Dielectric Waveguide Radar Signal Distribution

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016240907-A1
Application number	US-201514969392-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 15, 2015
Priority date	Feb 12, 2015
Publication date	Aug 18, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A system is provided for transmitting sub-terahertz electro-magnetic radio frequency (RF) signals using a dielectric waveguide (DWG) having a dielectric core member surrounded by dielectric cladding. Multiple radar signals may be generated by a radar module that is coupled to a vehicle. A set of DWG segments may be used to transport the radar signals to various launching structures placed in various locations of the vehicle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A vehicle comprising:
a vehicle body having one or more body parts; a radar module having one or more ports for transmitting and receiving; a radar antenna positioned adjacent a first one of the body parts; a dielectric waveguide (DWG) having a dielectric core member surrounded by second dielectric layer coupled between the radar antenna and a first one of the one or more ports of the Radar module.

2 . The vehicle of claim 1 , further including:
a plurality of radar antennas positioned adjacent a plurality of locations on one or more of the body parts; and a plurality of DWGs coupled between the plurality of radar antennas and respective ones of the one or more ports.

3 . The vehicle of claim 2 , further comprising a dielectric rat race splitter with a first port coupled to a port of the radar module via a DWG, a second port coupled to a first one of the plurality of radar antennas via a DWG, and a third port coupled to a second one of the plurality of radar antennas via a DWG.

4 . The vehicle of claim 2 , further comprising a dielectric circulatory coupler with a first port coupled to a first port of the radar module via a DWG, a second port coupled to a second port of the radar module via a DWG, and a third port coupled to one of the plurality of radar antennas via a DWG.

5 . The vehicle of claim 1 , in which the radar antenna is in contact with a surface of the first body part.

6 . The vehicle of claim 1 , in which the radar antenna is spaced apart from a surface of the first body part.

7 . The vehicle of claim 1 , in which the radar antenna is a horn antenna.

8 . The vehicle of claim 1 , in which the radar antenna is Vivaldi antenna.

9 . The vehicle of claim 1 , in which the radar antenna is a dipole antenna.

10 . The vehicle of claim 1 , in which the first body part is a bumper.

11 . The vehicle of claim 1 , in which the first body part is a fender.

12 . The vehicle of claim 1 , in which the radar module is mounted such that a second one of the ports is adjacent one of the body parts.

13 . A method for distributing radar signals in a vehicle, the method comprising:
generating a radar signal within a radar module coupled to the vehicle; and transporting the radar signal from a first port on the radar module to a radar antenna located adjacent a body part of the vehicle via a dielectric waveguide (DWG) having a dielectric core member surrounded by second dielectric layer.

14 . The method of claim 13 , further including transporting multiple radar signals from one or more ports of the radar module to a plurality of radar antennas adjacent one or more body parts of the vehicle via a plurality of DWGs.

15 . The method of claim 14 , further including combining two or more radar signals coupled to two or more ports of the radar module via respective DWGs using a coupler.

16 . The method of claim 14 , further including combining two or more radar signals coupled to two or more radar antennas via respective DWGs using a coupler.

17 . The method of claim 13 , further including transmitting a second radar signal from a second port on the radar module through one of the body parts located adjacent the radar module.

Assignees

• Texas Instruments Inc

Inventors

• Haroun Baher S

Classifications

• G01S2013/93272

  in the back of the vehicles · CPC title

• H01P3/16 Primary

  Dielectric waveguides, i.e. without a longitudinal conductor · CPC title

• G01S13/931

  of land vehicles · 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

• G01S2013/93271

  in the front of the vehicles · CPC title