Waveguides and waveguide sensors with signal-improving grooves and/or slots
Waveguide and/or antenna structures for use in RADAR sensor assemblies and the like. In some embodiments, the assembly may comprise a waveguide block comprising a first surface on a first side of the waveguide block and a second surface on a second side of the waveguide block opposite the first side. One or more waveguides may be formed in the waveguide block. One or more antenna slots may be operably coupled with one or more of the waveguides. One or more auxiliary grooves may be positioned adjacent to at least one of the antenna slots and may mimic, or at least substantially mimic, at least one of the one or more antenna slots, such as in length and/or width.
1. An antenna module, comprising:
a waveguide block comprising a first surface on a first side of the waveguide block and a second surface on a second side of the waveguide block opposite the first side;
one or more waveguides at least partially formed along the first surface of the waveguide block;
one or more antenna slots, wherein each of the one or more antenna slots is operably coupled with a waveguide of the one or more waveguides, and wherein each of the one or more antenna slots extends through the waveguide block between the first and second sides of the waveguide block; and
one or more auxiliary grooves, wherein each of the one or more auxiliary grooves is positioned adjacent to at least one of the one or more antenna slots, wherein each of the one or more auxiliary grooves at least substantially mimics at least one of the one or more antenna slots in length and/or width, wherein each of at least one subset of the one or more auxiliary grooves varies in depth relative to each other auxiliary groove in the at least one subset, and wherein at least one of the one or more antenna slots comprises a shifted antenna slot that is shifted in an axial direction at least substantially corresponding to a direction of an elongated axis of at least one of the one or more antenna slots relative to the other antenna slots of the one or more antenna slots.
2. The antenna module of claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more auxiliary grooves differs in length, width, and/or depth relative to each of the one or more antenna slots, and wherein each of the one or more auxiliary grooves extends into the waveguide block without extending entirely through the waveguide block.
3. The antenna module of claim 2 , wherein a plurality of auxiliary grooves is positioned between at least two adjacent antenna slots of the one or more antenna slots.
4. The antenna module of claim 3 , wherein each of the plurality of auxiliary grooves varies in depth relative to each adjacent auxiliary groove of the plurality of antenna grooves.
5. The antenna module of claim 2 , wherein at least a subset of the one or more auxiliary grooves is greater in length than each of the one or more antenna slots, wherein a first subset of the one or more antenna slots is at least substantially aligned with a first end of the at least a subset of the one or more auxiliary grooves, and wherein the shifted antenna slot is at least substantially aligned with a second end of the at least a subset of the one or more auxiliary grooves opposite the first end.
6. The antenna module of claim 1 , wherein the one or more auxiliary grooves are arranged in arrays, and wherein each auxiliary groove in each array varies in depth relative to each other auxiliary groove in its array.
7. The antenna module of claim 1 , wherein each of the auxiliary grooves in the at least one subset varies in depth in a stepwise manner from a first side of the at least one subset to a second side of the at least one subset opposite from the first side.
8. The antenna module of claim 7 , wherein the at least one subset comprises a plurality of separate arrays of auxiliary grooves.
9. The antenna module of claim 8 , wherein each of the separate arrays comprises a plurality of auxiliary grooves that vary in depth in a stepwise manner between opposite sides of each separate array.
10. The antenna module of claim 9 , wherein each of the separate arrays is separated by an antenna slot.
11. The antenna module of claim 1 , wherein the shifted antenna slot extends along the axial direction to from a first end that that is, along the axial direction, in between the opposing ends of an adjacent antenna slot of the one or more antenna slots and a second end that is, along the axial direction beyond one of the opposing ends of the adjacent antenna slot.
12. The antenna module of claim 1 , wherein the shifted antenna slot is positioned at or adjacent to a terminal edge of a first functional section of the antenna module adjacent to a second functional section of the antenna module having a distinct function relative to the first functional section.
13. The antenna module of claim 12 , wherein the first functional section comprises a receiving section, and wherein the second functional section comprises a transmission section.