal is much larger than the time required for measuring
the installed maximum range of the radar
By suitable choice of frequency deviation per time unit can be varied the radar resolution, and
by choice of the duration of the time of the frequency shift the maximum range can be varied.
For example, a radar with a linear frequency increase over 1 ms duration can measure a time-
limited maximum range of nearly 150 km. If the maximum frequency deviation is 65 MHz,
then stay about 433 Hz per meter for the filter for analysis. Of course, the amount of frequency
modulation must be significantly greater than the expected Doppler shift or the results will be
affected. The simplest way to modulate the wave is to linearly increase the frequency. In other
words, the transmitted frequency will change at a constant rate.

Figure 2: Strip-line patch antenna of maritime FMCW- navigation radar operating in  X-
Band
As a result of the proceedings (simultaneous transmission and receiving), a ferrite
circulator shall make the separation of transmit and receive path, when using a single antenna.
But using of separate transmitting and receiving antennas is much cheaper in today's common
used patch antennas in strip-line technology. On a common substrate transmitting and receiving
antenna are mounted directly above each other as an antenna array. The direction of the
linear polarization is rotated against each other by 180 degrees. An additional shielding plate
reduced a direct "cross talk" (i.e. a direct coupling of both antennae) often. Since the
measurement is performed to as a frequency difference between transmit and receive signal, the
signal that arises from this direct coupling is suppressed due to the same frequency.

Imaging FMCW Radar

This radar method is used in so-called Broadband Radar™ as a navigation radar for maritime
applications. Here, the frequency sweep after reaching the maximum measuring distance is,
however, stopped. The transmitted signal looks more like the signal from a pulse radar using
intra pulse modulation therefore. This break, however, has no direct effect on the maximum
measuring distance, in contrast to the pulse radar. However, it is necessary to read the very
many measured data from a memory buffer, and to transmit this data without loss through a
narrow-band line to the radar scope. Because of its principle of operation – frequency
comparison of the received echo signal with the transmitted signal, which is available over the
whole range sweep – it remains an FMCW radar. The transmitter is switched off for a few
milliseconds only, as more data are simply not needed.
An imaging radar carries out a distance measurement for each point or pixel on the monitor.
The radars range resolution depends more on the size of a pixel on this screen therefore, and
depends on the capacity of signal processing to provide the data in the required speed. With the
given as an example of frequency shift of 65 MHz per millisecond, the radar obtains good
values of range resolution. You need a high-resolution screen with the required number of
pixels. If it is possible to make a frequency comparison during a clock of the length of 15
nanoseconds, the imaging FMCW radar can achieve a range resolution of a slightly more than
2 meters.

Non-Imaging FMCW Radar

Figure 3: Analog indicator of a radar altimeter


The measurement result of this FMCW radar is shown as a numerical value on a moving coil
meter or digitized as alpha-numeric symbols on a screen. It can only be a single dominant
object to be measured, but of this with a much high degree of accuracy down to the centimeter
range. The most common form of FMCW radar is the radar altimeter used on aircraft to
determine height above the ground, especially during the landing procedure of aircraft.
A possible Doppler frequency fD is displayed on the moving coil meter as a measuring error.
The gradient of the slope can be chosen that the influence of the Doppler frequency is very
small in contrast to the measured frequency difference. An analysis of the Doppler frequency is
possible by using a triangular shaped modulation and a separate frequency comparison during
the rising and falling side of the triangle shaped modulation. For a reflective object with a
positive (moving towards the radar) radial velocity the entire received signal will be moved by
the Doppler frequency to higher frequencies. Compared to a fixed reflector, the frequency
difference between transmit and receive signals on the rising edge of the triangle is reduced by
the Doppler frequency and increased on the falling edge by the Doppler frequency. The
difference between the two difference frequencies is therefore twice the Doppler frequency.
Since both of difference frequencies are not available simultaneously, therefore this
comparison, however, requires a digital signal processing.

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