Radar and method for switching to enable array antenna

1. A radar, comprising:

a transceiver;

a MIMO array antenna coupled with the transceiver, and comprising a plurality of first transmitting sub-arrays and a plurality of receiving sub-arrays;

a phased array antenna coupled with the transceiver, and comprising a plurality of second transmitting sub-arrays and the plurality of receiving sub-arrays, wherein the first transmitting sub-arrays and the second transmitting sub-arrays comprises a plurality of first patch antennas aligned in a straight line respectively, and the receiving sub-arrays comprises a plurality of second patch antennas aligned in a straight line respectively, wherein the first transmitting sub-arrays and the second transmitting sub-arrays are disposed on a first side of the transceiver, and the receiving sub-arrays are disposed on a second side of the transceiver, wherein the first side is opposite to the second side; and

a controller coupled with the transceiver and configured to enable the first transmitting sub-arrays so as to form the MIMO array antenna or to enable the second transmitting sub-arrays so as to form the phased array antenna.

2. The radar as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first transmitting sub-arrays and the second transmitting sub-arrays are aligned parallel on a first plane, and a phase center of each of the first transmitting sub-arrays and each of the second transmitting sub-arrays are aligned with each other, wherein the receiving sub-arrays are aligned parallel on a second plane, and a phase center of each of the receiving sub-arrays are aligned with each other,

wherein two of the first transmitting sub-arrays are spaced apart by a first distance, and two adjacent receiving sub-arrays in the receiving sub-arrays are spaced apart by a second distance, wherein the first distance is N times the second distance and N is the number of receiving sub-arrays.

3. The radar as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the second transmitting sub-arrays are disposed between any two of the first transmitting sub-arrays.

4. The radar as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the controller is configured to determine whether a GPS signal is available, wherein if the GPS signal is available, the controller determines whether the radar is located on a particular road section according to the GPS signal, and if the radar is located on the particular road section, the controller enables the second transmitting sub-arrays so as to form the phased array antenna.

5. The radar as claimed in claim 4 , wherein if the radar is not located on the particular road section, the controller enables the first transmitting sub-arrays so as to form the MIMO array antenna.

6. The radar as claimed in claim 4 , wherein if the GPS signal is unavailable, the controller is configured to determine whether a moving speed of the radar is greater than a preset threshold, and if the moving speed of the radar is greater than the preset threshold, the controller enables the second transmitting sub-arrays so as to form the phased array antenna.

7. The radar as claimed in claim 6 , wherein if the moving speed is not greater than the preset threshold, the controller enables the first transmitting sub-arrays so as to form the MIMO array antenna.

8. A method for enabling an array antenna, used in a radar, the radar comprising a MIMO array antenna, a phased array antenna and a controller, wherein the MIMO array antenna comprises a plurality of first transmitting sub-arrays, the phased array antenna comprises a plurality of second transmitting sub-arrays, and the method comprising:

determining whether a GPS signal is available;

if the GPS signal is available, determining whether the radar is located on a particular road section according to the GPS signal;

if the GPS signal is unavailable, determining whether a moving speed of the radar is greater than a preset threshold;

if the moving speed of the radar is greater than the preset threshold, enabling the second transmitting sub-arrays so as to form the phased array antenna.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8 , wherein if the radar is not located on the particular road section, the method further comprises:

enabling the first transmitting sub-arrays so as to form the MIMO array antenna.

10. The method as claimed in claim 8 , wherein if the moving speed is not greater than the preset threshold, the method further comprises:

enabling the first transmitting sub-arrays so as to form the MIMO array antenna.

11. A method for enabling an array antenna, used in a radar, the radar comprising a MIMO array antenna, a phased array antenna and a controller, wherein the MIMO array antenna comprises a plurality of first transmitting sub-arrays, the phased array antenna comprises a plurality of second transmitting sub-arrays, and the method comprising:

determining whether a GPS signal is available;

if the GPS signal is available, determining whether the radar is located on a particular road section according to the GPS signal;

if the radar is located on the particular road section, enabling the second transmitting sub-arrays so as to form the phased array antenna;

if the radar is not located on the particular road section, enabling the first transmitting sub-arrays so as to form the MIMO array antenna.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11 , wherein if the GPS signal is unavailable, the method further comprises:

determining whether a moving speed of the radar is greater than a preset threshold;

if the moving speed of the radar is greater than the preset threshold, enabling the second transmitting sub-arrays so as to form the phased array antenna.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12 , wherein if the moving speed is not greater than the preset threshold, the method further comprises:

enabling the first transmitting sub-arrays so as to form the MIMO array antenna.