Thesis Type: Postgraduate
Institution Of The Thesis: Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Turkey
Approval Date: 2007
Student: SİNAN KURT
Supervisor: ŞİMŞEK DEMİR
Abstract:Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) radar has wide application areas in both civil and military use. The range resolution is a critical concept for these FMCW radars as for the other radar types. There are theoretical restrictions in the range resolution. In addition, the non-ideal properties of the modules used in the systems negatively affects the range resolution. The transmitter leakage, non-linear frequency sweep, FM to AM distortion and measurement errors are some of the critical non-ideal properties. The problems arising from these non-ideal properties further restrict the range resolution of FMCW radars. Another important concept for the range resolution that can be obtained from FMCW radars is the signal processing method. This thesis deals with the non-ideal properties of the system modules and techniques to reduce their effects on the range resolution. Furthermore, the signal processing methods used for FMCW radar signals and the possible improvement techniques for these methods are discussed. Moreover, a simple signal processing unit called zero crossing counter which can be used for short range FMCW radars is implemented and range resolution performance of this zero crossing counter is investigated by carrying out measurements on a prototype FMCW radar at 2200MHz.