Multibeam radar system

• US 5,933,109 A
• Filed: 04/24/1997
• Issued: 08/03/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Urabe, Masanobu, Tohya, Ken-i-chi
• Primary Examiner(s): Sotomayor, John B.
• Application Number:
  US08/847,453
• Time in Patent Office: 831 Days
• Field of Search: 342/175, 342/70, 342/71, 342/72, 343/700 MS
• US Class Current: 342/175
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/34 using transmission of continuous, frequency-modulated waves while heterodyning the received signal, or a signal derived therefrom, with a locally-generated signal related to the contemporaneously transmitted signal
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/48 using multiple beams at emission or reception
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/0263 Passive array antenna
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93271 in the front of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93275 in the bumper area
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/023 Interference mitigation, e.g. reducing or avoiding non-intentional interference with other HF-transmitters, base station transmitters for mobile communication or other radar systems, e.g. using electro-magnetic interference [EMI] reduction techniques auxiliary means for detecting or identifying radar signals or the like G01S7/021; means for anti-jamming G01S7/36
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/0235 Avoidance by time multiplex
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/0236 Avoidance by space multiplex
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/032 Constructional details for solid-state radar subsystems
• 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 1/38 formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface H01Q15/142
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/065 Patch antenna array
• 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

Abstract

A multibeam radar system includes a multibeam radar module having n (n is a natural number of at least 3) transmitting/receiving channels for transmitting high-frequency signals and receiving echo signals, and a radar circuit for detecting a distance up to an object which produces the echo signals and/or a relative speed of the object from a relationship between the high-frequency signals and the echo signals in the transmitting/receiving channels. The radar circuit includes a channel controller for selecting sets of m (m is a natural number smaller than n) adjacent transmitting/receiving channels sequentially to transmit the high-frequency signals and receive the echo signals in a high-azimuth-resolution mode. The channel controller may also select the transmitting/receiving channels sequentially one by one to transmit the high-frequency signals and receive the echo signals in a low-azimuth-resolution mode.

Claims

1. A multibeam radar module comprising:

a dielectric substrate; and

a plurality of transmitting/receiving channels for transmitting high-frequency signals and receiving echo signals, said transmitting/receiving channels being mounted on said dielectric substrate and comprising a first group of planar array antenna elements as a transmitting only primary radiator and a second group of planar array antenna elements as a receiving only primary radiator, said first group of planar array antenna elements and said second group of planar array antenna elements being disposed in interdigitating relation to each other on said dielectric substrate to reduce interference between the first and second groups of antenna elements; and

a plurality of switching devices mounted on said dielectric substrate for selectively operating said transmitting/receiving channels to transmit said high-frequency signals and receive said echo signals.

2. A multibeam radar module according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of transmitting/receiving channels comprise n (n is a natural number of at least 3) transmitting/receiving channels, further comprising a channel controller for controlling said switching devices to select sets of m (m is a natural number smaller than n) adjacent transmitting/receiving channels sequentially to transmit said high-frequency signals and receive said echo signals.

3. A multibeam radar module according to claim 1, further comprising a channel controller for controlling said switching devices to select said transmitting/receiving channels sequentially one by one.

4. A multibeam radar module according to claim 1, wherein said high-frequency signals and said echo signals comprise FM signals whose frequencies are variable with time, further comprising a mixer for mixing said high-frequency signals and said echo signals to generate beat signals.

5. A multibeam radar system comprising:

a multibeam radar module having n (n is a natural number of at least

     3) transmitting/receiving channels for transmitting high-frequency signals and receiving echo signals; and

a radar circuit for detecting a distance up to an object which produces said echo signals and/or a relative speed of said object from a relationship between said high-frequency signals and said echo signals in said transmitting/receiving channels, said radar circuit including a channel controller for selecting sets of m (m is a natural number smaller than n) transmitting receiving channels, having separate transmit only and receive only antennas, sequentially to transmit said high-frequency signals and receive said echo signals.

6. A multibeam radar system comprising:

a multibeam radar module having n (n is a natural number of at least

     3) transmitting/receiving channels for transmitting high-frequency signals and receiving echo signals; and

a radar circuit for detecting a distance up to an object which produces said echo signals and/or a relative speed of said object from a relationship between said high-frequency signals and said echo signals in said transmitting/receiving channels, said radar circuit including a channel controller for alternatively selecting sets of m (m is a natural number smaller than n) transmitting/receiving channels sequentially to transmit said high-frequency signals and receive said echo signals in a high-azimuth-resolution mode and selecting said transmitting receiving channels, having separate transmit only and receive only antennas, sequentially one by one to transmit said high-frequency signals and receive said echo signals in a low-azimuth-resolution mode.

7. A multibeam radar system according to claim 6, wherein said channel controller selects said high-azimuth-resolution mode and said low-azimuth-resolution mode alternatively depending on a range to be detected by said radar circuit.

8. A multibeam radar system according to claim 6, wherein said channel controller selects said high-azimuth-resolution mode and said low-azimuth-resolution mode alternately in predetermined periodic cycles.

9. A multibeam radar system according to claim 6, wherein said high-frequency signals and said echo signals comprise FM signals whose frequencies are variable with time.

10. A multibeam radar system according to claim 9, wherein said radar circuit further comprises a mixer for mixing said high-frequency signals and said echo signals to generate beat signals.