Waveguide device, slot array antenna, and radar, radar system, and wireless communication system including the slot array antenna

• US 10,042,045 B2
• Filed: 01/13/2017
• Issued: 08/07/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nidec Elesys Corporation (Nidec Corporation), Wgr Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nidec Corporation, Wgr Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Kirino, Hideki, Kamo, Hiroyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): DINH, TRINH VO
• Application Number:
  US15/405,703
• Publication Number:
  US 20170207543A1
• Time in Patent Office: 571 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/345 using triangular modulation
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/347 using more than one modulation frequency
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/426 Scanning radar, e.g. 3D radar G01S13/66 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/867 Combination of radar systems with cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/916 Airport surface monitoring [ASDE]
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93271 in the front of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/03 Details of HF subsystems specially adapted therefor, e.g. common to transmitter and receiver
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/41 using analysis of echo signal for target characterisation; Target signature; Target cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 1/025 in the E-plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 3/165 Non-radiating dielectric waveguides
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 5/12 Coupling devices having more than two ports H01P5/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3233 particular used as part of a sensor or in a security system, e.g. for automotive radar, navigation systems
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/064 using horn or slot aerials slotted waveguides arrays H01Q21/005
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/36 with variable phase-shifters
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0413 MIMO systems

Abstract

A waveguide device includes: an electrically conductive member having an electrically conductive surface; a waveguide member having an electrically-conductive waveguide face of a stripe shape opposing the electrically conductive surface, the waveguide member extending along the electrically conductive surface; and an artificial magnetic conductor extending on both sides of the waveguide member. The waveguide member has a bend at which the direction that the waveguide member extends changes. A waveguide which is defined by the electrically conductive surface, the waveguide face, and the artificial magnetic conductor includes a gap enlargement where a gap between the electrically conductive surface and the waveguide face is locally increased. In a perspective view along a direction perpendicular to the electrically conductive surface, at least a portion of the bend has an overlap with the gap enlargement.

Claims

1. A waveguide device comprising:

an electrically conductive member having an electrically conductive surface;

a waveguide member having an electrically-conductive waveguide face of a stripe shape opposing the electrically conductive surface, the waveguide member extending along the electrically conductive surface; and

an artificial magnetic conductor extending on both sides of the waveguide member, wherein,

the waveguide member has a bend at which a direction that the waveguide member extends changes;

a waveguide which is defined by the electrically conductive surface, the waveguide face, and the artificial magnetic conductor includes a gap enlargement where a gap between the electrically conductive surface and the waveguide face is locally increased; and

in a plan view projected along a direction perpendicular to the electrically conductive surface, at least a portion of the bend has an overlap with the gap enlargement.

2. The waveguide device of claim 1, wherein the waveguide member has a recess at the gap enlargement.

3. The waveguide device of claim 2, wherein,

the waveguide member has an electrically-conductive side face connected to the waveguide face;

and

a height of the electrically-conductive side face on an inside of the bend is lower in a place where the recess exists than in a place adjacent to the recess.

4. The waveguide device of claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive surface has a recess at the gap enlargement.

5. The waveguide device of claim 2, wherein the electrically conductive surface has a recess at the gap enlargement.

6. The waveguide device of claim 3, wherein the electrically conductive surface has a recess at the gap enlargement.

7. The waveguide device of claim 1, wherein,

the waveguide member includes

a first portion which is connected to the bend and extends along a first direction, and

a second portion which is connected to the bend and extends along a second direction that intersects the first direction;

at the bend, edges of the waveguide face each include a transitory portion extending along a direction which is intermediate between the first direction and the second direction; and

the transitory portion on an inside of the bend is shorter in length than the transitory portion on an outside of the bend.

8. The waveguide device of claim 2, wherein,

the waveguide member includes

a first portion which is connected to the bend and extends along a first direction, and

a second portion which is connected to the bend and extends along a second direction that intersects the first direction;

at the bend, edges of the waveguide face each include a transitory portion extending along a direction which is intermediate between the first direction and the second direction; and

the transitory portion on an inside of the bend is shorter in length than the transitory portion on an outside of the bend.

9. The waveguide device of claim 4, wherein,

the waveguide member includes

a first portion which is connected to the bend and extends along a first direction, and

a second portion which is connected to the bend and extends along a second direction that intersects the first direction;

at the bend, edges of the waveguide face each include a transitory portion extending along a direction which is intermediate between the first direction and the second direction; and

the transitory portion on an inside of the bend is shorter in length than the transitory portion on an outside of the bend.

10. The waveguide device of claim 5, wherein,

the waveguide member includes

a first portion which is connected to the bend and extends along a first direction, and

a second portion which is connected to the bend and extends along a second direction that intersects the first direction;

at the bend, edges of the waveguide face each include a transitory portion extending along a direction which is intermediate between the first direction and the second direction; and

the transitory portion on an inside of the bend is shorter in length than the transitory portion on an outside of the bend.

11. The waveguide device of claim 7, wherein,

the waveguide member includes a portion with a chamfered corner on the outside of the bend;

and

an upper edge of the portion with the chamfered corner is flush with the transitory portion on the outside of the bend.

12. The waveguide device of claim 8, wherein,

the waveguide member includes a portion with a chamfered corner on the outside of the bend;

and

an upper edge of the portion with the chamfered corner is flush with the transitory portion on the outside of the bend.

13. The waveguide device of claim 9, wherein,

the waveguide member includes a portion with a chamfered corner on the outside of the bend;

and

an upper edge of the portion with the chamfered corner is flush with the transitory portion on the outside of the bend.

14. The waveguide device of claim 7, wherein

one end and another end of the transitory portion on the outside of the bend are located inside the gap enlargement.

15. The waveguide device of claim 9, wherein

one end and another end of the transitory portion on the outside of the bend are located inside the gap enlargement.

16. The waveguide device of claim 11, wherein

one end and another end of the transitory portion on the outside of the bend are located inside the gap enlargement.

17. The waveguide device of claim 13, wherein

one end and another end of the transitory portion on the outside of the bend are located inside the gap enlargement.

18. The waveguide device of claim 1, wherein the bend has a bending angle of 90°

.

19. The waveguide device of claim 2, wherein the bend has a bending angle of 90°

.

20. The waveguide device of claim 4, wherein the bend has a bending angle of 90°

.

21. The waveguide device of claim 1 further comprising a further electrically conductive member, wherein,

the artificial magnetic conductor includes a plurality of electrically conductive rods each having a leading end opposing the electrically conductive surface, and

the plurality of electrically conductive rods are connected to roots of the further electrically conductive member.

22. The waveguide device of claim 21, wherein,

the waveguide member is connected to the further electrically conductive member;

and

the further electrically conductive member, the waveguide member, and the plurality of electrically conductive rods are parts of a continuous single-piece body.

23. The waveguide device of claim 21, wherein,

the waveguide device is used for propagation of an electromagnetic wave of a predetermined band;

and

a width of the waveguide member, a width of each electrically conductive rod, a width of a space between two adjacent electrically conductive rods, a distance from the root of each electrically conductive rod to the electrically conductive surface, and a width of a space between an electrically conductive rod that is adjacent to the waveguide member and the waveguide member are all less than λ

m/2, where λ

m is a wavelength, in free space, of an electromagnetic wave of a highest frequency among electromagnetic waves of the predetermined band.

24. An antenna device comprising:

a waveguide device of claim 1; and

at least one antenna element that is connected to the waveguide device.

25. An antenna device comprising:

a waveguide device of claim 2; and

at least one antenna element that is connected to the waveguide device.

26. An antenna device comprising:

a waveguide device of claim 4; and

at least one antenna element that is connected to the waveguide device.

27. A radar comprising:

the antenna device of claim 24; and

a microwave integrated circuit that is connected to the antenna device.

28. A radar comprising:

the antenna device of claim 24; and

a microwave integrated circuit that is connected to the antenna device.

29. A radar comprising:

the antenna device of claim 26; and

a microwave integrated circuit that is connected to the antenna device.