Hybrid Horn Waveguide Geometry for Beam Coverage and Low Sidelobes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing radar systems face challenges in accurately covering the desired field-of-view with radiation beams, as conventional horn and step antennas either produce wide beams with poor impedance matching or narrow beams with high sidelobes, limiting their effectiveness in detecting objects in various environments.
Innovation Solution
A hybrid horn waveguide antenna is designed with a combination of flaring and step features, featuring a first waveguide section along the x-axis and a second section transitioning to the z-axis, along with an iris for impedance matching, to achieve a wider beam with moderate roll-off in one plane and a narrower beam with low sidelobes in another, ensuring precise field-of-view coverage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of moving object
If conventional horn antenna is used, then beam width is wide, but impedance matching is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna employs different geometric configurations in different spatial regions: flaring walls in the E-plane provide wide beam coverage, while step features in the H-plane maintain narrow beam width with low sidelobes. This local differentiation of structural properties allows simultaneous optimization of beam width and impedance matching in different planes.
Solution Approach 2:
The antenna structure is asymmetric with respect to the two principal planes: the E-plane features flaring walls that expand outward, while the H-plane features stepped transitions. This asymmetric design enables independent control of radiation patterns and impedance characteristics in each plane, resolving the contradiction between wide beam width and good impedance matching.
2Area of moving object
If conventional step antenna is used, then beam width is narrow, but sidelobes are high
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna applies different structural characteristics to different planes: flaring walls in the E-plane control the vertical beam width, while step features in the H-plane suppress horizontal sidelobes. This localized application of different geometric properties eliminates the harmful sidelobes while maintaining narrow beam width where required.
3Adaptability or versatility
If hybrid horn waveguide antenna is used, then field-of-view coverage is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna merges the flaring wall configuration and step feature configuration into a single integrated waveguide structure. By combining these two conventional antenna concepts into one hybrid design, the patent achieves superior field-of-view coverage while maintaining a unified, manufacturable structure rather than requiring separate components.
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 hybrid horn waveguide antenna effectively covers a specific field-of-view with improved impedance matching, enabling reliable detection of objects by shaping the radiation beam to ensure comprehensive coverage while minimizing sidelobes and maintaining efficient input impedance matching.
Implementation Method 1
a waveguide antenna configured to guide electromagnetic energy through a channel defining an energy path for the electromagnetic energy
Implementation Method 2
an antenna section having an inverted trapezoidal prism shape and configured to radiate or receive the electromagnetic energy
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3-1
AI summary
This document describes apparatuses, methods, and systems for a hybrid horn waveguide antenna. The hybrid horn waveguide antenna includes a waveguide, described in two sections, and an antenna section having both flaring features and step features. The first waveguide section is electrically coupled to a transmitter/receiver (e.g., transceiver) and defines an energy path along an x-axis. The second waveguide section transitions the energy path to travel along a z-axis. The antenna section has a first aperture that is coupled to the second waveguide section and includes flaring wall features in one plane (e.g., the E-plane) and step features in a second plane (e.g., the H-plane). The waveguide may further include an iris between the first waveguide section and the second waveguide section. Further, the hybrid horn waveguide antenna section may be formed from an upper structure and a lower structure manufactured via injection molding and then mated.