Relaxed Multi-Tx DDM Online Calibration

Abstract: In multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) radar systems based on Doppler-division multiplexing (DDM), phase shifters are employed in the transmit paths and require calibration strategies to maintain optimal performance all along the radar system's life cycle. In this paper, we propose a novel family of DDM codes that enable an online calibration of the phase shifters that scale realistically to any number of simultaneously activated transmit (Tx)-channels during the calibration frames. To achieve this goal we employ the previously developed odd-DDM (ODDM) sequences to design calibration DDM codes with reduced inter-Tx leakage. The proposed calibration sequence is applied to an automotive radar data set modulated with erroneous phase shifters.