Monopulse radar system

• US 20030164791A1
• Filed: 03/12/2003
• Published: 09/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Shinoda, Hiroshi, Kondoh, Hiroshi
• Granted Patent: US 6,750,810 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/70
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/003 Bistatic radar systems; Multistatic radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/4463 using phased arrays
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/932 using own vehicle data, e.g. ground speed, steering wheel direction
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/46 using antennas spaced apart and measuring phase or time difference between signals therefrom, i.e. path-difference systems
• 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 25/002 providing at least two patterns of different beamwidth; Variable beamwidth antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 25/02 providing sum and difference patterns H01Q25/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/2605 Array of radiating elements provided with a feedback control over the element weights, e.g. adaptive arrays

Abstract

To realize a monopulse radar system wherein the velocity of a mobile body, distance between an obstacle and the mobile body and relative velocity can be detected and simultaneously, the direction of the obstacle can be detected, in a monopulse radar system wherein an azimuth is detected depending upon amplitude difference or phase difference between signals respectively received by plural receiving antennas, an array antenna composed of plural antenna elements is used for each transmitting antenna and each receiving antenna, at least one of the transmitting antenna and the receiving antenna is provided with an antenna switch for switching an antenna beam shape to a short angle/long distance or a wide angle/short distance and a switch control device that controls the switching of the antenna switch is provided.

Claims

1. A monopulse radar system that detects an azimuth depending upon amplitude difference or phase difference between signals respectively received by plural receiving antennas, wherein:

an array antenna composed of plural antenna elements is used for each of a transmitting antenna and the receiving antenna;

at least one of the transmitting antenna and the receiving antenna is provided with an antenna switch for switching an antenna beam shape to a sharp angle/long distance or a wide angle/short distance; and

a switch control device that controls the switching of the antenna switch is provided.

2. A monopulse radar system according to claim 1, wherein:

when the antenna switch connects or disconnects antenna element groups forming the array antenna, an antenna beam shape is switched to a sharp angle/long distance or a wide angle/short distance.

3. A monopulse radar system according to claim 1, wherein:

the transmitting and receiving antenna is formed by a transmitting and receiving common antenna composed of plural antenna elements.

4. A monopulse radar system according to claim 1, comprising:

a switch control device that controls the switching of the antenna switch every fixed time.

5. A monopulse radar system according to claim 1, comprising:

a switch control device that controls the switching of the antenna switch according to distance between a mobile body and an obstacle.

6. A monopulse radar system used for a car that detects an azimuth depending upon amplitude difference or phase difference between signals respectively received by plural receiving antennas, wherein:

an array antenna composed of plural antenna elements is used for each transmitting antenna and each receiving antenna;

at least one of the transmitting antenna and the receiving antenna is provided with an antenna switch for switching an antenna beam shape to a sharp angle/long distance or a wide angle/short distance; and

a switch control device that controls the switching of the antenna switch according to position information from a position information retrieval system mounted on a mobile body is provided.

7. A monopulse radar system according to claim 6, wherein:

when the antenna switch connects or disconnects antenna element groups forming an array antenna, an antenna beam shape is switched to a short angle/long distance or a wide angle/short distance.

8. A monopulse radar system according to claim 6, comprising:

a switch control device that controls the switching of the antenna switch according to distance between a mobile body and an obstacle.