Antenna arrangement for radiating a high-frequency measurement signal of a measuring sensor
An antenna arrangement configured to radiate a high-frequency measurement signal from a measurement sensor is provided, including: an antenna made of a plastic material; a waveguide made of the plastic material, in which the waveguide is integrally formed with the antenna; and a wall on an outside of the antenna that has metallization or is made of metal. A measuring device including a measurement sensor and the antenna arrangement is also provided. A method of manufacturing an antenna arrangement is also provided, the method including: providing an antenna arrangement having an antenna and a waveguide made of a plastic by an injection molding process, a micro injection molding process, a compression molding of a base body, or a 3D printing process, in which the waveguide is integrally formed with the antenna; and metallizing an exterior of the antenna to form a wall on the exterior of the antenna.
1 . An antenna arrangement, configured to radiate a high-frequency measurement signal from a measurement sensor of a measuring device, comprising:
an antenna made of a plastic material;
a waveguide made of the plastic material, wherein the waveguide is integrally formed with the antenna;
a wall on an outside of the antenna that has metallization or is made of metal; and
an anti-reflection element configured on an outer side of a transition region between the antenna and the waveguide and being further configured to reduce reflections of the measurement signal in the transition region,
wherein the anti-reflection element of the antenna arrangement is configured to be slid through in a bracket, which is a press holder.
2 . The antenna arrangement according to claim 1 ,
wherein the antenna is a horn antenna or a parabolic antenna.
3 . The antenna arrangement according to claim 1 ,
wherein the antenna is cone-shaped.
4 . The antenna arrangement according to claim 1 ,
wherein the anti-reflective element is funnel-shaped.
5 . The antenna arrangement according to claim 1 ,
wherein the anti-reflective element is a metallic funnel partially filled with the plastic material.
6 . The antenna arrangement according to claim 1 ,
wherein the plastic material is a dielectric material of PEEK, HDPE, PTFE, PFA, or PVDF.
7 . The antenna arrangement according to claim 1 ,
wherein the plastic material has a DK value of 2≤ε r ≤5 and a loss factor of 0.1≤tan(δ)≤0.00001.
8 . A measuring device, comprising:
a measurement sensor comprising a radar chip configured to generate and/or detect a high-frequency measurement signal;
the antenna arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the antenna and the waveguide are configured to radiate the high-frequency measurement signal from the measurement sensor; and
a housing in which the antenna arrangement is mounted,
wherein the housing comprises a bracket provided in the housing and configured to secure the antenna assembly in the housing, and
wherein the bracket is a press holder and is formed such that an anti-reflection element of the antenna arrangement, which is disposed on an outer side of a transition region between the antenna and the waveguide, can be slid through in the press holder.
9 . The measuring device according to claim 8 ,
wherein the housing is further configured to arrange the antenna arrangement in the housing by means of the bracket in such a way that the high-frequency measurement signal from the radar chip of the measurement sensor is coupled into the waveguide and guided from the waveguide to the antenna.
10 . The measuring device according to claim 8 ,
wherein the measurement sensor further comprises a printed circuit board on which the radar chip is disposed, and
wherein the housing is further configured to directly mount the circuit board and the radar chip to a free end of the waveguide of the antenna arrangement by means of the bracket.
11 . The measuring device according to claim 8 ,
wherein the bracket is sleeve-shaped.
12 . The measuring device according to claim 8 ,
wherein the bracket is provided in the housing in a front portion of the antenna for supporting the antenna assembly, or
wherein the bracket is provided in the housing in a rear portion of the antenna for supporting the antenna assembly.
13 . The measuring device according to claim 8 ,
wherein the bracket is made of a metal or a plastic.
14 . The measuring device according to claim 8 ,
wherein an operating frequency of the high-frequency measurement signal is greater than 70 GHz.
15 . The antenna arrangement according to claim 1 ,
wherein the antenna arrangement is further configured to transmit the high-frequency measurement signal and/or to receive a reflected measurement signal, for determining a level, a limit level, or a pressure.
16 . The measuring device according to claim 8 ,
wherein the measuring device is configured for level measurement, point level measurement, or pressure measurement in a process plant.