Array Antenna Meander Phase Deviation for Vertical Sensing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicular radar systems face challenges in achieving comparable detection ranges in both horizontal and vertical directions due to hardware limitations and the complexity of designing dual polarized antennas, leading to false alarms and performance degradation.
Innovation Solution
An array antenna system is designed with radiating elements connected by meanders to create a phase difference, allowing the main beam to deviate from the normal plane, enabling comparable detection ranges in both directions using a single polarized antenna system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If another set of array antennas is deployed to sense over the vertical direction, then the sensing capability in different directions is improved, but the device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines horizontal and vertical sensing capabilities into a single array antenna system. The antenna elements are arranged in a specific geometric configuration (e.g., tetrahedral or pyramidal structure) that enables the same antenna to perform both horizontal 2D sensing and vertical sensing functions, eliminating the need for separate antenna sets and reducing overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a vertical dimension to the traditional horizontal array antenna configuration by arranging antenna elements in three-dimensional space (e.g., different heights or vertical positions). This spatial reconfiguration allows the antenna to achieve vertical sensing capability while maintaining horizontal sensing, effectively adding a dimension to the sensing capability without proportionally increasing complexity
2Adaptability or versatility
If another set of array antennas is deployed to sense over the vertical direction, then the sensing capability in different directions is improved, but the available space inside vehicle bumpers is exceeded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple sensing functions into a single compact antenna assembly that can be installed within the existing bumper space. By using the same physical antenna structure for both horizontal and vertical sensing through clever element arrangement and signal processing, the system avoids the space requirements of deploying separate antenna sets
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a nested or integrated antenna structure where multiple antenna elements are positioned in a compact three-dimensional arrangement (e.g., one set of elements vertically above another set). This nesting approach allows the antenna system to achieve volumetric efficiency and fit within the constrained bumper space while maintaining both horizontal and vertical sensing capabilities
3Adaptability or versatility
If dual polarized antenna system is used to provide object scanning in both horizontal and vertical directions, then the sensing capability is improved, but it is difficult to achieve the same detection range in both directions and design complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different functional roles to different parts of the same antenna structure. Specific antenna elements or sub-arrays are optimized for horizontal sensing while others are optimized for vertical sensing, but all elements work together in a coordinated manner through signal processing to achieve consistent detection range across both directions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses parameter changes by adjusting the electrical characteristics (such as phase shifts, amplitude weights, or frequency responses) of different antenna elements dynamically. This allows the system to compensate for inherent directional differences and achieve uniform detection range in both horizontal and vertical directions through electronic beamforming and signal processing techniques
Data Source
AI summary
An array antenna forms a main beam, and the main beam is toward a beam direction. The array antenna includes a plurality of radiating elements with a plurality of central line segments, where the plurality of radiating elements are arranged along a straight line, and the straight line is connecting the plurality of central line segments; and a plurality of meanders connecting the plurality of radiating elements; where the array antenna is disposed on a first plane, the beam direction has a nonzero deviating angle with a normal direction of the first plane, and the normal direction is perpendicular to the first plane.