Gap waveguide antenna

Abstract

The utility model relates to a kind of gap waveguide antennas, involve vehicle-mounted radar field.The first structural member of this technical solution is provided with chip interface connected with chip;Second structural member is located above it, is provided with first enclosure wall and first metal column periodically arranged on first enclosure wall, and waveguide transmission channel is formed with the corresponding side surface of first structural member, and the first impedance matching junction corresponding to chip interface is respectively arranged in the inside of channel two ends, and second impedance matching junction and antenna interface;Third structural member is above second structural member, is provided with second enclosure wall and second metal column periodically arranged on second enclosure wall, and antenna radiation cavity is formed with the corresponding side surface of second structural member, and gap radiation port is arranged in the inside of cavity.In this case, the height of metal column is only one tenth to one fourth of wavelength in working frequency band, compared with traditional gap waveguide, it is easier to process, and it is not easy to damage;While simple structure, it can improve the redundancy of assembly error, and the antenna structure also has lower side lobe level.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of vehicle radar technology, and in particular to a gapped waveguide antenna. Background Technology

[0002] In the field of automotive millimeter-wave radar, the assembly process of traditional waveguide antennas demands near-perfect precision. Even the slightest gaps created during the assembly of any antenna component can severely impact its electrical performance. In the millimeter-wave band, signal transmission is extremely sensitive to the environment; these minute gaps can lead to significant energy leakage, drastically reducing antenna gain and creating a chaotic radiation pattern, making accurate target detection impossible and severely affecting the performance of automotive millimeter-wave radar.

[0003] Existing gapped waveguide antennas are typically constructed by periodically arranging metal pins or pillars at specific intervals. In the high-frequency domain of millimeter waves, this structure places extremely high demands on manufacturing precision. Since the height of the metal pins or pillars is usually one-quarter of the wavelength, deformation can easily occur with the slightest carelessness during manufacturing within a compact space. Such deformation can severely degrade signal transmission performance for millimeter waves, significantly limiting the effectiveness of gapped waveguide antennas in automotive millimeter-wave radar applications. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a gap waveguide antenna to solve the problems existing in the prior art.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution adopted by this utility model is as follows:

[0006] A gapped waveguide antenna, comprising:

[0007] The first structural component has a chip interface that is connected to the chip.

[0008] A second structural component, located above the first structural component, has a first enclosure wall and periodically arranged first metal pillars on its side near the first structural component. The first enclosure wall and the first metal pillars, together with the side of the first structural component near the second structural component, form a waveguide transmission channel. A first impedance matching junction corresponding to the chip interface is provided at the first end of the waveguide transmission channel, and a second impedance matching junction and an antenna interface are provided at the second end of the waveguide transmission channel.

[0009] The third structural member is located above the second structural member. A second wall and periodically arranged second metal pillars are provided on one side of the third structural member. The second wall and the second metal pillars together with the side of the second structural member near the third structural member form an antenna radiation cavity. A slit radiation port is provided on the inner side of the antenna radiation cavity.

[0010] In one possible implementation, the heights of the first and second metal pillars are one-tenth to one-quarter of the wavelength within the operating frequency band.

[0011] In one possible implementation, the height of the first metal pillar and the second metal pillar is 0.4 mm, and the height of the first wall and the second wall is 0.85 mm.

[0012] In one possible implementation, the third structural member has two choke grooves on one side away from the second structural member, and the two choke grooves are respectively located on both sides of the slit radiation port.

[0013] In one possible implementation, there is a 0.1 mm air gap between the first metal column and the first structural member, and a 0.1 mm air gap between the second metal column and the second structural member.

[0014] In one possible implementation, the first structural component, the second structural component, and the third structural component are all made of metallic materials.

[0015] In one possible implementation, the second structural component and the third structural component are both made of metal, and the first structural component is a metallized PCB printed circuit board.

[0016] The beneficial effects of the technical solution provided by this utility model include at least the following:

[0017] This technical solution includes three structural components. The first structural component has a chip interface for connecting the chip. The second structural component is located above the first structural component and has a first wall and first metal pillars periodically arranged on the first wall, forming a waveguide transmission channel with the corresponding side of the first structural component. The inner ends of the channel have a first impedance matching junction corresponding to the chip interface, a second impedance matching junction, and an antenna interface, respectively. The third structural component is located above the second structural component and has a second wall and second metal pillars periodically arranged on the second wall, forming an antenna radiation cavity with the corresponding side of the second structural component. A slotted radiation port is provided inside the cavity. In this case, the height of the metal pillars is only one-tenth to one-quarter of the wavelength in the operating frequency band. Due to the lower height, it is easier to process than traditional slotted waveguides and is less prone to damage. At the same time, the structure is simple and can improve the redundancy of assembly errors. This antenna structure also has a low sidelobe level. Attached Figure Description

[0018] The accompanying drawings are provided to further understand the present invention and form part of the specification. They are used together with the embodiments of the present invention to explain the present invention and do not constitute a limitation thereof.

[0019] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of a gap waveguide antenna provided in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0020] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the chip interface structure of the gap waveguide antenna provided in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0021] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the split structure of a gap waveguide antenna provided in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0022] Figure 4 This diagram shows a side view of a gap waveguide antenna provided in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 5 A perspective structural schematic diagram of the first and second structural components of the gap waveguide antenna provided in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0024] Figure 6 The diagram shows a side view of the first and second structural components of the gap waveguide antenna provided in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 7 The diagram shows the frequency-insertion loss curve of the waveguide transmission channel of the gap waveguide antenna provided in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 8 The diagram shows the frequency-return loss curve of a gap waveguide antenna provided in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 9 An angle-gain curve of a gap waveguide antenna provided in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0028] In the diagram: 1. First structural component; 2. Second structural component; 2-1. First impedance matching junction; 2-2. Second impedance matching junction; 3. Third structural component; 4. First enclosure wall; 4-1. Second enclosure wall; 5. First metal pillar; 5-1. Second metal pillar; 6. Chip interface; 6-1. Antenna interface; 7. Slot radiation port; 8. Choke slot; 9. Antenna radiation cavity; 10. Waveguide transmission channel. Detailed Implementation

[0029] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of the present utility model.

[0030] In this specification, identical components are represented by the same reference numerals. It should be noted that the terms "front," "rear," "left," "right," "upper," and "lower" used in the following description refer to directions in the accompanying drawings of this utility model, while the terms "bottom surface," "top surface," "inner," and "outer" refer to directions towards or away from a specific component, respectively. Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Therefore, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this utility model, "multiple" means two or more.

[0031] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0032] Figure 1 This diagram illustrates the structure of a gap waveguide antenna provided in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 This diagram illustrates the structure of the chip interface for a gap waveguide antenna provided in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 This diagram illustrates a split structure of a gap waveguide antenna provided in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5This illustration shows a perspective view of the first and second structural components of a gap waveguide antenna provided in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The gap waveguide antenna includes: a first structural component 1, which has a chip interface 6 connected to a chip; and a second structural component 2, located above the first structural component 1, with a first enclosure 4 and periodically arranged first metal pillars 5 on the side of the second structural component 2 near the first structural component 1. The first enclosure 4 and the first metal pillars 5, together with the side of the first structural component 1 near the second structural component 2, form a waveguide transmission channel 10. A first impedance matching junction 2-1 corresponding to the chip interface 6 is provided at the first end of the waveguide transmission channel 10. -1 is used for impedance matching between chip interface 6 and waveguide transmission channel 10. The second end of the inner side of waveguide transmission channel 10 is provided with a second impedance matching junction 2-2 and an antenna interface 6-1. The second impedance matching junction 2-2 is used for impedance matching between waveguide transmission channel 10 and antenna interface 6-1. The third structural member 3 is located above the second structural member 2. A second enclosure 4-1 and periodically arranged second metal pillars 5-1 are provided on the side of the second structural member 2 near the second structural member 2. The second enclosure 4-1 and the second metal pillars 5-1 and the side of the second structural member 2 near the third structural member 3 form an antenna radiation cavity 9. A slot radiation port 7 is provided on the inner side of the antenna radiation cavity 9.

[0033] In this embodiment, the chip interface of the bottommost first structural component is connected to the signal source, transmitting the initial electromagnetic wave to subsequent stages. The second structural component in the middle, with its first wall and regularly distributed first metal pillars on one side, together with the corresponding side of the first structural component, forms a waveguide transmission channel. These orderly arranged metal pillars create an environment that restricts electromagnetic signal diffusion, ensuring stable signal transmission along the channel. The first impedance matching junction near the chip interface balances the impedance between the chip interface and the waveguide transmission channel, reducing signal foldback. The second impedance matching junction makes the connection between the waveguide transmission channel and the antenna interface smoother, allowing for continuous signal transmission. The second wall and regularly distributed second metal pillars on one side of the third structural component, together with the corresponding side of the second structural component, form an antenna radiation cavity. The radiating slots within the cavity are responsible for transmitting the incoming electromagnetic waves into the external space.

[0034] It is worth mentioning that the height of the first metal pillar 5 and the second metal pillar 5-1 is one-tenth of the wavelength.

[0035] In this embodiment, setting the height of the first and second metal pillars to one-tenth of the wavelength is based on the design of electromagnetic constraint and structural optimization. This height can form an effective electromagnetic barrier, limit the spread of electromagnetic waves, and ensure the directionality of the waveguide transmission channel and the antenna radiation cavity. It is also shorter than the traditional quarter-wavelength design, reducing the difficulty of processing and the risk of deformation.

[0036] Further, see Figure 1 The third structural member 3 has two choke grooves 8 on the side away from the second structural member 2. The two choke grooves 8 are located on both sides of the slit radiation port 7.

[0037] In this embodiment, the choke groove, with its specific depth and spacing, can absorb stray electromagnetic waves from the edge of the slit radiation port, preventing them from forming interfering side lobes.

[0038] Furthermore, see Figure 4 There is an air gap p of 0.1 mm between the first metal column 5 and the first structural component 1, and there is an air gap p of 0.1 mm between the second metal column 5-1 and the second structural component 2.

[0039] In this embodiment, a 0.1mm air gap is maintained between the first and second metal pillars and their corresponding structural components. This air gap utilizes the low dielectric properties of air to construct an electromagnetic isolation layer. This gap prevents signal short circuits caused by direct contact between the metal pillars and structural components, while maintaining stable transmission modes of electromagnetic waves through the air medium.

[0040] Optionally, the first structural component 1, the second structural component 2, and the third structural component 3 are all made of metal. The all-metal design ensures consistent electromagnetic characteristics among the components and enhances the stability of waveguide transmission and radiation.

[0041] Optionally, the second structural component 2 and the third structural component 3 are both made of metal, and the first structural component 1 is a metallized PCB printed circuit board. Using a metallized PCB for the first structural component balances conductivity and circuit integration convenience, reducing the complexity of chip interface connections.

[0042] It should be noted that the height of the first metal pillar 5 and the second metal pillar 5-1 is 0.4mm, and the height of the first enclosure wall 4 and the second enclosure wall 4-1 is 0.85mm.

[0043] Effect verification:

[0044] Figure 6 This diagram shows a side view of the first and second structural components of a gap waveguide antenna provided in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In the diagram, the height h1 of the first enclosure 4 is 0.85 mm, the height h2 of the first metal pillar 5 is 0.4 mm, and the gap p between the first metal pillar 5 and the first structural component 1 is 0.1 mm. In this case, Figure 7 The frequency-insertion loss curve of the waveguide transmission channel of the gap waveguide antenna provided in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown. The results show that when h2 is 0.4 mm, the transmission loss is the minimum. This is because the height and gap form the optimal electromagnetic constraint, reducing signal attenuation. This means that the signal loses less energy during transmission and can be transmitted from the source to the radiating end more efficiently.

[0045] Figure 8 The frequency-return loss curve of a gap waveguide antenna provided in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown. The results show that the return loss S11 ≤ -15dB in the range of 75GHz to 79GHz. This not only indicates that the impedance matching is good, the signal reflection is small, and the transmission efficiency is high in this frequency band, but also shows that the antenna has stable performance in the commonly used automotive millimeter-wave radar frequency band, can adapt to the signal transmission requirements of actual application scenarios, and reduce signal interference and energy waste caused by reflection.

[0046] Figure 9 An angle-gain curve of a gap waveguide antenna provided in an exemplary embodiment of this utility model is shown. The results show that the antenna gain of this antenna structure is 14.7 dBi @ 0° (the maximum gain at 0° is 14.7 dBi), which demonstrates that the antenna has a strong signal radiation capability in the direct forward direction, facilitating accurate target detection. The sidelobe level is ≥ 24.7 dB, indicating that the sidelobe level is low, which can significantly reduce interference from irrelevant directions and improve the accuracy of detection, further confirming that this antenna structure can achieve strong directional radiation and low interference.

[0047] In summary, this technical solution includes three structural components. The first structural component has a chip interface for connecting the chip. The second structural component, located above the first structural component, has a first enclosure and first metal pillars periodically arranged on the first enclosure, forming a waveguide transmission channel with the corresponding side of the first structural component. The inner ends of the channel have a first impedance matching junction corresponding to the chip interface, a second impedance matching junction, and an antenna interface, respectively. The third structural component, located above the second structural component, has a second enclosure and second metal pillars periodically arranged on the second enclosure, forming an antenna radiation cavity with the corresponding side of the second structural component. A slotted radiation port is provided inside the cavity. In this configuration, the height of the metal pillars is only one-tenth to one-quarter of the wavelength within the operating frequency band. Due to the lower height, it is easier to process than traditional slotted waveguides and less prone to damage. Simultaneously, the structure is simple, improving the redundancy of assembly errors. This antenna structure also possesses a low sidelobe level.

[0048] In the embodiments disclosed in this utility model, the terms "installation," "connection," "linking," and "fixing" should be interpreted broadly. For example, "connection" can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; "linking" can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in the embodiments disclosed in this utility model according to the specific circumstances.

[0049] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present utility model. It should be noted that for those skilled in the art, several improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the principle of the present utility model, and these improvements and modifications should also be considered within the protection scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A gapped waveguide antenna, characterized in that, include: The first structural component (1) is provided with a chip interface (6) connected to the chip. The second structural member (2) is located above the first structural member (1). A first enclosure (4) and periodically arranged first metal pillars (5) are provided on one side of the second structural member (1) near the first structural member (1). The first enclosure (4) and the first metal pillars (5) form a waveguide transmission channel (10) with the side of the first structural member (1) near the second structural member (2). A first impedance matching junction (2-1) corresponding to the chip interface (6) is provided at the first end of the waveguide transmission channel (10). A second impedance matching junction (2-2) and an antenna interface (6-1) are provided at the second end of the waveguide transmission channel (10). The third structural member (3) is located above the second structural member (2). A second enclosure wall (4-1) and a periodically arranged second metal column (5-1) are provided on the side of the second structural member (2) near the second structural member (2). The second enclosure wall (4-1) and the second metal column (5-1) together with the side of the second structural member (2) near the third structural member (3) form an antenna radiation cavity (9). A slot radiation port (7) is provided on the inner side of the antenna radiation cavity (9).

2. The gapped waveguide antenna according to claim 1, characterized in that, The height of the first metal column (5) and the second metal column (5-1) is one-tenth to one-quarter of the wavelength in the operating frequency band.

3. The gap waveguide antenna according to claim 2, characterized in that, The height of the first metal column (5) and the second metal column (5-1) is 0.4 mm, and the height of the first wall (4) and the second wall (4-1) is 0.85 mm.

4. The gapped waveguide antenna according to claim 1, characterized in that, The third structural member (3) has two choke grooves (8) on one side away from the second structural member (2), and the two choke grooves (8) are located on both sides of the slit radiation port (7).

5. The gapped waveguide antenna according to claim 1, characterized in that, There is a 0.1mm air gap between the first metal column (5) and the first structural component (1), and there is a 0.1mm air gap between the second metal column (5-1) and the second structural component (2).

6. The gapped waveguide antenna according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The first structural component (1), the second structural component (2), and the third structural component (3) are all made of metal.

7. The gapped waveguide antenna according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The second structural component (2) and the third structural component (3) are both made of metal materials, and the first structural component (1) is a metallized PCB printed circuit board.

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