Simultaneous Sensing and Communication by Multiple‐Input Multiple‐Output (MIMO) Dual‐Function Radar Communication (DFRC) System

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Invention Summary:

In orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) system, the subcarriers are generally assigned to antennas where the transmissions of the antennas are orthogonal. To increase the efficiency of the communication bandwidth, the carriers should be assigned to antennas in a shared way which would result in coupling of the target parameters (range, angle, speed). Decoupling of these parameters is a challenging problem.

Rutgers researchers have developed a novel scheme of decoupling the radar parameters that enables high bandwidth utilization in OFDM radar, thus enabling high communication rate. They have used a multiple‐input multiple‐output (MIMO) dual‐function radar communication (DFRC) system that transmits OFDM waveforms.  One group of OFDM carriers is used by the active antennas in a shared fashion enabling high communication rate, while in another group, each subcarrier is exclusively assigned to an active antenna ensuring high angular resolution by constructing a virtual array.

In this invention, optimized design of precoding and antenna selection matrices ensures good joint sensing and communication performance. 

Advantages:

  • High bandwidth compared to current technologies
  • Communication and positioning with the same waveform
  • Low-cost implementation
  • Low error rates

Market Applications:

  • Wireless Networks (4G/5G, television, radio)
  • DSL Internet
  • 6G base station
  • Radar
  • Autonomous Navigation (Object detection and communication between vehicles)

Intellectual Property & Development Status: Patent pending. Available for licensing and/or research collaboration.

Publication: Xu et al., IEEE Radar Conference (RadarConf20) (pp. 1-6), September 2020. A joint design of MIMO-OFDM dual-function radar communication system using generalized spatial modulation.

Patent Information: