INTELLIGENT ANTENNA METAMATERIAL METHOD AND APPARATUS

• US 20180351249A1
• Filed: 05/11/2018
• Published: 12/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Metawave Corporation
• Original Assignee: Metawave Corporation
• Inventors: Achour, Maha
• Granted Patent: US 10,446,927 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/345 using triangular modulation
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/42 Simultaneous measurement of distance and other co-ordinates indirect measurement G01S13/46
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/584 adapted for simultaneous range and velocity measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/865 Combination of radar systems with lidar systems
• 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 2013/93275 in the bumper area
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/38 using adjustment of real or effective orientation of directivity characteristic of an antenna or an antenna system to give a desired condition of signal derived from that antenna or antenna system, e.g. to give a maximum or minimum signal G01S3/16, G01S3/28 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/411 Identification of targets based on measurements of radar reflectivity G01S7/415 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/417 involving the use of neural networks
• 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 15/0086 said selective devices having materials with a synthesized negative refractive index, e.g. metamaterials or left-handed materials
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/065 Patch antenna array
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/28 Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems multiple beam H01Q25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 25/00 Antennas or antenna systems providing at least two radiating patterns arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern H01Q3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/30 varying the relative phase between the radiating elements of an array H01Q3/2605, H01Q3/2658, H01Q3/2682, H01Q3/44 take precedence

Abstract

The present invention is a metamaterial-based object detection system. An intelligent antenna metamaterial interface (IAM) associates specific metamaterial unit cells into sub-arrays to adjust the beam width of a transmitted signal. The IAM is part of a sensor fusion system that coordinates a plurality of sensors, such as in a vehicle, to optimize performance. In one embodiment, an MTM antenna structure is probe-fed to create a standing wave across the unit cells.

Claims

1. A sensor system, comprising:

a dielectric layer having a plurality of metamaterial unit cells configured thereon as an array;

a plurality of varactors coupled to the plurality of metamaterial unit cells; and

an Intelligent Antenna Module (“

IAM”

), the IAM adapted to;

detect a target in a section of a field of view;

assign a subset of the plurality of metamaterial unit cells into a sub-array; and

adjust a subset of voltage controllers associated with the sub-array to cause the sub-array to transmit a signal having a bandwidth to focus on the target.

2. The sensor system as in claim 1, wherein the IAM is further adapted to map a first subset of the plurality of metamaterial cells to a location of the target.

3. The sensor system as in claim 2, wherein the IAM is further adapted to adjust a beam focus of the sensor system.

4. The sensor system as in claim 3, wherein to adjust the beam focus comprises to control the one or more of the varactors.

5. The sensor system as in claim 4, wherein the IAM controls the varactors to change a phase of the beam.

6. The sensor system as in claim 3, wherein the IAM is further adapted to:

detect a second target in a second section of the field of view; and

map a second subset of the plurality of metamaterial cells to a location of the second target.

7. The sensor system as in claim 6, wherein the IAM configures the plurality of metamaterial unit cells to have a specific behavior.

8. The sensor system as in claim 1, wherein the IAM controls the sensor system to use multiple subarrays.

9. The sensor system as in claim 1, wherein the sensor system interfaces with a sensor fusion in a vehicle.

10. A sensor fusion system, comprising:

a plurality of sensors in a vehicle;

a sensor fusion controller having an interface to receive signals from the plurality of sensors and implement a control action in response to the received signals;

a metamaterial antenna structure coupled to the sensor fusion controller; and

an IAM interface for communication between the sensor fusion controller and the metamaterial antenna structure, wherein the IAM interface controls subarrays of the metamaterial antenna structure.

11. An antenna structure, comprising:

a ground plane layer;

a feed layer coupled to the ground plane layer;

a first dielectric layer positioned proximate the ground layer and having a radiating structure; and

a metamaterial layer positioned proximate the first dielectric layer, wherein the metamaterial layer comprises a t least one metamaterial unit cell.

12. The antenna structure as in claim 11, wherein the radiating structure is a dipole antenna structure.

13. The antenna structure as in claim 11, wherein at least one varactor is coupled to the at least one metamaterial cell.

14. The antenna structure as in claim 13, wherein control of the varactor changes the phase of a radiation beam from the at least one metamaterial cell.

15. The antenna structure as in claim 14, the metamaterial layer comprising an array of metamaterial unit cells, and the antenna structure further comprising a controller, wherein the controller configures the metamaterial unit cells into subarrays.

16. The antenna structure as in claim 15, wherein the controller configures the subarrays for multiple transmission beams.

17. The antenna structure as in claim 16, wherein the controller configures the subarrays by controlling the at least one varactor.

18. The antenna structure as in claim 11, further comprising an antenna probe feed structure coupled to the ground layer.

19. The antenna structure as in claim 18, wherein the antenna probe feed generates an electromagnetic radiation signal that radiates a side of the dielectric layer proximate the metamaterial layer.

20. The antenna structure as in claim 11, wherein the metamaterial layer radiates an input signal to the antenna structure.