Patch array feed for an automotive radar antenna
View Patent ↗An improved transceiver assembly for a vehicle for detecting potentially hazardous objects is disclosed. The transceiver assembly preferably comprises a patch array feed antenna having an array of a plurality of patches for generating a beam and for detecting the beam as reflected from the potential hazards. The antenna is formed in or on a housing which also contains a parabolic dish that moves to sweeps the beam of radiation towards the potential hazards outside of the vehicle. In a preferred embodiment, approximately 77 GHz radiation is generated from and detected by the antenna.
1. A transceiver assembly for detecting objects, comprising:
a reflector coupled to a housing, wherein the reflector moves to sweep a beam of radiation to detect the objects and to receive the beam as reflected from the objects; and
an antenna comprising a plurality of patches coupled to a common feed for generating the beam and for detecting the beam as reflected from the objects.
2. The transceiver assembly of claim 1 , wherein the antenna is located at a focus of a parabolic surface of the reflector.
3. The transceiver assembly of claim 1 , wherein the antenna is formed on a substrate.
4. The transceiver assembly of claim 3 , wherein the substrate is selected from a group consisting of a glass microfiber reinforced polytetrafluoroethylene composite, a liquid crystal polymer material, a low-temperature co-fired ceramic material, and a foam material.
5. The transceiver assembly of claim 3 , wherein the substrate comprises a ground plane underlying the antenna.
6. The transceiver assembly of claim 3 , wherein the substrate further comprises additional circuitry to operate the antenna.
7. The transceiver assembly of claim 6 , wherein the additional circuitry comprises an oscillator to generate the beam, and a mixer for downconverting the detected beam as reflected from the objects.
8. The transceiver assembly of claim 1 , wherein the antenna is integral with the housing.
9. The transceiver assembly of claim 8 , wherein the antenna is formed on the housing.
10. The transceiver assembly of claim 1 , wherein the antenna is positioned within the housing.
11. The transceiver assembly of claim 10 , wherein the antenna is at least partially exposed through the housing.
12. The transceiver assembly of claim 1 , wherein the patches are located at different positions on the antenna in a manner to preferentially steer the generated beam toward the reflector.
13. The transceiver assembly of claim 1 , wherein the patches are fed with different phases to preferentially steer the generated beam toward the reflector.
14. The transceiver assembly of claim 1 , wherein the radiation is approximately 77 GHz.
15. The transceiver assembly of claim 1 , wherein the generated beam is generated at an acute angle of incidence with respect to a plane of the patches.
16. A transceiver assembly for a vehicle, comprising:
a reflector coupled to a housing, wherein the reflector moves to sweep a beam of radiation to detect objects outside of the vehicle; and
an antenna comprising an array of a plurality of patches for generating the beam and for detecting the beam as reflected from the objects.
17. The transceiver assembly of claim 16 , wherein the antenna is located at a focus of a parabolic surface of the reflector.
18. The transceiver assembly of claim 16 , wherein the antenna is formed on a substrate.
19. The transceiver assembly of claim 18 , wherein the substrate is selected from a group consisting of a glass microfiber reinforced polytetrafluoroethylene composite, a liquid crystal polymer material, a low-temperature co-fired ceramic material, and a foam material.
20. The transceiver assembly of claim 18 , wherein the substrate comprises a ground plane underlying the antenna.
21. The transceiver assembly of claim 20 , wherein the substrate further comprises additional circuitry to operate the antenna.
22. The transceiver assembly of claim 16 , wherein the antenna is integral with the housing.
23. The transceiver assembly of claim 22 , wherein the antenna is formed on the housing.
24. The transceiver assembly of claim 16 , wherein the antenna is positioned within the housing.
25. The transceiver assembly of claim 24 , wherein the antenna is at least partially exposed through the housing.
26. The transceiver assembly of claim 16 , wherein the patches are located at different positions on the antenna in a manner to preferentially steer the generated beam toward the reflector.
27. The transceiver assembly of claim 16 , wherein the patches are fed with different phases to preferentially steer the generated beam toward the reflector.
28. The transceiver assembly of claim 16 , wherein the radiation is approximately 77 GHz.
29. The transceiver assembly of claim 16 , wherein the transceiver assembly is mounted within a vehicle.
30. The transceiver assembly of claim 16 , wherein the transceiver assembly is mounted within a bumper on the vehicle.
31. The transceiver assembly of claim 16 , wherein the patches are all connected to a common feed.
32. The transceiver assembly of claim 16 , wherein the generated beam is generated at an acute angle of incidence with respect to a plane of the patches.
33. A vehicle having a transceiver assembly for detecting objects outside of the vehicle, comprising:
a transceiver assembly mounted to or within the vehicle, the assembly comprising:
a reflector coupled to a housing, wherein the reflector moves to sweep a beam of radiation to detect objects outside of the vehicle;
an antenna comprising an array of a plurality of patches for generating the beam and for detecting the beam as reflected from the objects; and
circuitry to process the detected reflected beam to provide an indication of the object.
34. The vehicle of claim 33 , wherein the antenna is formed on a substrate.
35. The vehicle of claim 34 , wherein the substrate further comprises the circuitry to process the detected reflected beam.
36. The vehicle of claim 33 , wherein the patches are located at different positions on the antenna in a manner to preferentially steer the generated beam toward the reflector.
37. The vehicle of claim 33 , wherein the patches are fed with different phases to preferentially steer the generated beam toward the reflector.
38. The vehicle of claim 33 , wherein the radiation is approximately 77 GHz.
39. The vehicle of claim 33 , wherein the transceiver assembly is mounted within a bumper on the vehicle.
40. The vehicle of claim 33 , wherein the patches are all connected to a common feed.
41. The vehicle of claim 33 , wherein the indication comprises a signal to a vehicle communication bus to reduce a speed of the vehicle.
42. The vehicle of claim 33 , wherein the indication comprises an indication to a user of the vehicle.
43. The vehicle of claim 33 , wherein the indication is either audible, visual, or both.