RF sensor and radar for automotive speed and collision avoidance applications
First Claim
1. Radar apparatus comprising:
- a millimeter wave FMCW radar transmitter comprising a single flood beam antenna;
a radar signal processor for processing radar return signals to produce radar output signals; and
an RF sensor comprising a receive antenna that includes;
a plurality of antenna elements;
a plurality of mixers respectively coupled to outputs of the plurality of antenna elements and coupled to the transmitter by means of a coupler;
a plurality of filter circuits respectively coupled to outputs of the plurality of mixers;
a multiplexer coupled to outputs of the plurality of filter circuits that comprises a multiple input, single output switch for sequentially outputting video signals derived from radar signals received by each of the receive antenna elements, and wherein the single output of the multiplexer is coupled to the radar signal processor for providing the radar return signals thereto; and
a lens for imaging radar returns onto each of the plurality of antenna elements.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Radar apparatus that includes a millimeter wave radar transmitter comprising a flood beam antenna, and a radar signal processor for processing radar return signals to produce radar output signals. An RF sensor comprising a receive antenna includes a plurality of antenna elements, a plurality of respectively coupled to outputs of the plurality of antenna elements and coupled to the transmitter by means of a coupler, a plurality of filter circuits respectively coupled to outputs of the plurality of mixers, a multiplexer coupled to outputs of the plurality of filter circuits that comprises as a multiple input, single output switch for sequentially outputting video signals derived from radar signals received by each of the receive antenna elements, and a lens for imaging radar returns onto each of the plurality of antenna elements. The heart of the present invention is a heterodyne receive antenna that may be used in many applications, including radiometric or radar applications, and the like. The present invention provides for a 35-300 GHz millimeter wave electronic scanning sensor for use in collision avoidance applications, and the like.
109 Citations
16 Claims
-
1. Radar apparatus comprising:
-
a millimeter wave FMCW radar transmitter comprising a single flood beam antenna; a radar signal processor for processing radar return signals to produce radar output signals; and an RF sensor comprising a receive antenna that includes; a plurality of antenna elements; a plurality of mixers respectively coupled to outputs of the plurality of antenna elements and coupled to the transmitter by means of a coupler; a plurality of filter circuits respectively coupled to outputs of the plurality of mixers; a multiplexer coupled to outputs of the plurality of filter circuits that comprises a multiple input, single output switch for sequentially outputting video signals derived from radar signals received by each of the receive antenna elements, and wherein the single output of the multiplexer is coupled to the radar signal processor for providing the radar return signals thereto; and a lens for imaging radar returns onto each of the plurality of antenna elements. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. Radar apparatus comprising:
-
an FMCW transmitter comprising; a reference oscillator; a waveform control circuit coupled to the reference oscillator; a Gunn transmitter coupled to the waveform control circuit that comprises a transmitter and mixer local oscillator for FMCW radar energy transmission, and a mixer local oscillator for radar energy reception; a beam selector circuit; a harmonic mixer coupled to the Gunn transmitter and to the waveform control circuit; and a single flood beam antenna; a radar signal processor comprising; an amplifier; a video blanking circuit coupled to the amplifier; an analog to digital (A/D) converter coupled to the video blanking circuit; a range/Doppler processor coupled to the analog to digital (A/D) converter; a detect/tracking processor coupled to the range/Doppler processor; a display coupled to the detect/tracking processor; and a master timing reference coupled to the waveform control circuit, the beam selector circuit, the video blanking circuit, the analog to digital (A/D) converter, the range/Doppler processor, and the detect/tracking processor to control the timing of the signal flow therebetween; and an RF sensor comprising a receive antenna that includes; a plurality of antenna elements; a plurality of mixers respectively coupled to outputs of the plurality of antenna elements and coupled to the Gunn transmitter by means of a coupler; a plurality of filter circuits respectively coupled to outputs of the plurality of mixers; a multiplexer having an output coupled to an input of the amplifier and coupled to outputs of the plurality of filter circuits that comprises as a multiple input, single output switch for sequentially outputting video signals derived from radar signals received by the receive antenna elements, said beam selector coupled to said multiplexer; and a lens for imaging radar returns onto each of the plurality of antenna elements.
-
Specification