Method of producing a horn antenna array and antenna array

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10651567-B2
Application number	US-201916660845-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 23, 2019
Priority date	Jun 26, 2017
Publication date	May 12, 2020
Grant date	May 12, 2020

Abstract

A method of producing a horn antenna array includes: a step of providing a first die and a second die; a step of assembling the first die and the second die, filling an internal space surrounded by the first die and the second die with a fluid material, and solidifying the fluid material; and a step of, after the material has solidified, separating the first die and the second die. In a portion corresponding to each horn antenna element, the first die has a pair of protrusions and a groove between the pair of protrusions, and the second die has a protrusion. In a state where the first die and the second die are assembled, a gap exists between a tip end of each protrusion of the second die and a bottom face of each groove.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of producing a horn antenna,
each horn antenna including
a horn, and
a base having a slot extending along a second direction which intersects the first direction, the base closing the horn at one end,

the horn including
a pair of electrically-conductive first inner walls each intersecting the first direction,
a pair of electrically-conductive second inner walls each intersecting the second direction, and
a bridge being continuous with the pair of second inner walls and extending along the second direction, the bridge having two electrically conductive faces respectively opposing the pair of first inner walls,

the production method of the horn antenna comprising:
providing a first die and a second die;
assembling the first and second dies, filling an internal space surrounded by the first and second dies with a fluid material, and solidifying the fluid material; and,
after the material has solidified, separating the first and second dies and retrieving a molding therefrom, wherein,
in a portion corresponding to each horn antenna element, the first die has a pair of protrusions and a groove between the pair of protrusions;
in a portion corresponding to each horn antenna element, the second die has a protrusion; and,
in a state where the first and second dies are assembled,
at least a portion of the protrusion of the second die is located in the groove of the first die, and
a gap exists between a tip end of the protrusion of the second die and a bottom face of the groove of the first die,
wherein,
the bottom face of the groove of the first die defines a front-side surface of the bridge of the horn of each horn antenna element;
two side faces which are continuous with the bottom face of the groove of the first die define the two electrically conductive faces of the bridge;
portions of the surface of the pair of protrusions of the first die define the pair of first inner walls of the horn; and
a tip-end surface of the protrusion of the second die defines a rear-side surface of the bridge.

2. The method of producing a horn antenna of claim 1 , wherein,
the first die includes
a first base portion having dents, and
a first insert being accommodated in each dent of the first base portion, the first insert having the pair of protrusions belonging in the portion of the first die corresponding to each horn antenna element; and
the second die includes
a second base portion having dents, and
a second insert being accommodated in each dent of the second base portion, the second insert having the protrusion belonging in the portion of the second die corresponding to each horn antenna element.

3. The method of producing a horn antenna of claim 2 , wherein,
each dent of the first die has a first aperture extending through the first base portion;
each first insert has a second aperture at a position which adjoins the first aperture; and,
in the portion corresponding to each horn antenna element, the first die includes a third insert being accommodated in the first and second apertures, and,
an end face of the third insert constitutes the bottom face of the groove of the first die.

4. The method of producing a horn antenna of claim 1 , further comprising applying machining to a portion of the molding retrieved from the first and second dies.

5. The method of producing a horn antenna of claim 2 , further comprising applying machining to a portion of the molding retrieved from the first and second dies.

6. The method of producing a horn antenna of claim 3 , further comprising applying machining to a portion of the molding retrieved from the first and second dies.

7. The method of producing a horn antenna of claim 1 , wherein,
the material is a resin in fluid state; and
the method further comprises plating a surface of the molding having been retrieved from the first and second dies.

8. The method of producing a horn antenna of claim 2 , wherein,
the material is a resin in fluid state; and
the method further comprises plating a surface of the molding having been retrieved from the first and second dies.

9. The method of producing a horn antenna of claim 3 , wherein,
the material is a resin in fluid state; and
the method further comprises plating a surface of the molding having been retrieved from the first and second dies.

10. The method of producing a horn antenna of claim 4 , wherein,
the material is a resin in fluid state; and
the method further comprises plating a surface of the molding having been retrieved from the first and second dies.

11. A radar device, comprising:
a transmission antenna;
a reception antenna;
a transmission/reception circuit configured to control radiation from the transmission antenna, and to process signals from the reception antenna; and
a waveguide device that allows an electromagnetic wave to propagate between the transmission antenna and reception antenna and the transmission/reception circuit,
wherein at least one of the transmission antenna and the reception antenna is a horn antenna produced by the method of claim 1 .

12. A radar device, comprising:
a transmission antenna;
a reception antenna;
a transmission/reception circuit configured to control radiation from the transmission antenna, and to process signals from the reception antenna; and
a waveguide device that allows an electromagnetic wave to propagate between the transmission antenna and reception antenna and the transmission/reception circuit,
wherein at least one of the transmission antenna and the reception antenna is a horn antenna produced by the method of claim 2 .

13. A radar device, comprising:
a transmission antenna;
a reception antenna;
a transmission/reception circuit configured to control radiation from the transmission antenna, and to process signals from the reception antenna; and
a waveguide device that allows an electromagnetic wave to propagate between the transmission antenna and reception antenna and the transmission/reception circuit,
wherein at least one of the transmission antenna and the reception antenna is a horn antenna produced by the method of claim 3 .

14. A radar system comprising:
a radar device of claim 11 ; and
a signal processing circuit connected to the transmission/reception circuit of the radar device.

15. A radar system comprising:
a radar device of claim 12 ; and
a signal processing circuit connected to the transmission/reception circuit of the radar device.

16. A radar system comprising:
a radar device of claim 13 ; and
a signal processing circuit connected to the transmission/reception circuit of the radar device.

17. A communication system comprising:
a transmitter comprising a transmission antenna;
a receiver comprising a reception antenna; and
a communication circuit connected to the transmission antenna and the reception antenna,
wherein at least one of the transmission antenna and the reception antenna is a horn antenna produced by the method of claim 1 .

18. A communication system comprising:
a transmitter comprising a transmission antenna;
a receiver comprising a reception antenna; and
a communication circuit connected to the transmission antenna and the reception antenna,
wherein at least one of the transmission antenna and the reception antenna is a horn antenna produced by the method of claim 2 .

19. A communication system comprising:
a transmitter comprising a transmission antenna;
a receiver comprising a reception antenna; and
a communication circuit connec

Assignees

• Nidec Corp
• Wgr Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kamo Hiroyuki
• Kirino Hideki

Classifications

• H01Q19/08

  for modifying the radiation pattern of a radiating horn in which it is located {(corrugated horns H01Q13/0208; producing a circular polarisation H01Q13/0241)} · CPC title

• H01Q13/0258 Primary

  Orthomode horns (orthomode transducers H01P1/161) · CPC title

• H01Q21/064 Primary

  using horn or slot aerials (slotted waveguides arrays H01Q21/005) · CPC title

• H01Q1/3233

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

• H01Q13/02

  Waveguide horns · CPC title