MIMO Radar (Microwave/Millimeter Wave)

Microwave & Radar Technology

Multiple-Input Multiple-Output

INDEX

01MIMO Radar and Sensing
02Value of MIMO Sensors
03Optex’s Unique Strengths and Applications

MIMO Radar and Sensing

MIMO (Multiple-Input Multiple-Output) radar is a sensing technology that combines multiple transmitting and receiving antennas to form more virtual antennas than the number of physical antenna elements. This virtual array significantly improves angular resolution (the ability to distinguish and identify separate objects) without increasing the size of the device. It provides stable detection even in low-visibility environments such as rain, snow, fog, and darkness, and can determine the position and direction of targets at long distances.

MIMOセンサーの価値

MIMO radar acquires spatial information from multiple perspectives, providing next-generation sensing that overcomes the limitations of conventional methods.

High Spatial Resolution: Precisely determines target positions using multiple antenna combinations
Direction Estimation: Determines the direction in which a target is located, such as left, right, up, or down
Highly Resistant to Adverse Weather: Uses radio waves to provide stable detection even in fog, rain, and at night

When combined withFMCW MIMO can simultaneously determine “Distance + Direction + Movement,” enabling three-dimensional awareness of an entire wide area.

Optex’s Unique Strengths and Applications

Research and Development of Mid-Range Surveillance Radar

Optex has developed its own FMCW MIMO radar technology capable of detecting and tracking people at mid-range distances of 400 to 600 m. Research and development are underway for applications requiring high reliability, such as perimeter security for critical facilities.

Precise Identification Capability

By analyzing the phase differences obtained from multiple chirp signals and multiple antennas, the direction and speed of targets can be extracted from weak reflected waves. MIMO’s unique spatial separation capability enables highly accurate identification even for signals buried in noise.

Research and Development of Mid-Range Surveillance Radar

Rather than simply incorporating off-the-shelf radar modules, Optex places importance on deeply understanding analog circuits, antenna design, and signal processing algorithms in-house and optimizing them for real-world applications.

Expert Interview

Yoshinobu Oyama

DepartmentCorporate Strategy Div. R&D Dept.

The Key to MIMO Radar Is Optimization

MIMO radar is a highly sophisticated technology in which antenna design, frequency design, and signal processing algorithms are all closely interrelated, and performance can vary greatly depending on the choice of parameters. In addition to theory-based simulations, Optex has repeatedly conducted testing in real-world environments, accumulating expertise in highly accurate signal extraction. Optex’s approach of optimizing for the actual site, developed through infrared sensor development, is also being applied directly to radar development.

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OTHER
TECHNOLOGIES

Passive-Infrared

Far infrared is a passive sensing technology that detects thermal energy emitted by people and objects.Non-contact, low-power, and effective in dark environments, it serves as a core human detection technology developed through our experience with automatic doors and outdoor security.
Active-Infrared

Near infrared is an active sensing technology that uses LED illumination to detect changes in reflected or blocked light.This technology allows for precise detection area control and is widely used for stable detection in applications such as automatic doors, active infrared (AIR) security systems, and water quality measurement.
Infrared Laser

LiDAR is an optical ranging technology that uses laser time-of-flight (ToF) measurement to determine the distance to and shape of a target with high accuracy.It is applied to precision spatial sensing in applications such as outdoor intrusion detection and critical facility monitoring, including REDSCAN.
Doppler Radar (Microwave)

This radar technology detects moving objects using reflected radio waves and the Doppler effect. It is relatively unaffected by rain, fog, snow, or lighting conditions and is used for outdoor applications such as vehicle detection, parking lots, and gate operation.
FMCW Radar (Microwave/Millimeter Wave)

FMCW is a radar ranging method that analyzes the distance to and speed of a target from the beat frequency between a frequency-modulated continuous wave and its reflected wave.
Water Quality and Hygiene Applications

Optical water quality sensors use multiple wavelengths of light, including near-infrared, infrared, and UV, to detect changes in turbidity, color, scattering, and absorbance. They can be used for water quality management, including continuous monitoring of drinking water, wastewater, and industrial effluent.
Image Recognition Technology

This sensing technology uses camera images to perform tasks such as object detection and classification, pose estimation, and people tracking. It is used for security, people counting, access control, and other applications, providing advanced situational awareness by detecting the movements of people and objects.
Vibration Detection Technology

Vibration detection sensors measure vibration to detect intrusion, impacts, and equipment abnormalities. Optex uses this technology to improve the reliability of outdoor security and equipment monitoring.