Abstract
The increasing number of radar sensors in commercial and industrial products leads to a growing demand for system functionality tests. Conventional test procedures require expensive anechoic chambers to provide a defined test environment for radar sensors. In this paper, a compact and low cost dielectric waveguide radar target generator for level probing radars is presented. The radar target generator principle is based on a long dielectric waveguide as a one-target scenery. By manipulating the field distribution of the waveguide, a specific reflection of a radar target is generated. Two realistic scenarios for a tank level probing radar are investigated and suitable targets are designed with full wave simulations. Target distances from 13 cm to at least 9 m are realized with an extruded dielectric waveguide with dielectric losses of 2 dB/m at 160 GHz. Low loss (0.5 dB) and low reflection holders are used to fix the waveguide. Due to the dispersion of the dielectric waveguide, a detailed analysis of its impact on frequency-modulated continuous wave (FMCW) radars is given and compared to free-space propagation. The functionality of the radar target generator is verified with a 160-GHz FMCW radar prototype.
Highlights
The progress in SiGe technology enabled the mass production of radar sensors in the frequency range above 60 GHz and initiated the development of radar sensors beyond 100 GHz [1,2,3,4].The advantage of radar systems in this frequency range is their large absolute bandwidth, which allows novel applications due to the high resolution in range and angle [5,6]
The compact design even for large distances is achieved with a meandered flexible dielectric waveguide, which is fed by the rectangular waveguide with a with a meandered flexible which is fed by with the rectangular waveguide a mode transformer (MT)
Since the dielectric waveguide is flexible, has a length of several meters, and its field distribution is sensitive to the surroundings, holders are required for the waveguide
Summary
The progress in SiGe technology enabled the mass production of radar sensors in the frequency range above 60 GHz and initiated the development of radar sensors beyond 100 GHz [1,2,3,4]. Instead of using adjustable delay lines, a concept based on a dielectric waveguide is used in [11] These concepts applicable to RTGs for short range radars withdielectric large bandwidths abovetargets different at several distances can be generated to evaluate the radar performance. A 160-GHz RTG based on a dielectric waveguide with two different targets for tank signal processing unit is included, the minimum target distance is below 50 cm and the RTG bandwidth level probing radars is presented. In the case of the level probing radar considered here, The basic idea of an RTG is the functionality verification of a radar sensor for different targets liquid levels of media with low reflectivity like palm oil as well as with high reflectivity like water at several distances like in a realistic scenario. Theinterface radiated signal of theinradar under test is coupleddesign into theeven presented
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
