Slot Waveguide Radar Antenna for Wide-Range Detection Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional radar antennas are heavy, difficult to assemble, and have performance issues due to eccentricity during assembly, limiting their detection range and reliability.
Innovation Solution
A radar antenna design featuring slot radiation and reception parts with zigzag arranged slots, connected by a waveguide structure formed by coupling two metal-coated plastic plates, allowing for efficient detection at both short and long distances with improved assembly and manufacturing efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional radar antenna is made of metal with a waveguide formed by stacking plates, then the structural strength and electromagnetic performance are improved, but the weight increases and the assembly difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite structure combining plastic and metal materials. The waveguide body is made of plastic material, and metal plates are coupled to form the waveguide structure. This composite approach reduces the overall weight compared to fully metal construction while maintaining the necessary electromagnetic performance through the metal plates' conductive properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the conventional fully metal mechanical structure with a plastic-based waveguide body. This substitution reduces weight while the metal plates coupled onto the plastic body provide the necessary electromagnetic conductivity and performance characteristics.
2Reliability
If a conventional radar antenna uses a waveguide formed by stacking multiple metal plates, then the electromagnetic performance is improved, but the assembly process becomes difficult and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The waveguide structure is segmented into a plastic waveguide body and separate metal plates. The metal plates are coupled onto the plastic body to form the complete waveguide structure. This segmentation allows for independent manufacturing of components and simplifies the assembly process compared to stacking multiple metal plates.
Solution Approach 2:
The plastic waveguide body serves as an intermediary component that simplifies the assembly of metal plates. Instead of directly stacking and aligning multiple metal plates, the plastic body provides a stable base and positioning structure, making the assembly process easier and more efficient.
3Ease of manufacture
If slots are arranged in a conventional linear pattern, then the manufacturing simplicity is improved, but the detection range and directionality are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a one-dimensional linear slot arrangement to a two-dimensional zigzag pattern. The slots are arranged in multiple rows with alternating positions, creating a zigzag configuration that expands the detection coverage area and improves directionality while maintaining manufacturability through standard machining processes.
4Ease of manufacture
If the first slot radiation part uses fewer slots, then the manufacturing complexity is reduced, but the detection range coverage is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent compensates for the fewer slots in the first radiation part by arranging them in a zigzag pattern across multiple rows. This two-dimensional arrangement increases the effective detection area and coverage without requiring a proportional increase in the number of slots, maintaining manufacturing simplicity while improving detection range.
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 design enhances detection range and directionality while reducing antenna size and manufacturing costs, making it suitable for advanced anti-collision systems in autonomous vehicles.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of waveguides formed in the antenna body, and configured to connect the slot radiation part to the transmission port, and connect the slot reception part to the reception port
Implementation Method 2
a first slot radiation part configured to radiate a radio wave in a first detection range, and a second slot radiation part and a third slot radiation part configured to radiate radio waves in a second detection range
Implementation Method 3
The radar antenna enables a driver to determine whether an object is present, the distance to the object, the moving direction of the object, and the moving speed of the object, and to identify and classify the object, on the basis of a scattered wave or reflected wave which is transferred after a radio wave radiated by the radar antenna has collided with the object
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a radar antenna including an antenna body including a first plate and a second plate; a slot radiation part and a slot reception part formed in the first plate; a transmission port and a reception port formed in the second plate; and a waveguide formed by assembling the first and second plates. The slot radiation part includes a first slot radiation part configured to radiate a radio wave in a first detection range, and a second slot radiation part configured to radiate radio waves in a second detection range having a larger width and distance than the first detection range.