Antenna configurations for reduced radar complexity

• US 6,995,730 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2002
• Issued: 02/07/2006
• 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 J.
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, HOANGANH T
• Application Number:
  US10/293,880
• Publication Number:
  US 20030098816A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,182 Days
• Field of Search: 343/700.MS, 343/876, 343/853, 343/850
• US Class Current: 343/876
• 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 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 a first plurality of antenna elements 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 first 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 transmit and receiving system comprising,

a first array including a first plurality of antenna elements disposed to provide a transmit antenna adapted to provide a plurality of transmit beams each having a transmit pattern shape;

a second array including a second different plurality of antenna element disposed to provide a receive antenna adapted to provide a plurality of receive beams each having a receive pattern shape;

a beam switching system coupled to the first array being operative to selectively form a plurality of transmit beams; and

a beam combining system coupled to the second array and being operative to selectively form at least one transmit beam; and

a beam combining system coupled to the second array and being operative to selectively form a plurality of receive beams wherein the beam switching system and beam combining system are operative such that different combinations of transmit and receive beam pattern shapes can be used to provide a plurality of different two-way antenna patterns.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the transmit array includes approximately twelve elements.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the second plurality of antenna elements are arranged into a receive array including approximately four elements in azimuth and approximately six elements in elevation.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the receive array includes approximately twenty-four elements.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the first plurality of antenna elements are arranged into a transmit array including approximately four elements in azimuth and approximately three elements in elevation.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the beam switching system further includes a first switch beam combining circuit having an input port and a plurality of output ports, each of the plurality of output ports being coupled to corresponding one of the plurality of switch ports of said first beamforming circuit.

6. A transmit and receiving system comprising:

a first array including a first plurality of antenna elements disposd to provide a transmit antenna;

a second array including a second different plurality of antenna elements disposed to privide a receive antenna;

a beam switching system coupled to the first array and being operative to selectively form at least one transmit beam, said beam switching system including a first beamforming circuit having a plurality of antenna ports and a plurality of switch with each of the plurality of antenna ports being coupled to a corresponding one of the first plurality of antenna elements; and

a beam combining system coupled to the second array and being operative to selectively form a plurality of receive beams.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein at least one attenuator is coupled to each one of the plurality of switch ports of the first beamforming circuit.

9. A transmit and receiving system comprising:

a first array including a first plurality of antenna elements disposed to provide a transmit antenna;

a second array including a second different plurality of antenna elements disposed to provide a receive antenna;

a beam switching system coupled to the first array and being operative to selectively form at least one transmit beam, said beam switching system including;

a beamformer circuit having a plurality of beamformer circuit antenna element ports and a plurality of beamformer circuit switch ports; and

a switch circuit having a plurality of switch ports and a common port with each of the plurality of switch ports being coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of beamformer circuit switch ports; and

a beaming combining system coupled to the second array and being operative to selectively form of plurality of receive beams.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the beam combining system further includes:

a second beamforming circuit having a plurality of beamformer circuit antenna element ports coupled to the second array and a plurality of beamformer circuit switch ports; and

a switched beam combining circuit an output port and a plurality of input ports, each of the plurality of input ports being coupled to respective ones of the plurality of beamformer circuit switch ports of the second beamforming circuit.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the switched beam combining circuit includes:

a first switch having an output port and a plurality of input ports, each of the plurality of input ports being coupled to first ones of the plurality of beamformer circuit switch ports of the second beamforming circuit; and

a second switch having an output port and a plurality of input ports, each of the plurality of inputs ports being coupled to second ones of the plurality of beamformer circuit switch ports of the second beamforming circuit.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the switched beam combining system further includes:

a power divider circuit having a first input coupled to the output port of the first switch, a second input coupled to the output port of the second switch and having an output coupled to an output of said switched beam combining system.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising a receiver coupled to the output of said switched beam combining system.