BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Field of the Disclosure

Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to radar systems, and more specifically relate to measurement of transceiver performance parameters in radar systems.

Description of the Related Art

A new class of safety systems, referred to as advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), has been introduced into automobiles to reduce human operation error. These systems are enabled by smart sensors based primarily on millimeter-wave automotive radars. The proliferation of such assistance systems, which may provide functionality such as rear-view facing cameras, electronic stability control, and vision-based pedestrian detection systems, has been enabled in part by improvements in microcontroller and sensor technologies. Enhanced embedded radar-based solutions are enabling complementary safety features for ADAS designers.

In an automotive radar system, one or more radar sensors may be used to detect obstacles around the vehicle and the speeds of the detected objects relative to the vehicle. A processing unit in the radar system may determine the appropriate action needed, e.g., to avoid a collision or to reduce collateral damage, based on signals generated by the radar sensors. Current automotive radar systems are capable of detecting objects and obstacles around a vehicle, the position of any detected objects and obstacles relative to the vehicle, and the speed of any detected objects and obstacles relative to the vehicle. Via the processing unit, the radar system may, for example, alert the vehicle driver about potential danger, prevent a collision by controlling the vehicle in a dangerous situation, take over partial control of the vehicle, or assist the driver with parking the vehicle.

Automotive radar systems are required to meet the functional safety specifications of International Standard 26262 titled “Road Vehicles—Functional Safety.” ISO 26262 defines functional safety as the absence of unreasonable risk caused by malfunctioning behavior of electrical/electronic systems. Functional safety in automotive radar is the prevention of harm to humans due to failure of components in the radar. For automotive radar, the radar should be known to be functioning appropriately within a fault tolerant time interval of approximately 100 milliseconds (ms). Thus, while the vehicle is operating, a failure in any part of the radar that would lead to a degraded signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) or false detection of presence or position of obstacles should be detected, and an appropriate response performed within approximately 100 ms.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to methods and apparatus for measurement of transceiver performance parameters in a radar system. In one aspect, a radar system-on-a-chip (SOC) configured for monitoring one or more performance parameters is provided that includes one or more receive channels, one or more transmit channels, transmission generation circuitry coupled to the one or more transmit channels, the transmission generation circuitry operable to generate a continuous wave signal when the radar SOC is operated in test mode, and a loopback path coupling the one or more transmit channels to the one or more receive channels, the loopback path including a combiner coupled to the one or more transmit channels, a splitter coupled to the one or more channels, and a single wire coupling an output of the combiner to an input of the splitter, the loopback path operable to provide a test signal from at least one transmit channel receiving the continuous wave signal to at least one receive channel when the radar SOC is operated in test mode.

In one aspect, a radar system-on-a-chip (SOC) configured for monitoring one or more performance parameters is provided that includes one or more receive channels, one or more transmit channels, and transmission generation circuitry coupled to the one or more transmit channels, the transmission generation circuitry operable to generate a continuous wave signal when the radar SOC is operated in test mode.

In one aspect, a radar system-on-a-chip configured for monitoring one or more performance parameters is provided that includes a plurality of receive channels, a plurality of transmit channels, transmission generation circuitry coupled to the plurality of transmit channels, the transmission generation circuitry operable to generate a continuous wave signal when the radar SOC is operated in test mode, and a loopback path coupling the plurality of transmit channels to the plurality of receive channels, the loopback path including a first combiner coupled to an output of a programmable shifter included in each transmit channel, a second combiner coupled to an output of a power amplifier chain in each transmit channel, a frequency shifter coupled to an output of the second combiner, a third combiner coupled to outputs of the first combiner and the frequency shifter, a splitter coupled to an input of each the receive channels, and a single wire coupling an output of the third combiner to an input of the splitter, the loopback path operable to provide a test signal from at least one transmit channel receiving the continuous wave signal to the receive channels when the radar SOC is operated in test mode.

