Imec pioneers photonic code-division multiplexing distributed radar
Summary
Demonstrating successful range measurements, imec’s PoC paves the way for multi-node radar systems with superior angular resolution compared to single-node setups. “At this week’s Optical Fiber Communications (OFC) conference, we are unveiling a breakthrough solution to this challenge,” said Ilja Ocket, who manages imec’s automotive sensing portfolio. By integrating the phase encoder directly into the optical distribution network and utilising analog radio-over-fibre technology, the system enables low-loss transmission of the LO signal over long distances. Future applications: automotive and other high-precision sensing use cases Ocket: “Our proof of concept demonstrated successful range measurements and the ability to separate monostatic and bistatic responses, validating both our setup’s potential and the viability of CDM for coherent photonic distributed radar systems. Other potential use cases benefitting from its high range and angular resolution include indoor sensing, biomedical imaging, and vital sign monitoring.