Impulse radar antenna array and method

• US 6,667,724 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2001
• Issued: 12/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Humatics Corporation
• Original Assignee: Time Domain Corporation (Humatics Corporation)
• Inventors: Dickson, David M., Gilbert, Charles G., Nag, Soumya K., Barnes, Mark A., Fluhler, Herbert U., Schantz, Hans G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Clinger, James
• Application Number:
  US09/998,480
• Publication Number:
  US 20020145570A1
• Time in Patent Office: 753 Days
• Field of Search: 343/893, 343/853, 343/700.MS, 343/872, 343/824, 342/27, 342/21, 342/26, 375/200, 375/256
• US Class Current: 343/893
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/0209 Systems with very large relative bandwidth, i.e. larger than 10 %, e.g. baseband, pulse, carrier-free, ultrawideband
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/888 through wall detection
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/38 formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface H01Q15/142
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/525 between emitting and receiving antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/08 the units being spaced along or adjacent to a rectilinear path waveguide fed H01Q21/0037

Abstract

An antenna array comprising a ground plane and a plurality of elements mounted thereon, said elements being capable of emitting and receiving ultra wideband emissions. Elements are arrayed on the ground plane in two parallel rows, a transmitting row, and a receiving row, such that a given element in the receiving row is aligned in at least one direction with a corresponding element in the transmitting row. Additionally, the elements are configured on the ground plane to elicit a symmetrical product response in the azimuthal plane, and to produce horizontally polarized signals. An alternative embodiment places the elements with unique inter-element spacing within the rows. An embodiment comprises a fence structure between rows. A method for use comprises the step of transmitting a signal via an element in the transmitting row and receiving said signal through an element in the receiving row, not aligned with the transmitting element.

Claims

1. An impulse radar antenna comprising:

(a) an antenna control system;

(b) a substantially planar ground element having a first surface and a second surface; and

(c) a plurality of antenna elements coupled with said antenna control system;

a first set of antenna elements of said plurality of antenna elements being electrically coupled with said first surface in a first array;

a second set of antenna elements of said plurality of antenna elements being electrically coupled with said first surface in a second array;

each respective antenna element of said plurality of antenna elements being configured for handling ultra wideband electromagnetic signals;

said first array and said second array being substantially symmetrically arranged on opposing sides of an axis in said first surface;

each respective antenna element of said first set having a most proximate antenna element of said second set;

said antenna control system controlling driven pairs of antenna elements of said plurality of antenna elements in a plurality of driving modes;

each driven pair of said antenna elements comprising a first pair member selected from said first set and a second pair member selected from said second set;

in a first driving mode of said plurality of driving modes said second pair member is said most proximate antenna element of said first pair member;

in other said driving modes of than said first driving mode said second pair member is more distal from said first pair member than said most proximate antenna element of said first pair member.

2. An impulse radar antenna as recited in claim 1 wherein the antenna further comprises a fence structure depending substantially perpendicularly from said first surface between said first set of antenna elements and said second set of antenna elements.

3. An impulse radar antenna as recited in claim 2 wherein said fence structure is substantially symmetrically oriented with respect to said axis.

4. An impulse radar antenna as recited in claim 3 wherein said fence structure is substantially linear.

5. An impulse radar antenna as recited in claim 3 wherein said fence structure is curvilinear.

6. An impulse radar antenna as recited in claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of antenna elements is a monoloop antenna element.

7. An impulse radar antenna as recited in claim 6 wherein each said monoloop antenna element has an integral tab for effecting an electrical driving connection with said monoloop antenna element.

8. An impulse radar antenna as recited in claim 6 wherein said first array is at least one substantially linear first row substantially parallel with said axis, and wherein said second array is at least one substantially linear second row substantially parallel with said axis;

an end antenna element at each end of at least one of said at least one first row and at each end of at least one of said at least one second row being a dummy antenna element not connected for driving.

9. An impulse radar antenna as recited in claim 6 wherein said first array is at least one first row disposed generally along a first line parallel with said axis;

said first set of antenna elements being alternately displaced on each side of said first line; and

wherein said second array is at least one second row disposed generally along a second line parallel with said axis;

said second set of antenna elements being alternately displaced on each side of said second line;

said axis lying between said first line and said second line.

10. An impulse radar antenna as recited in claim 9 wherein said first array is at least one substantially linear first row substantially parallel with said axis, and wherein said second array is at least one substantially linear second row substantially parallel with said axis;

an end antenna element at each end of at least one of said at least one first row and at each end of at least one of said at least one second row being a dummy antenna element not connected for driving.

11. An impulse radar antenna as recited in claim 6 wherein the antenna further comprises a fence structure depending substantially perpendicularly from said first surface between said first set of antenna elements and said second set of antenna elements.

12. An impulse radar antenna as recited in claim 11 wherein said fence structure is substantially symmetrically oriented with respect to said axis.

13. An impulse radar antenna as recited in claim 12 wherein said fence structure is substantially linear.

14. An impulse radar antenna as recited in claim 12 wherein said fence structure is curvilinear.

15. A method for operating an impulse radar antenna, said antenna including an antenna control system;

a substantially planar ground element having a first surface and a second surface; and

a plurality of antenna elements coupled with said antenna control system;

a first set of antenna elements of said plurality of antenna elements being electrically coupled with said first surface in a first array;

a second set of antenna elements of said plurality of antenna elements being electrically coupled with said first surface in a second array;

each respective antenna element of said plurality of antenna elements being configured for handling ultra wideband electromagnetic signals;

said first array and said second array being substantially symmetrically arranged on opposing sides of an axis in said first surface;

each respective antenna element of said first set having a most proximate antenna element of said second set; and

an antenna control system to control driven pairs of antenna elements of said plurality of antenna elements in a plurality of driving modes;

each driven pair of said antenna elements comprising a first pair member selected from said first set and a second pair member selected from said second set;

the method comprising the steps of;

(a) selecting a particular driving mode from said plurality of driving modes;

(b) when said particular driving mode is a first driving mode of said plurality of driving modes, driving each said second pair member as said most proximate antenna element of each said first pair member; and

(c) when said particular driving mode is another driving mode than said first driving mode, driving each said second pair member as more distal antenna element of said second set of antenna elements than said most proximate antenna element of each said first pair member.

16. A method for operating an impulse radar antenna as recited in claim 15 wherein the antenna further comprises a fence structure depending substantially perpendicularly from said first surface between said first set of antenna elements and said second set of antenna elements.

17. A method for operating an impulse radar antenna as recited in claim 16 wherein said fence structure is substantially symmetrically oriented with respect to said axis.

18. A method for operating an impulse radar antenna as recited in claim 17 wherein said fence structure is substantially linear.

19. A method for operating an impulse radar antenna as recited in claim 17 wherein said fence structure is curvilinear.

20. A method for operating an impulse radar antenna as recited in claim 15 wherein each of said plurality of antenna elements is a monoloop antenna element.

21. An impulse radar antenna as recited in claim 20 wherein each said monoloop antenna element has an integral tab for effecting an electrical driving connection with said monoloop antenna element.

22. A method for operating an impulse radar antenna as recited in claim 20 wherein said first array is at least one substantially linear first row substantially parallel with said axis, and wherein said second array is at least one substantially linear second row substantially parallel with said axis;

an end antenna element at each end of at least one of said at least one first row and at each end of at least one of said at least one second row being a dummy antenna element not connected for driving.

23. A method for operating an impulse radar antenna as recited in claim 20 wherein said first array is at least one first row disposed generally along a first line parallel with said axis;

said first set of antenna elements being alternately displaced on each side of said first line; and

wherein said second array is at least one second row disposed generally along a second line parallel with said axis;

said second set of antenna elements being alternately displaced on each side of said second line;

said axis lying between said first line and said second line.

24. A method for operating an impulse radar antenna as recited in claim 23 wherein said first array is at least one substantially linear first row substantially parallel with said axis, and wherein said second array is at least one substantially linear second row substantially parallel with said axis;

an end antenna element at each end of at least one of said at least one first row and at each end of at least one of said at least one second row being a dummy antenna element not connected for driving.

25. A method for operating an impulse radar antenna as recited in wherein the antenna further comprises a fence structure depending substantially perpendicularly from said first surface between said first set of antenna elements and said second set of antenna elements.

26. A method for operating an impulse radar antenna as recited in claim 25 wherein said fence structure is substantially symmetrically oriented with respect to said axis.

27. A method for operating an impulse radar antenna as recited in claim 26 wherein said fence structure is substantially linear.

28. A method for operating an impulse radar antenna as recited in claim 26 wherein said fence structure is curvilinear.