Antenna configurations for reduced radar complexity

• US 7,183,995 B2
• Filed: 07/14/2003
• Issued: 02/27/2007
• 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): Wimer; Michael C.
• Application Number:
  US10/619,020
• Publication Number:
  US 20040027305A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,324 Days
• Field of Search: 343/853, 343/876, 342371-375, 342/368
• US Class Current: 343/853
• 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 25/008 lens fed multibeam arrays
• 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 method of forming a plurality of two-way beams using a transmit and receive system, the method comprising:

controlling a transmit antenna array of the transmit and receive system to provide a plurality of transmit beams;

simultaneously forming a first plurality of receive beams via a beamformer network;

controlling a switched beam combining circuit of a receive antenna array of the transmit and receive system to form a second plurality of receive beams wherein the controlling comprises combining selected ones of the formed beams via a switch network; and

combining predetermined ones of the plurality of transmit beams and predetermined ones of the second plurality of receive beams to form the plurality of two-way beams.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling the transmit antenna array includes controlling a beam switching system coupled to the transmit antenna array to provide the plurality of transmit beams.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling the switched beam combining circuit of the receive antenna array includes controlling a plurality of single-pole, multi-throw switches to provide the second plurality of receive beams.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein combining includes combining a first transmit beam of the plurality of transmit beams with at least one of the second plurality of receive beams to provide a first one of the plurality of two-way beams.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein combining further includes combining the first transmit beam of the plurality of transmit beams with a second receive beam of the plurality of receive beams to provide a second one of the plurality of two-way beams.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein combining further includes combining a second transmit beam of the plurality of transmit beams with the second receive beam of the plurality of receive beams to provide a third two-way beam of the plurality of two-way beams.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein combining further includes combining the second transmit beam of the plurality of transmit beams with a third receive beam of the plurality of receive beams to provide a fourth two-way beam of the plurality of two-way beams.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein combining further includes combining the second transmit beam of the plurality of transmit beams with a fourth receive beam of the plurality of receive beams to provide a fifth two-way beam of the plurality of two-way beams.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein combining further includes combining a third transmit beam of the plurality of transmit beams with the fourth receive beam of the plurality of receive beams to provide a sixth two-way beam of the plurality of two-way beams.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein combining further includes combining the third transmit beam of the plurality of transmit beams with a fifth receive beam of the plurality of receive beams to provide a seventh two-way beam of the plurality of two-way beams.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein combining further includes combining the third transmit beam of the plurality of transmit beams with a sixth receive beam of the plurality of receive beams to provide an eighth two-way beam of the plurality of two-way beams.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein combining further includes combining a fourth transmit beam of the plurality of transmit beams with the sixth receive beam of the plurality of receive beams to provide a ninth two-way beam of the plurality of two-way beams.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein combining further includes combining the fourth transmit beam of the plurality of transmit beams with a seventh receive beam of the plurality of receive beams to provide a tenth two-way beam of the plurality of two-way beams.

14. The method of claim 4, wherein combining further includes combining a second transmit beam of the plurality of transmit beams with the first receive beam of the plurality of receive beams to provide a second two-way beam of the plurality of two-way beams.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein combining further includes combining the second transmit beam of the plurality of transmit beams with a second receive beam of the plurality of receive beams to provide a third two-way beam of the plurality of two-way beams.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein combining further includes combining a third transmit beam of the plurality of transmit beams with the second receive beam of the plurality of receive beams to provide a fourth two-way beam of the plurality of two-way beams.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein combining further includes combining the third transmit beam of the plurality of transmit beams with a third receive beam of the plurality of receive beams to provide a fifth two-way beam of the plurality of two-way beams.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein combining further includes combining a fourth transmit beam of the plurality of transmit beams with the third receive beam of the plurality of receive beams to provide a sixth two-way beam of the plurality of two-way beams.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein combining further includes combining the fourth transmit beam of the plurality of transmit beams with a fourth receive beam of the plurality of receive beams to provide a seventh two-way beam of the plurality of two-way beams.