Dual Frequency Aperture Antenna for Automotive Radar
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current automotive radar systems require separate antennas for 76-77 GHz and 24 GHz bands, necessitating dual antenna apertures for different coverage ranges, which is inefficient and cumbersome.
Innovation Solution
A dual-frequency radar system utilizing a spherical dielectric lens with distinct arrays of feed points for each frequency band, where higher frequency feed points are closer to the centerline and lower frequency feed points are farther away, allowing for simultaneous multi-beam coverage of different angular ranges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate antennas are used for 76-77 GHz and 24 GHz bands, then each antenna can be optimized for its specific frequency and coverage requirements, but the device complexity and hardware requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two separate antenna systems into a single shared aperture antenna that supports both 76-77 GHz long-range radar and 24 GHz short-range radar functions. The shared aperture structure allows both frequency bands to use the same physical antenna opening, reducing the total number of antennas from two to one while maintaining optimized coverage for each band through frequency-specific feed arrangements and beamforming techniques
Solution Approach 2:
The shared aperture antenna is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously - it serves as both a long-range radar antenna at 76-77 GHz and a short-range radar antenna at 24 GHz. The system achieves this universality through a common aperture structure that can generate different beam patterns and coverage areas by switching between different feed elements and applying frequency-specific signal processing, allowing one antenna to replace two previously separate antennas
2Device complexity
If a single antenna aperture is used for both frequency bands, then hardware complexity is reduced, but achieving optimized coverage for both long-range and short-range requirements becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating different beamforming characteristics for different frequency bands within the same aperture. For 76-77 GHz long-range radar, the system generates narrow, focused beams with small angular coverage optimized for distant targets. For 24 GHz short-range radar, the system generates wider beams with larger angular coverage optimized for nearby obstacles. Each frequency band receives localized optimization through frequency-specific feed element activation and beamforming weight calculations
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adapts its beam patterns and coverage characteristics based on the operating frequency band. When operating at 76-77 GHz, the aperture configures itself for long-range detection with specific beamwidths and scan angles. When operating at 24 GHz, the aperture reconfigures for short-range detection with different beamwidths and scan angles. This dynamic reconfiguration is achieved through electronic beamforming that adjusts phase and amplitude weights across feed elements based on the active frequency band and required coverage pattern
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables a single antenna aperture to provide effective coverage for both long-range and short-range radar functions, optimizing beamwidths and angular resolution for both frequency bands, thus reducing hardware complexity and improving performance.
Implementation Method 1
a spherical dielectric lens having a first array of feed points coupled with the first radar transmitter/receiver set and a second array of feed points coupled with the second radar transmitter/receiver set, the spherical dielectric lens forming relatively higher frequency beams
Implementation Method 2
the spherical dielectric lens forming relatively higher frequency beams that are relatively tightly spaced about a centerline of the spherical dielectric lens and the spherical dielectric lens forming relatively lower frequency beams that are relatively farther spaced
Data Source
AI summary
A dual frequency radar antenna for connection to a first radar transmitter/receiver set which operates in a relatively lower frequency band and to a second radar transmitter/receiver set which operates in a relatively higher frequency band. The dual frequency radar antenna has a spherical dielectric lens having a first array of inputs coupled with the first radar transmitter/receiver set and a second array of inputs coupled with the second radar transmitter/receiver set. The spherical dielectric lens forms relatively higher frequency beams that are relatively tightly spaced about a centerline of the spherical dielectric lens while the spherical dielectric lens also forms relatively lower frequency beams that are relatively farther spaced about a centerline of the spherical dielectric lens than are the relatively higher frequency beams.