MILLIMETER-WAVE DETECT OR REFLECT ARRAY

• US 20200136263A1
• Filed: 08/22/2019
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Keysight Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Keysight Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Lee, Gregory S., Corredoura, Paul L.
• Granted Patent: US 10,978,810 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/753 using frequency selective elements, e.g. resonator
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/755 using delay lines, e.g. acoustic delay lines
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/756 using a signal generator for modifying the reflectivity of the reflector G01S13/758 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/758 using a signal generator powered by the interrogation signal
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93275 in the bumper area
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4004 of parts of a radar system
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4026 Antenna boresight
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/403 in azimuth, i.e. in the horizontal plane
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4052 by simulation of echoes
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4086 in a calibrating environment, e.g. anechoic chamber
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4095 the external reference signals being modulated, e.g. rotating a dihedral reflector or modulating a transponder for simulation of a Doppler echo
• 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 15/002 said selective devices being reconfigurable or tunable, e.g. using switches or diodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/104 using a substantially flat reflector for deflecting the radiated beam, e.g. periscopic antennas periscopic fed Cassegrain antennas H01Q19/191; passive relays H04B7/145
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/2635 the auxiliary unit being composed of a plurality of antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/267 Phased-array testing or checking devices

Abstract

A device for selectively reflecting an incident microwave signal or millimeter-wave signal includes multiple antennae disposed in an array. Each antenna has an input adapted to selectively receive a forward bias signal or a zero bias signal. The device also includes a diode disposed at each input of each antenna. The device also includes a switching device connected to each input, and configured to selectively apply a forward bias or zero bias to each of the diodes. In forward bias, each of the antennae detects the incident microwave signal or millimeter wave signal, and in zero bias, each of the antennae reflects the incident microwave signal or millimeter wave signal.

Claims

1. A device for selectively reflecting an incident microwave signal or millimeter-wave signal, the device comprising:

a plurality of antennae disposed in an array, each antenna having an input adapted to selectively receive a forward bias signal, or a zero or reverse bias signal;

a diode disposed at each input of each antenna; and

a switching device connected to each input, and configured to selectively apply a forward bias, or zero or reverse bias to each of the diodes, wherein in forward bias, each of the plurality of antennae detects the incident microwave signal or millimeter wave signal, and in zero bias or reverse bias, each of the plurality of antennae reflects the incident microwave signal or millimeter wave signal.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the diode disposed at each input of each antenna is a zero or reverse bias Schottky diode.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the array comprises a series of rows and a series of columns.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the plurality of antennae in each of the series of rows are addressable by the switching device as addressed rows.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein in forward bias the addressed rows detect the incident microwave signal or millimeter wave signal.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein in zero bias the addressed rows reflect the incident microwave signal or millimeter wave signal.

7. The device of claim 3, wherein the plurality of antennae in each of the series of columns are addressable by the switching device as addressed columns.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein in forward bias the addressed columns detect the incident microwave signal or millimeter wave signal.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein in zero bias the addressed columns reflect the incident microwave signal or millimeter wave signal.

10. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a delay line adapted to receive the incident microwave signal or millimeter wave signal to emulate a distance measurement of a signal strength.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of antennae are spaced from one another by a distance that is approximately λ

/4, where λ

is a wavelength of the incident microwave signal or millimeter wave signal.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of antennae are spaced from one another by a distance that is approximately λ

/2 and a device under test (DUT) transmits a single beam.

13. The device according to claim 1, wherein each input is disposed at a center-tap of each of the antennae.

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein only a direct current voltage is measured at the center-tap.

15. The device according to claim 14, wherein a magnitude of the direct current voltage is proportional to the magnitude of the incident microwave signal or millimeter wave signal.

16. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of arrays of antennae, wherein each of the plurality of arrays of antennae are substantially flat.

17. The device according to claim 16, wherein the plurality of arrays of antennae are disposed adjacent to one another to form a curved array.