MULTIMODAL RADAR ANTENNA

Abstract

Multimodal radar antenna device (100, 200, 300), comprising: a transmitting antenna section (120, 220, 320) comprising a first plurality of transmitting antennas (101) configured to transmit a steerable mode signal, a second plurality of transmitting antennas (104) configured to transmit an imaging mode signal, and a third plurality of transmitting antennas (103) configured to transmit the imaging mode signal and the steerable mode signal; and a receiving antenna section (140, 240, 340) comprising a plurality of receiving antennas (102), wherein the second plurality of transmitting antennas (104) is arranged between the first plurality of transmitting antennas (101), wherein the second plurality of transmitting antennas (104) is arranged between the third plurality of transmitting antennas (103), wherein the first plurality of transmitting antennas (101) comprises a first set of steerable mode signal transmission antennas (121) with a spacing of 1.5 λ between antennas of the first set of steerable mode signal transmission antennas (121) and a second set of steerable mode signal transmission antennas (122) with a spacing of 1.5 λ between antennas of the second set of steerable mode signal transmission antennas (122), wherein the first sentence and the second sentence are arranged horizontally along an axis, and where λ is a wavelength of a signal that is sent or received by an antenna.

Description

[0001] Devices conforming to exemplary embodiments relate to radar antenna designs. In particular, devices conforming to exemplary embodiments relate to multimodal radar antenna designs.

[0002] DE 10 2017 221 049 A1 describes a radar device and an antenna for the radar device. Furthermore, a first transmitting antenna group and a first receiving antenna group are formed by arranging a plurality of transmitting antennas and a plurality of receiving antennas in an elongated configuration in a first direction of vertical directions; a second transmitting antenna group and a second receiving antenna group are formed by arranging the other antennas in an elongated configuration in a second direction opposite to the first direction; and transmitting antennas, which send signals, and receiving antennas, which receive reflection signals from an object, are selected appropriately, thereby making it possible to improve the horizontal and vertical angular resolution for both medium / long-range and short-range scanning.

[0003] It can be considered an object of the present invention to provide an improved multimodal radar antenna device.

[0004] One or more exemplary embodiments provide a multimodal radar antenna. In particular, one or more exemplary embodiments provide a multimodal radar antenna capable of operating in steerable and imaging modes.

[0005] According to a first aspect of the present invention, a multimodal radar antenna is provided. The antenna comprises a transmitting antenna section comprising a first plurality of transmitting antennas configured to transmit a steerable mode signal, a second plurality of transmitting antennas configured to transmit an imaging mode signal, and a third plurality of transmitting antennas configured to transmit the imaging mode signal and the steerable mode signal; and a receiving antenna section comprising a plurality of receiving antennas.

[0006] The second set of transmitting antennas is arranged between the first set of transmitting antennas.

[0007] The second set of transmitting antennas is arranged between the third set of transmitting antennas.

[0008] The first set of transmitting antennas is a first set of signal transmission antennas for the steering mode with a spacing of 1.5 λ between antennas of the first set of signal transmission antennas for the steering mode and a second set of signal transmission antennas for the steering mode with a spacing of 1.5 λ between antennas of the second set of signal transmission antennas for the steering mode, and the first set and the second set are arranged horizontally along an axis, where λ is a wavelength of a signal that is transmitted or received by an antenna.

[0009] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the third plurality of transmitting antennas comprises a set of antennas configured to transmit the imaging mode signal and the steerable mode signal and arranged horizontally along the axis at a distance of 1.5 λ.

[0010] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the second plurality of transmitting antennas may include a set of antennas configured to transmit the imaging mode signal and arranged horizontally along the axis at a distance of 0.5 λ.

[0011] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the distance between a first antenna of the first set of steerable transmitting antennas and a last antenna of the second set of steerable transmitting antennas along the horizontal axis is 13.5 λ.

[0012] Further purposes, advantages and novel features of the exemplary embodiments will become apparent from the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments and the accompanying drawings. Fig. Figure 1 shows a diagram of a multimodal radar antenna device according to an exemplary embodiment; Fig. Figure 2 shows a diagram of a multimodal radar antenna device according to a further exemplary embodiment; and Fig. Figure 3 shows a diagram of a multimodal radar antenna device according to a further exemplary embodiment.

[0013] Some exemplary embodiments of a multimodal radar antenna device are now described with reference to the Fig. 1 - 3 of the attached drawings are described, in which the same reference numerals refer to the same elements.

[0014] The following disclosure enables those skilled in the art to implement the inventive concept. However, the embodiments disclosed herein are only exemplary and do not limit the concept of the invention to the embodiments described herein. Furthermore, descriptions of features or aspects of each embodiment should typically be considered available for aspects of other embodiments.

[0015] It is also understood that where it is stated herein that a first element is "connected to", "formed on" or "attached" to a second element, the first element may be directly connected to, directly formed on or directly arranged on the second element, and intermediate elements may be present between the first element and the second element, unless it is stated that a first element is "directly" connected to, attached to, formed on or arranged on the second element.Furthermore, if a first element is configured to "send" information to or "receive" information from a second element, the first element can send the information directly to or receive it from the second element, send the information via or receive it from a bus, send or receive it via a network, or send or receive it via intermediate elements, unless the first element is configured to send information "directly" to or receive it from the second element.

[0016] Throughout the entire disclosure, one or more of the disclosed elements can be combined into a single device or combined into one or more devices. Additionally, individual elements can be provided on separate devices.

[0017] Vehicles, such as passenger cars, trucks, SUVs, motorhomes (RVs), marine vessels, aircraft, etc., are equipped with imaging, radar, and / or vision systems. For example, vehicles may have cameras, lidar, radar, or other image sensors facing one or more areas around the vehicle, such as a forward-facing camera, a rear-facing camera, a backup camera, and a side-facing camera. For instance, radar can be used to detect or capture images of the area around a vehicle. The radar can also be used to determine the presence of objects and / or other indicators or points of interest.

[0018] One type of radar that can be used in automotive or other vehicle applications is multimodal radar. Multimodal radar can include antenna elements for operation with both multiple-input multi-output (MIMO) and phased-array radar. An antenna layout for such a radar preferably achieves high angular resolution over a wide field of view in both azimuth and elevation. This helps enable operation at highway interchanges, where detection and localization of fast-moving targets is required. The antenna gain should preferably be high to allow the detection of small targets over long distances. Furthermore, a layout that supports both steerable beam mode and imaging mode reduces the number of radars per vehicle platform and allows for flexible operation.

[0019] In imaging mode, objects above ground are detected, located, and their shape is estimated. Examples of objects include vehicles, pedestrians, infrastructure, etc. A typical operating range for imaging mode might be approximately 90 meters with a wide field of view (FOV) (e.g., 90 degrees) to achieve 360-degree coverage with the minimum number of radars. A key feature of imaging mode is the high angular resolution at a wide FOV, which is necessary for estimating the shape of objects. In steerable beam mode, a narrower FOV (~14 degrees) and a greater range (greater than 200 m) are used at intersections, junctions, or traffic locations where, for example, faster traffic is expected. The steerable beam can be directed or moved across the entire 90-degree FOV.

[0020] Fig. Figure 1 shows a diagram of a multimodal radar antenna device 100 according to an exemplary embodiment. With reference to Fig. 1 includes a multimodal radar antenna device 100, a transmitting antenna section 120 and a receiving antenna section 140.

[0021] The transmitting antenna section 120 includes a first plurality of transmitting antennas 101 configured to transmit a steerable beam-mode signal, a second plurality of transmitting antennas 104 configured to transmit an imaging beam-mode signal, and a third plurality of transmitting antennas 103 configured to transmit an imaging-mode signal and a steerable beam-mode signal. The receiving antenna section 140 may include a plurality of receiving antennas 102.

[0022] The imaging beam mode signal can be a radio frequency (RF) beam used to image an area. The imaging beam mode signal is transmitted and reflected. The resulting reflection is triggered to create an image of the area.

[0023] The steerable beam mode signal can be an electronically steerable RF beam generated by phased-array antennas. Specifically, a feed current for each antenna of the phased-array antennas passes through a phase shifter. The phase shifters progressively delay the radio waves so that each antenna transmits its wave at a different time. The resulting beam from the phased-array antennas can be directed at an angle to the axis of the phased-array antennas. Adjusting the phase shifts can change the direction of the resulting beam.

[0024] The third array of transmitting antennas 103 is arranged between the first array of transmitting antennas. The second array of transmitting antennas 104 is arranged between the third array of transmitting antennas 103.

[0025] The first array of transmitting antennas 101 comprises a first set of steerable signal transmission antennas 121 spaced 1.5 λ apart (where λ is the wavelength of the signal) and a second set of steerable signal transmission antennas 122 spaced 1.5 λ apart. The first set of antennas 121 and the second set 122 are arranged horizontally along an axis.

[0026] The third array of transmitting antennas 103 includes a set of antennas configured to transmit the imaging mode signal and the steerable mode signal, arranged horizontally along the axis at a distance of 1.5 λ. The second array of transmitting antennas 104 includes a set of antennas configured to transmit the imaging mode signal, arranged horizontally along the axis at a distance of 0.5 λ. The distance between a first antenna of the first set of steerable signal transmission antennas 121 and a last antenna of the second set of steerable signal transmission antennas 122 along the horizontal axis can be 13.5 λ.

[0027] The plurality of receiving antennas 102 of the receiving antenna section 140 can be spaced 0.5 λ apart along the horizontal axis. The plurality of receiving antennas 102 of the receiving antenna section 140 can include a first row 141 of receiving antennas 102 and second rows 142 of receiving antennas arranged below the first row 141. The first row 141 and the second rows 142 can be spaced 1 λ apart along a vertical axis. The second rows 142 can be spaced 0.5 λ apart along the vertical axis. The second rows 142 can be 2.5 λ wide along the horizontal axis. The vertical distance from the first row 141 to the last row of the second rows 142 can be 1.5 λ along the vertical axis.

[0028] Fig. Figure 2 shows a diagram of a multimodal radar antenna device 200 according to a further exemplary embodiment. With reference to Fig. 2 is the receiving antenna section 240 of Fig. 2 the receiving antenna section 140 of Fig. 1 similar, which omits the repeated description.

[0029] In Fig. 2. The transmitting antenna section 220 is similar to the transmitting antenna section 120, except that it includes a plurality of rows of transmitting antenna sections 120, which are similar to those described in relation to Fig. The multiple transmitting antenna sections 120 are spaced at intervals of 0.5 λ along the vertical axis.

[0030] In Fig. In section 2, the antenna layout was modified to increase the range. Specifically, the multiple transmit antenna sections comprise 120 patches (columns) of antennas, represented by vertical lines running through the antenna columns. Each patch strip of transmit antenna section 120 contains six (6) patch elements. The element gain is increased by a factor of 6.

[0031] Fig. Figure 3 shows a diagram of a multimodal radar antenna device 300 according to a further exemplary embodiment. With reference to Fig. 3 is the transmitting antenna section 320 of Fig. 3 the transmitting antenna section 220 of Fig. 2 similar, which is why the repeated description is omitted.

[0032] In Fig.3. Receiving antenna section 340 differs from receiving antenna sections 140 and 240. In particular, receiving antenna section 340 includes a plurality of receiving antennas, including the first columns of receiving antennas 341 and the second columns of receiving antennas 342. The first columns of receiving antennas 341 and the second columns of receiving antennas 342 are patch strips represented by the vertical lines of four patch elements. The top of the second columns of receiving antennas may be 0.5 λ lower than the top of the first columns of receiving antennas when measured along a vertical axis.

[0033] In the receiving antenna section 340, the distance between the top of the first columns of receiving antennas and the bottom of the second columns of receiving antennas along the vertical axis can be 2 λ. Furthermore, the distance between the first column of the first columns of receiving antennas and the last column of the second columns of receiving antennas along the horizontal axis can be 3.5 λ.

Claims

[1] Multimodal radar antenna device (100, 200, 300), comprising: a transmitting antenna section (120, 220, 320) comprising a first plurality of transmitting antennas (101) configured to transmit a steerable mode signal, a second plurality of transmitting antennas (104) configured to transmit an imaging mode signal, and a third plurality of transmitting antennas (103) configured to transmit the imaging mode signal and the steerable mode signal; and a receiving antenna section (140, 240, 340) comprising a plurality of receiving antennas (102), wherein the second plurality of transmitting antennas (104) is arranged between the first plurality of transmitting antennas (101), wherein the second plurality of transmitting antennas (104) is arranged between the third plurality of transmitting antennas (103), wherein the first plurality of transmitting antennas (101) comprises a first set of steerable mode signal transmission antennas (121) with a spacing of 1.5 λ between antennas of the first set of steerable mode signal transmission antennas (121) and a second set of steerable mode signal transmission antennas (122) with a spacing of 1.5 λ between antennas of the second set of steerable mode signal transmission antennas (122), wherein the first sentence and the second sentence are arranged horizontally along an axis, and where λ is a wavelength of a signal that is sent or received by an antenna. [2] Multimodal radar antenna device (100, 200, 300) according to claim 1, wherein the third plurality of transmitting antennas (103) comprises a set of antennas configured to transmit the imaging mode signal and the steerable mode signal and arranged horizontally along the axis at a distance of 1.5 λ. [3] Multimodal radar antenna device (100, 200, 300) according to claim 2, wherein the second plurality of transmitting antennas (104) comprises a set of antennas configured to transmit the imaging mode signal and arranged horizontally along the axis at a distance of 0.5 λ. [4] Multimodal radar antenna device (100, 200, 300) according to claim 3, wherein the distance between a first antenna of the first set of steerable mode transmission antennas (121) and a last antenna of the second set of steerable mode transmission antennas (122) along the horizontal axis is 13.5 λ.

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