Radar antenna array with parasitic elements excited by surface waves

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10490905-B2
Application number	US-201615206839-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 11, 2016
Priority date	Jul 11, 2016
Publication date	Nov 26, 2019
Grant date	Nov 26, 2019

Abstract

An apparatus includes a waveguide of an antenna block configured to propagate electromagnetic energy along a propagation direction. The antenna block includes a port located on a bottom surface of the antenna block and an antenna array located on a top surface of the antenna block. The antenna block further includes a set of waveguides in the antenna block configured to couple the antenna array to the port. Additionally, the antenna block includes at least one surface wave radiator, where the surface wave radiator is located on the top surface of the antenna block.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An antenna block comprising:
a port located on a bottom surface of the antenna block;
an antenna array located on a top surface of the antenna block;
a set of waveguides in the antenna block configured to couple the antenna array to the port; and
at least one parasitic surface wave radiator configured to radiate at least a portion of a surface wave propagating along the top surface of the antenna block, wherein the at least one parasitic surface wave radiator is located on the top surface of the antenna block.

2. The antenna block according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one parasitic surface wave radiator comprises a slot.

3. The antenna block according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one parasitic surface wave radiator comprises a raised element.

4. The antenna block according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one parasitic surface wave radiator comprises a patch.

5. The antenna block according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one parasitic surface wave radiator comprises a dielectric radiator.

6. The antenna block according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one parasitic surface wave radiator comprises a plurality of parasitic surface wave radiators.

7. The antenna block according to claim 6 , wherein the plurality of parasitic surface wave radiators are arranged in an array.

8. The antenna block according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one parasitic surface wave radiator is configured to steer a radiated beam from the antenna block.

9. A method comprising:
coupling electromagnetic energy into an antenna block via a port located on a bottom surface of the antenna block;
propagating, by a set of waveguides in the antenna block, a first portion of the coupled electromagnetic energy from the port to an antenna array located on a top surface of the antenna block, wherein a second portion of the coupled electromagnetic energy is present in a surface wave in the antenna block;
radiating, by the antenna array, at least a portion of the waveguide-propagated electromagnetic energy; and
radiating, by at least one parasitic surface wave radiator located on the top surface of the antenna block, at least a portion of the electromagnetic energy present in the surface wave propagating along the top surface of the antenna block.

10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the at least one parasitic surface wave radiator comprises a slot.

11. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the at least one parasitic surface wave radiator comprises a raised element.

12. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the at least one parasitic surface wave radiator comprises a patch.

13. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the at least one parasitic surface wave radiator comprises a dielectric radiator.

14. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the at least one parasitic surface wave radiator comprises a plurality of surface wave radiators.

15. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the plurality of parasitic surface wave radiators is arranged in an array.

16. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the at least one parasitic surface wave radiator is configured to steer a radiated beam from the antenna block.

17. The method according to claim 9 , further comprising adjusting a beam transmission angle.

18. A system comprising:
a bottom block comprising a port;
a top block comprising an antenna array;
a seam at a coupling location of the top block and the bottom block, wherein the seam defines a center of a waveguide network configured to couple the port to the antenna array; and
at least one parasitic surface wave radiator in the top block configured to radiate at least a portion of a surface wave propagating along a top surface of the top block.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the at least one parasitic surface wave radiator comprises a set of slots located on two opposite sides of the antenna array.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein each slot of the set of slots has at least one of an adjustable depth, a dielectric radiator, and variable slot pattern.

Assignees

• Waymo Llc

Inventors

• Izadian Jamal
• Smith Russell

Classifications

• H01Q21/005 Primary

  Slotted waveguides arrays · CPC title

• H01Q1/3233 Primary

  particular used as part of a sensor or in a security system, e.g. for automotive radar, navigation systems · CPC title

• H01Q21/08

  the units being spaced along or adjacent to a rectilinear path {(waveguide fed H01Q21/0037)} · CPC title

• H01Q21/0087

  Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing antenna arrays (manufacturing waveguides H01P11/00) · CPC title

• H01P5/12 Primary

  Coupling devices having more than two ports (H01P5/04 takes precedence) · CPC title