US 12,204,012 B2
Multiple-input multiple-output imaging radar system
Yoan Veyrac, Merignac (FR); Pascal Cornic, Brest (FR); Renan Le Gall, Brest (FR); and Gonzague Bertin De La Hautiere, Merignac (FR)
Assigned to THALES, Courbevoie (FR)
Filed by THALES, Courbevoie (FR)
Filed on Nov. 12, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/525,851.
Claims priority of application No. 2011577 (FR), filed on Nov. 12, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0146657 A1, May 12, 2022
Int. Cl. G01S 13/42 (2006.01); G01S 13/02 (2006.01); G01S 13/89 (2006.01); G01S 13/91 (2006.01); H01Q 3/36 (2006.01)
CPC G01S 13/426 (2013.01) [G01S 13/89 (2013.01); G01S 13/913 (2013.01); H01Q 3/36 (2013.01); G01S 2013/0263 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A multiple-input multiple-output imaging radar system, comprising:
a plurality of transmission channels, each transmission channel being configured to apply a phase coding in such a way that orthogonality is obtained between the transmission channels in a burst of transmitted pulses;
a plurality of reception channels;
a plurality of co-located radiating elements forming a two-dimensional antenna array, each radiating element being able to be fed by one of the transmission channels and/or being able to feed one of the reception channels, each radiating element having a predefined instantaneous field of coverage;
characterized in that each radiating element is formed by a plurality of p radiating sub-elements distributed in at least one of the two dimensions of the antenna array,
the radar comprising a plurality of electronic steering modules, each electronic steering module being connected between a radiating element and one among the transmission channels or reception channels, each steering module being configured to apply a steering command between all the radiating sub-elements of a given radiating element, the steering command being identical from one radiating element to the next, so as to move the field of coverage of each radiating element in the same direction,
wherein the steering command comprises a phase gradient applied between the various radiating sub-elements, said phase gradient being based on the number of sub-elements per radiating element.