3D Folded Waveguide Network for Automotive Radar Energy Loss
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automotive radar systems face challenges in balancing efficiency with cost-effective manufacturing, particularly at 77 GHz frequencies, where antennas often lose energy due to heating in substrate materials and are difficult to manufacture in compact forms.
Innovation Solution
A dual open-ended waveguide (DOEWG) antenna design with a three-dimensional or two-dimensional dividing network that splits and phases electromagnetic energy efficiently, using a split block construction and reactive components to minimize energy loss and simplify manufacturing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If series-fed patch array antennas are used for cost-effective manufacturing, then ease of manufacture is improved, but energy loss increases due to heating in substrate materials
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the antenna elements from the lossy substrate material by using suspended or protruding patch structures that extend beyond the circuit board edges. This removes the antenna radiating surfaces from direct contact with the heating substrate, thereby reducing energy loss while maintaining PCB-based manufacturing advantages
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces air gaps or protruding structures as intermediary elements between the antenna patches and the substrate. These intermediaries reduce the coupling between the antenna and the lossy substrate material, allowing cost-effective PCB manufacturing while minimizing energy loss to substrate heating
2Loss of energy
If all-metal slotted waveguide array antennas are used to minimize energy loss, then energy loss is reduced, but manufacturing difficulty increases due to small geometries required for 77 GHz operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a composite structure combining metal antenna elements with PCB substrate support. This hybrid approach allows the use of inexpensive PCB materials for the bulk structure while using metal only for the critical radiating elements, achieving low energy loss without requiring complete all-metal construction at difficult-to-manufacture scales
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the antenna structure into modular patch elements that can be individually fabricated on standard PCB substrates. This segmentation allows each element to be manufactured using conventional PCB techniques rather than requiring precision fabrication of small all-metal waveguide structures, reducing manufacturing difficulty while maintaining low loss performance
3Volume of moving object
If compact antenna geometries are used for 77 GHz operation, then volume is reduced, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs antenna patches with dimensions that are multiples of the substrate thickness, allowing the same basic patch geometry to be manufactured using standard PCB fabrication processes regardless of the specific frequency requirement. This universal design approach enables compact 77 GHz antennas to be manufactured with standard precision tolerances rather than requiring custom high-precision fabrication
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
The DOEWG antenna achieves efficient energy distribution and phase adjustment, enabling high-gain, narrow-beam performance while being compact and easier to manufacture, thus improving radar system efficiency and accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
The dividing network is configured to receive electromagnetic energy from a source and split the electromagnetic energy from the source among the plurality of feed waveguides, such that each feed waveguide receives a respective portion of the electromagnetic energy from the source. The splitting and adjusting of the radar system are based in part on the one or more coupling apertures in the dividing network.
Implementation Method 2
The dividing network is also configured to adjust a phase of the electromagnetic energy received by each waveguide. The splitting and adjusting of the radar system are based in part on the one or more coupling apertures in the dividing network.
Implementation Method 3
Each feed waveguide is configured to guide electromagnetic energy to at least one of the plurality of radiating elements. Each feed waveguide of the radar system has a height and width dimension in common with each other feed waveguide.
Implementation Method 4
The radiating elements are configured to radiate electromagnetic energy. The method includes radiating electromagnetic energy by the plurality of radiating elements coupled to the plurality of feed waveguides.
Data Source
AI summary
A radar system includes a plurality of radiating elements configured to radiate electromagnetic energy and a plurality of feed waveguides defining a common plane and configured to guide electromagnetic energy to the plurality of radiating elements. The radar system also includes a plurality of waveguides arranged as a dividing network, where the dividing network includes one or more coupling apertures located in the common plane. The dividing network is configured to receive electromagnetic energy from a source and split the electromagnetic energy among the plurality of feed waveguides, such that each feed waveguide receives a respective portion of the electromagnetic energy. The splitting and adjusting of the radar system are based in part on the one or more coupling apertures in the dividing network.