Radar PCB: Radio Frequency Circuits for Automation and Detection
A radar PCB is an electrical circuit that produces, transmits, and receives radio frequency signals.
It has an antenna-like structure mounted on a high-frequency laminate material. This high-frequency laminate material is used to transmit a radar lobe, which is, in turn, generated by the RF (radio frequency) circuit.
Nowadays, the modernized form of radar PCBs features a digital circuit at the rear end for analyzing the echo. The RF and the antenna structures sit at the front of the PCB radar.
What should you keep in mind while considering a Radar PCB?
The active components used in a radar PCB circuit share many similarities with the active components generally found in lower-frequency analog systems. Some of these include:
- Amplifiers,
- Power amplifiers,
- Low Noise Amplifiers,
- Mixers,
- Data Convertors,
- Phase-locked loops, and
- RF semiconductors like silicon, gallium nitride, silicon germanium, and silicon arsenide.
The Fundamental Parts of a PCB Radar
Listed below are the primary parts of a PCB radar and their applications-
The transmitter is used to amplify the signal from the waveform generator, using a power amplifier, and make it suitable and robust enough for the RADAR. The receiver is used to detect and process the reflected signal using a special kind of receiver processor. One such example of a receiver processor can be super-heterodyne.
The antenna comprises parabolic reflectors, planar arrays, and electronically steered phased arrays. The antenna is responsible for sending and receiving the wave pulses. The duplexer enables the antenna to carry out the tasks of a transmitter and receiver.
The waveguides act as the transmission lines for sending and receiving radar signals. The threshold decision is used to compare the output from the receiver to the threshold. This is done to determine the presence of an object. If, after the comparison, the work falls below the point, it is assumed that only noise exists.
The Critical Aspects of a PCB Radar
The vital aspects of a PCB radar are as follows,
- Range
- Pulse Repetition Frequency
- Maximum Unambiguous Range, and
- Minimum Range
Range – The antennas of radar PCBs are used to send light-speed signals to the desired targets. After hitting the desired target, the signal gets reflected and travels back to the antenna. This distance between the radar and the target defines the range of the given pcb radar. A more comprehensive range is usually better, enabling the radar to reach even the farthest targets.
Pulse Repetition Frequency – Radar signals must be sent every clock cycle with a suitable delay. The PCB radar should hear the signal’s echo before sending the next pulse.
This is exactly how it works in real life. It sends periodic signals that form a wave of narrow rectangular pulses. Radar PCB Pulse Repetition Frequency is the delay between clock pulses. It defines the number of times the radar pcbs send out the signal.
Maximum Unambiguous Range – After the following one, the echo for the current clock pulse can only be received if the interval between the two is short. However, it is noticed that the target’s range is usually shorter than it should be. Therefore, the delay between the intervals must be chosen wisely. The actual content of the target/object is called the Maximum Unambiguous Range of the radar circuit.
Minimum Range – The range the echo needs to travel to get to the antenna after the first pulse width transmission.
What Are The Various Types of Radar PCBs?
There are five different types of radar PCBs. They are:
- Doppler Radar PCB- This type of radar circuit uses the Doppler effect to determine the data speed of objects within a specified distance/range. It sends electromagnetic signals to the target object and then calculates how the target affects the signal frequency of the echo.
- Monopulse Radar PCB- The conical scanning radar circuit is the most common type of monopulse radar PCB. The main principle of this works is to “contrast the received signal using a specified pulse by comparing the characteristics of the signal as previously observed.”
- Passive Radar PCB – Passive radar PCBs are detective devices that process ambient illumination information. Based on this information, they assist in pursuing targets.
- Weather Radar PCB- A weather PCB radar detects wind speed and weather conditions using radio frequency signals. A weather radar PCB featuring Doppler shifts can be used to measure wind speed and dual polarisation, which helps determine the type of rainfall.
- Pulsed Radar PCB- This type of radar circuit PCB shoots high-frequency, high-intensity pulses at the target/object and then waits for the bounce-back signal. After receiving the call, it fires again. After bouncing back, the vibrations from static objects are in phase and cancel out. After bouncing back, the pulses from moving objects tend to have phase differences.
Where Can We Find Radar PCBs Most Common?
Nautical maps, missile guiding, air defense, and enemy identification systems commonly use radar circuits and PCB systems for enhanced precision.
The places where such a system is commonly found include:
- Places belonging to the defense department and other military areas,
- In air traffic control booths,
- While navigating the sea,
- In the ground traffic control booths,
- During the safe navigation and landing of spaceships and
- During the tracking of satellites, planets, and meteors.
Benefits of Using Radar PCBs
The benefits of using radar PCBs include,
- They pierce clouds and rubber materials.
- Radar PCB circuitry can measure an object’s velocity, distance, and location in motion.
- They can operate at a high frequency to hold larger data.
- They can cover larger areas without requiring extra costs.
- The signals from these PCBs don’t require a medium(wire) for transmission, as they can travel through air, water, and space.
Conclusion
We can say that radar PCBs are highly critical in both modern and emerging technologies. As we enter the era of artificial intelligence and autonomous cars, the importance of PCB radar systems is enhanced even more. Therefore, it should be a staple nowadays for modern and more advanced projects in military, air traffic, ground traffic control, sea navigation, and the tracking of space vehicles.
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