Lens antenna and lens antenna array

• US 6,433,751 B1
• Filed: 08/13/2001
• Issued: 08/13/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TDK Corporation
• Original Assignee: TDK Corporation
• Inventors: Ishitobi, Norimasa, Shimoda, Hideaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Tan
• Application Number:
  US09/927,637
• Publication Number:
  US 20020024471A1
• Time in Patent Office: 365 Days
• Field of Search: 343/753, 343/754, 343/755, 343/711, 343/712, 343/713, 343/909, 343/911.R, 343/911.L
• US Class Current: 343/753
• 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 1/3291 mounted in or on other locations inside the vehicle or vehicle body
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/02 Refracting or diffracting devices, e.g. lens, prism
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/062 for focusing

Abstract

The invention has for its object to achieve a high-performance lens antenna which can be integrated with the external (surface) shape of a mobile unit with no damage to the appearance of the mobile unit and is easy to manufacture and assemble at relatively low costs. To accomplish this, the invention provides a lens antenna mounted on a mobile unit, in which the radiation-side surface thereof and the focal-side surface thereof are each of a quasi-optical shape as a lens, and which is in a non-body of rotation form.

Claims

1. A lens antenna mounted on a mobile unit,

which is in a non-body of rotation form,

in which, at a lens antenna-mounted position, the direction and magnitude of inclination and curvature of the surface of the mobile unit as well as the direction and magnitude of inclination and curvature of a radiation-side surface of the lens antenna are within +20%, and

wherein a focal-side surface of the lens antenna is formed with respect to the radiation-side surface in such a way that the radiation-side surface and the focal-side surface have a quasi-optical configuration as the lens antenna.

2. The lens antenna of claim 1, which is formed of a resin material or ceramics.

3. The lens antenna of claim 1, wherein a constituting material thereof has a specific dielectric constant of ∈

r=2 to 12 in a frequency range used.

4. The lens antenna of claim 1, wherein a focal length thereof is ⅓

to 3 times as large as a maximum length of an aperture projection surface thereof.

5. The lens antenna of claim 1, wherein a junction of a surface of said mobile unit body and a surface of said lens antenna forms a continuous surface.

6. The lens antenna of claim 1, wherein at least the radiation-side surface thereof is colored.

7. The lens antenna of any one of claims 1 to 6, which is used in a frequency range of 30 to 300 GHz.

8. The lens antenna of claim 1, which has an antireflection film on the radiation-side surface thereof.

9. The lens antenna of claim 1, wherein the aperture projection surface thereof is of an elliptical shape.

10. The lens antenna of claim 1, wherein an auxiliary reflector, an auxiliary lens or a radio prism is located on a wave path between the lens antenna and a primary radiator.

11. The lens antenna of claim 1, wherein a plurality of lens antennas, each as recited in claim 1, are integrally formed.