Surface mount assembled waveguide transition
The present application discloses embodiments that relate to a radar system. The embodiments may include a plurality of radiating waveguides each having a waveguide input. The embodiments also include an attenuation component, which can be located on a circuit board. The embodiments further include a beamforming network. The beamforming network includes a beamforming network input. The beamforming network also includes a plurality of beamforming network outputs, where each beamforming network output is coupled to one of the waveguide inputs. Additionally, the beamforming network includes a coupling port, wherein the coupling port is configured to couple at least one waveguide of the system to a component external to the waveguide.
1. A radar unit comprising:
a plurality of radiating waveguides aligned on a plane defined by a width and a length of the plurality of radiating waveguides, wherein each radiating waveguide includes a waveguide input and one or more radiating elements;
a beamforming network having a beamforming network input and a plurality of beamforming network outputs, wherein each beamforming network output is coupled to the waveguide input of a radiating waveguide from the plurality of radiating waveguides such that the beam forming network is configured to distribute electromagnetic energy received at the beamforming network input to the plurality of radiating waveguides via the plurality of beamforming network outputs, wherein a portion of the received electromagnetic energy is not radiated by the radiating waveguides and is reflected as reflected electromagnetic energy; and
a circuit board configured to propagate electromagnetic energy;
an attenuation component disposed on the circuit board and configured to absorb electromagnetic energy; and
a set of coupling components coupled to the circuit board at an orientation such that each coupling component extends substantially orthogonal relative to a plane defined by a width and a length of the circuit board,
wherein a first coupling component of the set is configured to couple the electromagnetic energy from the circuit board into the beamforming network input, and
wherein a second coupling component of the set is configured to couple the reflected electromagnetic energy into the attenuation component such that the attenuation component absorbs the reflected electromagnetic energy.
2. The radar unit of claim 1 , wherein the reflected electromagnetic energy is returned electromagnetic energy that traverses through the beamforming network in a direction away from the one or more radiating elements of the plurality of radiating waveguides.
3. The radar unit of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second coupling components includes a metallic loop-shaped structure.
4. The radar unit of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second coupling components is attached to the circuit board via a surface-mount technology (SMT) mount.
5. The radar unit of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second coupling components is configured to couple the electromagnetic energy as a differential mode signal.
6. The radar unit of claim 1 , wherein the beamforming network is aligned on the plane defined by a width and a length of the plurality of radiating waveguides.
7. The radar unit of claim 1 , wherein the second coupling component is located within an attenuation port, wherein the attenuation port is coupled to the beamforming network and aligned orthogonal to the plane defined by the width and the length of the circuit board.
8. The radar unit of claim 1 , wherein the first coupling component is configured as a bidirectional component.
9. A method comprising:
receiving electromagnetic energy by a waveguide via a first coupling component mounted to a circuit hoard and extending substantially orthogonal relative to a plane defined by a width and a length of the circuit board, wherein the waveguide is aligned on a plane defined by a center of a width of the waveguide and a length of the waveguide;
radiating, via radiating elements of the waveguide, at least a portion of the electromagnetic energy, wherein at least a portion of the electromagnetic energy that is not radiated is reflected as reflected electromagnetic energy;
coupling at least a portion of the reflected electromagnetic energy to an attenuation port, wherein the attenuation port is aligned perpendicular to the plane of the waveguide;
coupling the reflected electromagnetic energy to an attenuation component configured to absorb electromagnetic energy, wherein the attenuation component is disposed on the circuit board; and
wherein coupling the reflected electromagnetic energy to the attenuation component is performed by a second coupling component mounted to the circuit board and extending substantially orthogonal relative to the plane of the circuit board and into the attenuation port.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein at least one of the first and second coupling components is mounted to the circuit board via a surface-mount technology (SMT) mount.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first coupling component is configured to propagate an electromagnetic wave into an input of the waveguide.
12. The method of claim 9 , wherein at least one of the first and second coupling components is configured to couple a differential mode signal.
13. An apparatus comprising:
a circuit board configured to propagate an electromagnetic energy;
an attenuation component disposed on the circuit board and configured to absorb electromagnetic energy;
a first waveguide and a second waveguide, wherein each waveguide is configured to propagate electromagnetic energy; and
a set of coupling components coupled to the circuit board at an orientation such that each coupling component extends substantially orthogonal relative to a plane defined by a width and a length of the circuit board,
wherein the first waveguide comprises at least one radiating waveguide comprising a waveguide input and one or more radiating elements configured to radiate electromagnetic energy received at the input, wherein a portion of the electromagnetic energy received at the input is not radiated by the radiating elements and is reflected as reflected electromagnetic energy into the second waveguide,
wherein a first coupling component of the set is configured to couple electromagnetic energy from the circuit board into the first waveguide input,
wherein a second coupling component of the set is configured to couple the reflected electromagnetic energy from the second waveguide into the attenuation component such that the attenuation component absorbs the reflected electromagnetic energy.
14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein at least one of the first and second coupling components includes a metallic loop-shaped structure.
15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the first coupling component is configured as a bidirectional component.
16. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the second coupling component is located within an attenuation port, wherein the attenuation port is coupled to the second waveguide and aligned orthogonal to the plane of the circuit board.
17. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the first coupling component is inserted through a bottom layer of the first waveguide.
18. The apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein the second coupling component is inserted through a sidewall of the second waveguide.