Radar apparatus having arrayed horn antenna parts communicated with waveguide

• US 20070139287A1
• Filed: 11/29/2006
• Published: 06/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company), Honda Elesys Co., Ltd. (Nidec Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company), Honda Elesys Co., Ltd. (Nidec Corporation)
• Inventors: Ando, Hiroyuki, Shingyoji, Masahito, Ishida, Takahisa, Inomata, Naofumi
• Granted Patent: US 7,352,335 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/786
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/032 Constructional details for solid-state radar subsystems
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/02 Arrangements for de-icing; Arrangements for drying-out ; Arrangements for cooling; Arrangements for preventing corrosion
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/02 Waveguide horns
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/064 using horn or slot aerials slotted waveguides arrays H01Q21/005

Abstract

A horn antenna part of a radar apparatus is made of a heat emitting material and includes: an antenna body part having a plurality of horn parts arranged in an array form, wherein each horn part is open toward a front surface of the apparatus, and has a diameter which gradually increases toward the front surface; and a feeder part including a waveguide which communicates with the horn parts, wherein the feeder part is connected to the antenna body part. The radar apparatus also includes: a wireless part for generating a high-frequency signal supplied to the feeder part, and converting a reflected high-frequency signal to a medium-frequency signal; and a circuit part for controlling the high-frequency signal and processing the medium-frequency signal. At least one of the wireless part and the circuit part is arranged in a manner such that it contacts the feeder part.

Claims

1. A radar apparatus comprising:

a horn antenna part for emitting radio waves to space and receiving reflected waves with respect to the emitted radio waves from space, wherein the horn antenna part is made of a heat emitting material and includes;

an antenna body part having a plurality of horn parts arranged in an array form, wherein each horn part is open toward a front surface of the apparatus, and has a diameter which gradually increases toward the front surface; and

a feeder part including a waveguide which communicates with the horn parts, wherein the feeder part is connected to the antenna body part;

a wireless part for generating a high-frequency signal supplied to the feeder part, and converting a reflected high-frequency signal to a medium-frequency signal; and

a circuit part for controlling the high-frequency signal and processing the medium-frequency signal,

wherein at least one of the wireless part and the circuit part is arranged in a manner such that it contacts the feeder part.

2. The radar apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein in the feeder part, the waveguide has a horizontal path arranged between the circuit part and the horn parts, and a vertical path extending perpendicularly to the horizontal path, where the horizontal and vertical paths communicate with each other, and the vertical path is longer than the horizontal path.

3. The radar apparatus in accordance with claim 2, which is attached to a vehicle in a manner such that the vertical path of the waveguide, which extends perpendicularly to the horizontal path, extends substantially vertically.

4. The radar apparatus in accordance with claim 2, wherein a through-hole is provided between the horn parts which are arranged adjacently in a direction perpendicular to the horizontal path and the vertical path, and the through-hole extends along the vertical path.

5. The radar apparatus in accordance with claim 4, which is attached to a vehicle in a manner such that the through-hole along the vertical path extends substantially vertically.

6. The radar apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein a through-hole is provided between the horn parts and the feeder part, and the through-hole extends along a direction perpendicular to a direction defined from the circuit part toward the horn parts.

7. The radar apparatus in accordance with claim 6, which is attached to a vehicle in a manner such that the through-hole, which extends perpendicularly to the direction defined from the circuit part toward the horn parts, extends substantially vertically.

8. The radar apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the heat emitting material is a metal including aluminium or magnesium.