Antenna configurations for reduced radar complexity

• US 6,970,142 B1
• Filed: 02/27/2003
• Issued: 11/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Valeo Radar Systems, Inc. (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Pleva, Joseph S., Delcheccolo, Michael Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, HOANGANH T
• Application Number:
  US10/376,179
• Time in Patent Office: 1,006 Days
• Field of Search: H01/Q00.3/24, 343/700.MS, 343/876, 343/853, 343/850, 343/893, 01/Q
• US Class Current: 343/876
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/343 using sawtooth modulation
• 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 7/032 Constructional details for solid-state radar subsystems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/352 Receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4004 of parts of a radar system
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4021 of receivers
• 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 1/3283 side-mounted antennas, e.g. bumper-mounted, door-mounted mounted on windscreens H01Q1/1271
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/0043 Slotted waveguides combination with horns H01Q13/0233
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/065 Patch antenna array
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/24 varying the orientation by switching energy from one active radiating element to another, e.g. for beam switching
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/40 with phasing matrix

Abstract

A transmit and receiving system including a first array including at least one antenna element disposed to provide a transmit antenna. The system further includes a second array having a second different plurality of antenna elements disposed to provide a receive antenna. The first array is coupled to a switching system, which is operative to selectively form at least one transmit beam. The second array is coupled to a beam combining system, which is operative to selectively form a plurality of receive beams.

Claims

1. A transmit and receive system comprising:

a first array including at least one antenna element disposed to provide a transmit antenna;

a second array including a plurality of antenna elements disposed to provide a receive antenna;

a beam switching system coupled to the first array and being operative to form at least one transmit beam; and

a beam combining system coupled to the second array and being operative to form a plurality of receive beams, wherein the first array includes fewer antenna elements than the second array.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the receive array includes forty-eight elements.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising a signal generator and wherein the beam switching system includes a beamforming circuit having at least one antenna port coupled to the first array and at least one switch port coupled to the signal generator.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the receive array includes forty-eight elements.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the transmit array includes three elements in an elevation plane.

6. A transmit and receive system comprising:

a first array including at least one antenna element disposed to provide a transmit antenna, wherein the at least one antenna element is arranged into a transmit array including approximately one element in azimuth and approximately three elements in elevation;

a second array including a plurality of antenna elements disposed to provide a receive antenna;

a beam switching system coupled to the first array and being operative to form at least one transmit beam; and

a beam combining system coupled to the second array and being operative to form a plurality of receive beams.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the transmit array includes three elements.

8. The system of claim 6 further comprising a signal generator and wherein the beam switching system includes a beamforming circuit having at least one antenna port coupled to the first array and at least one switch port coupled to the signal generator.

9. The system of claim 6 wherein the receive array includes forty-eight elements.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the transmit array includes three elements in an elevation plane.

11. A transmit and receive system comprising:

a first array including at least one antenna element disposed to provide a transmit antenna;

a second array including a plurality of antenna elements disposed to provide a receive antenna, wherein the plurality of antenna elements are arranged into a receive array including approximately eight elements in azimuth and approximately six elements in elevation;

a beam switching system coupled to the first array and being operative to form at least one transmit beam; and

a beam combining system coupled to the second array and being operative to form a plurality of receive beams.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the receive array includes approximately forty-eight elements.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the beam switching system includes a beamforming circuit having at least one antenna port coupled to the first array.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the beamforming circuit further includes at least one switch port coupled to a signal generator.