Retrodirective surface mount antennas
Systems and methods are provided for improving a reflection signal of a radar antenna assembly. For example, disclosed embodiments are directed to a multiple retrodirective surface mount antenna assembly comprising a plurality of retrodirective antenna arrays, each retrodirective antenna array being angularly offset from at least one other retrodirective antenna array and being configured to reflect a radar signal received from a radar signal source to a radar signal receiver.
1 . A controller system comprising:
a body configured to be held in a hand of a user and to be moved with the hand of the user in six degrees of freedom;
a first multiple retrodirective surface mount antenna assembly comprising a first plurality of retrodirective antenna arrays, wherein each retrodirective antenna array in the first plurality of retrodirective antenna arrays is mounted on a surface of the body with a first angular offset from at least one other retrodirective antenna array in the first plurality of retrodirective antenna arrays;
a second multiple retrodirective surface mount antenna assembly comprising a second plurality of retrodirective antenna arrays, wherein each retrodirective antenna array in the second plurality of retrodirective antenna arrays is mounted on the surface of the body with a second angular offset from at least one other retrodirective antenna array in the second plurality of retrodirective antenna arrays; and
a reflection amplifier that is electrically coupled with at least one of the first plurality of retrodirective antenna arrays and the second plurality of retrodirective antenna arrays, wherein a reflected power associated with a reflected radar signal is greater than an incident power corresponding to an incident radar signal that is received by the at least one of the first plurality of retrodirective antenna arrays and the second plurality of retrodirective antenna arrays as a result of use of the reflection amplifier,
wherein:
the first plurality of retrodirective antenna arrays are structured in a first configuration in which at least one distal edge of each retrodirective antenna array in the first plurality of retrodirective antenna arrays is in direct contact with an edge of another retrodirective antenna array in the first plurality of retrodirective antenna arrays,
at least two of the retrodirective antenna arrays are structured to provide overlapping radar signal reflection surface areas, such that the at least two retrodirective antenna arrays are redundant relative to one another in that they have overlapping surface areas,
the second plurality of retrodirective antenna arrays are structured in a second configuration in which at least one distal edge of each retrodirective antenna array in the second plurality of retrodirective antenna arrays is in direct contact with an edge of another retrodirective antenna array in the second plurality of retrodirective antenna arrays, and
the direct contact between the edges imposed by the first and second configurations enable the first and second multiple retrodirective surface mount antenna assemblies to simultaneously fit on an available surface area of the body.
2 . The controller system of claim 1 , wherein each retrodirective antenna array comprises a rectangular shape having two elongated edges and two distal edges.
3 . The controller system of claim 2 , wherein the first plurality of retrodirective antenna arrays comprises a first retrodirective antenna array comprising a first distal edge and a second distal edge, a second retrodirective antenna array attached to the first distal edge of the first retrodirective antenna array at a first offset angle, and a third retrodirective antenna array attached to the second distal edge of the first retrodirective antenna array at a second offset angle.
4 . The controller system of claim 3 , wherein the first offset angle and the second offset angle each comprise approximately ten degrees.
5 . The controller system of claim 1 , wherein at least one retrodirective antenna array is tuned to a different frequency than another retrodirective antenna array.
6 . The controller system of claim 1 , wherein each retrodirective antenna array comprises different-sized unit cell structures.
7 . The controller system of claim 1 , wherein the controller system omits any inertial measurement units (IMUs) and is capable of reflecting a radar signal with the first or second plurality of retrodirective antenna arrays while in a plurality of different positions associated with the six degrees of freedom to a receiver that translates the reflected radar signal from the first or second plurality of retrodirective antenna arrays to determine a relative position and an orientation of the controller system relative to the receiver.
8 . The controller system of claim 1 , wherein the first or second plurality of retrodirective antenna arrays is mounted on the body in a configuration that provides at least 180 degrees of reflecting surface.
9 . The controller system of claim 1 , further comprising:
one or more additional multiple retrodirective surface mount antenna assemblies mounted to the body of the controller.
10 . The controller system of claim 1 , wherein each retrodirective antenna array has a same surface area and dimensional size.
11 . A controller system comprising:
a housing comprising a handheld portion and a top portion, wherein:
the handheld portion is structured to be held in a hand of a user,
the housing is moveable with the hand of the user in six degrees of freedom, and
the top portion has a surface;
a first multiple retrodirective surface mount antenna assembly comprising a first plurality of retrodirective antenna arrays, wherein each retrodirective antenna array in the first plurality of retrodirective antenna arrays is included in the top portion with a first angular offset from at least one other retrodirective antenna array in the first plurality of retrodirective antenna arrays;
a second multiple retrodirective surface mount antenna assembly comprising a second plurality of retrodirective antenna arrays, wherein each retrodirective antenna array in the second plurality of retrodirective antenna arrays is included in the top portion with a second angular offset from at least one other retrodirective antenna array in the second plurality of retrodirective antenna arrays; and
a reflection amplifier that is electrically coupled with at least one of the first plurality of retrodirective antenna arrays and the second plurality of retrodirective antenna arrays, wherein a reflected power associated with a reflected radar signal is greater than an incident power corresponding to an incident radar signal that is received by the at least one of the first plurality of retrodirective antenna arrays and the second plurality of retrodirective antenna arrays as a result of use of the reflection amplifier,
wherein:
the first plurality of retrodirective antenna arrays are structured in a first configuration in which at least one distal edge of each retrodirective antenna array in the first plurality of retrodirective antenna arrays is in direct contact with an edge of another retrodirective antenna array in the first plurality of retrodirective antenna arrays,
at least two of the retrodirective antenna arrays are structured to provide overlapping radar signal reflection surface areas, such that the at least two retrodirective antenna arrays are redundant relative to one another in that they have overlapping surface areas,
the second plurality of retrodirective antenna arrays are structured in a second configuration in which at least one distal edge of each retrodirective antenna array in the second plurality of retrodirective antenna arrays is in direct contact with an edge of another retrodirective antenna array in the second plurality of retrodirective antenna arrays, and
the direct contact between the edges imposed by the first and second configurations enable the first and second multiple retrodirective surface mount antenna assemblies to simultaneously fit on an available area of the top portion.
12 . The controller system of claim 11 , wherein the top portion is semi-spherical in shape.
13 . The controller system of claim 12 , wherein the first and second angular offsets enable the first and second multiple retrodirective surface mount antenna assemblies to curve around the semi-spherical shape of the top portion.
14 . The controller system of claim 12 , wherein a plurality of multiple retrodirective surface mount antenna assemblies, which include the first and second multiple retrodirective surface mount antenna assemblies, are contoured around the semi-spherical shape of the top portion, resulting in 360 degree coverage.
15 . The controller system of claim 11 , wherein the first and second multiple retrodirective surface mount antenna assemblies curve around an outer surface of the top portion.
16 . The controller system of claim 11 , wherein the first and second multiple retrodirective surface mount antenna assemblies are embedded within the top portion such that the first and second multiple retrodirective surface mount antenna assemblies are not curved around an outer surface of the top portion.
17 . The controller system of claim 11 , wherein the top portion is made of a non-reflective material.
18 . The controller system of claim 17 , wherein the first and second multiple retrodirective surface mount antenna assemblies are mounted on an inside surface of the top portion.
19 . The controller system of claim 11 , wherein the first and second multiple retrodirective surface mount antenna assemblies reflect signals received through the top portion.
20 . The controller system of claim 11 , wherein the top portion further includes a user control.