A Unified 77/79GHz Low-Profile Digital Code Modulation (DCM) Automotive Radar Aiming at Mass Production

Starting from the proof-of-concept phase in the 1960s, millimeter-wave automotive radar officially unlocked the prelude to its successful commercialization in the early of 21(st) century. Although various modulation regimes were proposed from research aspects based on technology upgrade within recent years, frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) has still dominated as the most reliable automotive qualified solution basis with fair price for radar suppliers. Tens of millions of automotive millimeter-wave radars are produced each year to meet increasing demand of advanced driver assistant system (ADAS) and autonomous driving (AD) functions. Mainly concerned of interference that more and more FMCW radars on road could cause, digital code modulation (DCM) radar chipset as one of phase modulation (PM) regime has been developed, verified, and commercialized since 2022. This work extensively introduces the design, implementation, and verification of the first 77/79 GHz automotive radar based on DCM chipset toward serious mass production, which could lead the commercialization of the DCM automotive radar in visible future. The implemented DCM radar combines the traditional front and corner radars together as a unified version with a compact size of 40 mmx126 mmx32 mm, achieving wide field-of-view (FoV) of 120 degrees , maximum detection range of 218 m for a target of 10 dBsm radar cross section (RCS), and a natural angular resolution of 1.6 degrees on azimuth plane. A preliminary on-vehicle test showed, that steady tracking of object on high way scenario under rainy weather can fulfil requirements of driving functions such as adaptive cruise control (ACC) and automatic emergency braking system (AEBS).