New methodologies for analytically modelling and compensation of phase noise based distortions in continuous wave radar
Final Report Abstract
The influence of phase disturbances, particularly phase noise, is often dominant in continuous wave (CW) radar systems and limits the achievable measurement accuracy. In the past, attempts to predict this accuracy have relied on highly simplified models, such as effective noise approximations and uniformly distributed white phase noise models. However, these approaches fail to accurately represent real-world conditions. To address this, a novel holistic approach was developed, investigated, and experimentally validated in this project. It enables a realistic description of all phase disturbances, including systematic phase errors, from signal generation through to the radar measurement process. To achieve this, the project developed and experimentally verified several innovative methods for measuring and modeling phase disturbances. The difference-based phase noise measurement method introduces the first approach capable of capturing phase noise occurring during radar signal modulation. It separates random phase noise from systematic disturbances using a non-parametric strategy based on multiple signal realizations. The polynomial-based extraction of systematic phase disturbances allows the detection of systematic phase errors during frequency modulation. The spectrumbased phase noise modeling technique represents time-varying phase noise based on spectrally colored noise, using a measured or simulated phase noise power spectral density as input for Monte Carlo simulations to synthesize multiple realistic phase noise realizations. Additionally, the Additive Colored Noise (ACN)-based modeling method enables the realistic simulation of disturbed signal phases, replacing simplified models based on effective noise contributions or white noise (AWGN). Together, these novel methods enable, for the first time, the accurate measurement of phase disturbances during frequency modulation and the realistic modeling of radar systems affected by phase-corrupted signals. The methods have been published in high-quality, peer-reviewed journals. A second objective of the project was to investigate and experimentally validate a new compensation technique for reducing phase noise disturbances in FMCW radar systems. Building on the newly developed measurement and modeling approaches, the effectiveness of the compensation technique was demonstrated through both simulation and experimental validation using a fiber-optic FMCW radar test setup. These results were published. In summary, this research project made substantial and novel contributions to the measurement, modeling, and compensation of phase disturbances in radar systems, all of which were successfully verified through measurement.
Publications
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A Novel Approach for Modeling and Digital Generation of RF Signals Distorted by Bandlimited Phase Noise. IEEE Journal of Microwaves, 2(4), 699-710.
Tschapek, Peter; Korner, Georg; Fenske, Patrick; Carlowitz, Christian & Vossiek, Martin
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Detailed Analysis and Modeling of Phase Noise and Systematic Phase Distortions in FMCW Radar Systems. IEEE Journal of Microwaves, 2(4), 648-659.
Tschapek, Peter; Korner, Georg; Carlowitz, Christian & Vossiek, Martin
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Phase Noise Spectral Density Measurement of Broadband Frequency-Modulated Radar Signals. IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques, 70(4), 2370-2379.
Tschapek, Peter; Korner, Georg; Hofmann, Andreas; Carlowitz, Christian & Vossiek, Martin
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Phase Noise Distortion Compensation in the FMCW Radar Based on Oppositely Modulated Double Chirps. 2024 21st European Radar Conference (EuRAD), 3-6. IEEE.
Tschapek, Peter; Fenske, Patrick & Vossiek, Martin
