Waveguide signal confinement structures and related sensor assemblies

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11563259-B2
Application number	US-202016789369-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 12, 2020
Priority date	Feb 12, 2020
Publication date	Jan 24, 2023
Grant date	Jan 24, 2023

Abstract

Antenna and/or waveguide assemblies for vehicles, such as RADAR sensor antenna assemblies, along with associated signal confinement structures. In some embodiments, the assembly may comprise an antenna block defining one or more waveguides. A conductive layer may be coupled to the antenna block to form, at least in part, a wall of the waveguide. The assembly may comprise one or more periodic structures that may be operably coupled to the waveguide, each of which may comprise a first elongated opening and a first series of repeated slots extending at least substantially transverse to the first elongated opening, wherein each of the first series of repeated slots is spaced apart from an adjacent slot in the first series of repeated slots along the first elongated opening.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An antenna module, comprising:
an antenna block defining a waveguide;
a conductive layer coupled to the antenna block, wherein the conductive layer forms, at least in part, a wall of the waveguide;
a first periodic structure operably coupled to the waveguide, the first periodic structure comprising:
a first elongated opening; and
a first series of repeated slots extending at least substantially transverse to the first elongated opening, wherein each of the first series of repeated slots is spaced apart from an adjacent slot in the first series of repeated slots along the first elongated opening; and

a second periodic structure operably coupled to the waveguide, the second periodic structure comprising:
a second elongated opening; and
a second series of repeated slots extending at least substantially transverse to the second elongated opening, wherein each of the second series of repeated slots is spaced apart from an adjacent slot in the second series of repeated slots along the second elongated opening.

2. The antenna module of claim 1 , wherein the waveguide comprises a groove waveguide defined by opposing walls and the conductive layer.

3. The antenna module of claim 1 , wherein each of the repeated slots of the first and second series of repeated slots extends in both opposing directions at least substantially transverse from its respective elongated opening of the first and second elongated openings.

4. The antenna module of claim 3 , wherein each of the repeated slots of the first and second series of repeated slots comprises a rectangular shape.

5. The antenna module of claim 4 , wherein each of the repeated slots of the first and second series of repeated slots comprises:
a first slot portion extending in both opposing directions at least substantially transverse from its respective elongated opening of the first and second elongated openings; and
a second slot portion intersecting the first slot portion and extending in both opposing directions at least substantially transverse from its respective elongated opening of the first and second elongated openings further than the first slot portion.

6. The antenna module of claim 1 , further comprising a channel intersecting the first elongated opening at an end of the first elongated opening, the channel extending at least substantially perpendicular to the first elongated opening.

7. The antenna module of claim 6 , wherein the channel intersects the second elongated opening at an end of the second elongated opening.

8. The antenna module of claim 1 , further comprising a dielectric chamber extending adjacent to each of the first and second periodic structures.

9. The antenna module of claim 8 , wherein the dielectric chamber is defined by opposing rows of conductive vias extending along opposing sides of each of the first and second periodic structures.

10. The antenna module of claim 1 , wherein the first periodic structure is formed along a first side of the waveguide, and wherein the second periodic structure is formed along a second side of the waveguide opposite the first side.

11. The antenna module of claim 10 , wherein the first elongated opening extends along the first side of the waveguide at least substantially parallel to the waveguide, and wherein the second elongated openings extends along the second side of the waveguide at least substantially parallel to the waveguide.

12. A radiofrequency signal confinement assembly, comprising:
a conductive layer;
an elongated opening formed along a surface of the conductive layer;
a dielectric chamber extending underneath the elongated opening such that the elongated opening leads into the dielectric chamber, wherein the dielectric chamber is defined by a first row of conductive vias extending along a first side of the dielectric chamber and a second row of conductive vias extending along a second side of the dielectric chamber opposite the first side of the dielectric chamber; and
a second conductive layer spaced apart from the conductive layer such that the dielectric chamber is formed in between the conductive layer and the second conductive layer.

13. The radiofrequency signal confinement assembly of claim 12 , further comprising a periodic structure formed within the conductive layer, the periodic structure extending along an elongated axis, wherein the periodic structure comprises:
a series of repeated slots extending at least substantially transverse to the elongated opening, wherein each of the series of repeated slots is spaced apart from an adjacent slot in the series of repeated slots along the elongated opening.

14. The radiofrequency signal confinement assembly of claim 12 , wherein the elongated opening extends at least substantially along a center of the dielectric chamber.

15. The radiofrequency signal confinement assembly of claim 12 , wherein the dielectric chamber comprises a PCB material.

16. The radiofrequency signal confinement assembly of claim 12 , further comprising a channel intersecting the elongated opening at an end of the elongated opening, the channel extending at least substantially perpendicular to the elongated opening.

17. The radiofrequency signal confinement assembly of claim 16 , further comprising a second dielectric chamber extending along the channel underneath the channel such that the channel leads into the second dielectric chamber.

18. The radiofrequency signal confinement assembly of claim 17 , wherein the dielectric chamber interconnects with the second dielectric chamber.

19. The radiofrequency signal confinement assembly of claim 12 , further comprising an antenna block defining a waveguide, wherein a periodic structure is operably coupled to the waveguide to confine a radiofrequency signal being delivered by the waveguide.

20. A radiofrequency signal confinement assembly, comprising:
an antenna block defining a waveguide, wherein a periodic structure is operably coupled to the waveguide to confine a radiofrequency signal being delivered by the waveguide;
a conductive layer;
an elongated opening formed along a surface of the conductive layer;
a dielectric chamber extending underneath the elongated opening such that the elongated opening leads into the dielectric chamber; and
a second conductive layer spaced apart from the conductive layer such that the dielectric chamber is formed in between the conductive layer and the second conductive layer.

Assignees

• Veoneer Us Inc
• Veoneer Us Llc

Inventors

• Alexanian Angelos
• Doyle Scott B
• Mobius Arnold

Classifications

• H01Q21/005

  Slotted waveguides arrays · CPC title

• H01P1/162 Primary

  absorbing spurious or unwanted modes of propagation · CPC title

• H01P5/12

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

• H01Q21/0043 Primary

  Slotted waveguides (combination with horns H01Q13/0233) · CPC title