Gradient index lens for microwave radiation

• US 7,821,473 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2007
• Issued: 10/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Duke University, Toyota Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Duke University, Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Justice, Bryan J., Smith, David R., Yonak, Serdar H., Nguyen, Vinh N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wimer; Michael C
• Assistant Examiner(s): MCCAIN, KYANA RASHAWN
• Application Number:
  US11/748,551
• Publication Number:
  US 20080284668A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,260 Days
• Field of Search: 343/753, 343/909, 343/895, 343/700.MS
• US Class Current: 343/909
• 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 19/06 using refracting or diffracting devices, e.g. lens radome H01Q1/42
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/08 for modifying the radiation pattern of a radiating horn in which it is located corrugated horns H01Q13/0208; producing a circular polarisation H01Q13/0241

Abstract

A gradient index lens for microwave radiation. The lens includes a plurality of electric field coupled resonators wherein each resonator has a resonant frequency. The resonators are arranged in a planar array having spaced apart side edges and spaced apart top and bottom edges. The resonant frequency of the resonators varies between at least two of the spaced edges of the array in accordance with the desired properties of the lens.

Claims

1. A gradient index lens for microwave radiation comprising:

a plurality of electronic inductive capacitive resonators, each having a resonant frequency, said resonators being arranged in a planar array having a plurality of rows and columns with one resonator positioned at an intersection of each row and column, said rows extending between spaced apart side edges of said array,

wherein the resonant frequency of adjacent resonators varies by a predetermined incremental amount sequentially from one side edge of said array to the other side edge of said array.

2. The lens as defined in claim 1 wherein the resonant frequency of said resonators varies between said spaced apart side edges of said array and spaced apart top and bottom edges of said array.

3. The lens as defined in claim 1 and comprising at least two substantially identical planar arrays of resonators, said arrays arranged in a spaced apart and parallel relationship to each other.

4. The lens as defined in claim 3 wherein said planar arrays are spaced apart from each other by an amount corresponding to a width of one resonator.

5. The lens as defined in claim 1 wherein each resonator is rectangular in shape having a width less than one-sixth the wavelength of the resonant frequency of the resonator.

6. The lens as defined in claim 1 wherein each resonator comprises at least one capacitor formed by two spaced apart and parallel conductive strips on a substrate, wherein the length of said conductive strips establishes the resonant frequency of the resonator.

7. The lens as defined in claim 2 and wherein each resonator comprises at least two capacitors, each capacitor formed by two spaced apart and parallel conductive strips on a substrate.

8. The lens as defined in claim 1 wherein said lens is utilized in an automotive radar system.

9. The lens as defined in claim 8 wherein said resonators have a pass band centered around resonant frequency in the range of 24 GHz-77 GHz.