Vehicle radar sensor assemblies
RADAR sensor assemblies/modules, particularly those for vehicles. In some embodiments, the assembly may comprise a plurality of waveguides, each waveguide of the plurality of waveguides being defined by a waveguide groove. A slot may be positioned to extend along an axis of each of the plurality of waveguide grooves. Each of the waveguides may be further defined, at least in part, by a periodic feature that extends back and forth in a periodic manner along at least a portion of its respective waveguide and a plurality of periodic signal confinement structures, a first periodic signal confinement structure of which may extend adjacent to a first side of each of the plurality of waveguides, and a second periodic signal confinement structure which may extend along a second side of each of the plurality of waveguides opposite the first side.
1. A vehicle sensor assembly, comprising:
a waveguide block defining a plurality of waveguides, each waveguide defined by a waveguide groove, wherein at least one of the plurality of waveguide grooves oscillates back and forth between opposing sides of a structure defining the respective waveguide groove in a periodic manner along an elongated axis of its respective waveguide;
an antenna structure operably coupled with plurality of waveguides, wherein the antenna structure comprises an array of one or more slots extending along an elongated axis of each waveguide groove of the plurality of waveguides, wherein each of the one or more slots is configured to deliver electromagnetic radiation from at least one of the plurality of waveguides therethrough, and wherein at least one of: (1) the plurality of waveguide grooves; and (2) the one or more slots extends along the elongated axis of its respective waveguide; and
a substrate comprising a plurality of electromagnetic feed structures, wherein each of the plurality of electromagnetic feed structures is operably coupled to a corresponding waveguide of the plurality of waveguides to deliver electromagnetic waves through the plurality of waveguides.
2. The vehicle sensor assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of waveguides comprises a waveguide groove defined by opposing rows of posts.
3. The vehicle sensor assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of periodic structures.
4. The vehicle sensor assembly of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of periodic structures is formed in the substrate.
5. The vehicle sensor assembly of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of periodic structures comprises an array of electromagnetic band-gap structures.
6. The vehicle sensor assembly of claim 3 , wherein each of the plurality of periodic structures comprises:
a first elongated opening; and
a first series of repeated slots extending at least substantially transverse to the first elongated opening, wherein each of the first series of repeated slots is spaced apart from an adjacent slot in the first series of repeated slot along the first elongated opening.
7. The vehicle sensor assembly of claim 6 , wherein each of the plurality of periodic structures comprises a first periodic structure positioned on a first side of at least a first waveguide of the plurality of waveguides and a second periodic structure positioned on a second side of the first waveguide opposite the second side, and wherein each of the first periodic structure and the second periodic structure comprises:
a first elongated opening; and
a first series of repeated slots extending at least substantially transverse to the first elongated opening, wherein each of the first series of repeated slots is spaced apart from an adjacent slot in the first series of repeated slot along the first elongated opening.
8. The vehicle sensor assembly of claim 6 , further comprising a dielectric chamber extending adjacent to each of the plurality of periodic structures.
9. The vehicle sensor assembly of claim 8 , wherein each of the dielectric chambers is defined by opposing rows of conductive vias extending along opposing sides of each of the plurality of periodic structures.
10. The vehicle sensor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the antenna structure of each of the plurality of waveguides comprises a single slot extending at least substantially straight along the elongated axis of its respective waveguide groove.
11. The vehicle sensor assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a conductive coupling structure coupled with the substrate, wherein the conductive coupling comprises at least one of a conductive tape and a conductive epoxy.
12. The vehicle sensor assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a plate coupled to the waveguide block, wherein the plate comprises an elongated slot, and wherein the elongated slot extends in between two adjacent slots of the antenna structure.
13. A vehicle sensor antenna assembly, comprising:
a plurality of waveguides, wherein each waveguide of the plurality of waveguides is defined by a waveguide groove;
a slot extending along an axis of each of the plurality of waveguide grooves, wherein each of the waveguides oscillates, at least in part, in a periodic manner; and
a plurality of periodic signal confinement structures, wherein a first periodic signal confinement structure of the plurality of periodic signal confinement structures extends adjacent to a first side of each of the plurality of waveguides, and wherein a second periodic signal confinement structure of the plurality of periodic signal confinement structures extends along a second side of each of the plurality of waveguides opposite the first side.
14. The vehicle sensor antenna assembly of claim 13 , further comprising a dielectric substrate, wherein the plurality of periodic signal confinement structures is positioned within the dielectric substrate.
15. The vehicle sensor antenna assembly of claim 14 , wherein each of the plurality of periodic signal confinement structures comprises:
an elongated slot; and
a plurality of spaced slots extending transverse to the elongated slot.
16. The vehicle sensor antenna assembly of claim 15 , wherein each of the plurality of periodic signal confinement structures further comprises a dielectric chamber, wherein the elongated slot forms an opening into the dielectric chamber.
17. The vehicle sensor antenna assembly of claim 16 , wherein the dielectric chamber of each of the plurality of periodic signal confinement structures is defined by a first row of conductive vias extending along a first side of the dielectric chamber and a second row of conductive vias extending along a second side of the dielectric chamber opposite the first side of the dielectric chamber.
18. The vehicle sensor antenna assembly of claim 13 , further comprising a hub region, wherein at least a subset of the plurality of waveguide grooves comprises a straight portion extending along an at least substantially straight elongated axis and a curved portion, the curved portion leading into the hub region.
19. The vehicle sensor antenna assembly of claim 18 , wherein the straight portion oscillates back and forth in a periodic manner along the elongated axis.
20. The vehicle sensor antenna assembly of claim 19 , wherein each of the at least a subset of the plurality of waveguide grooves comprises a single slot extending therein along the straight portion.