Dynamic range detection and positioning utilizing leaky wave antennas

• US 9,157,994 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2013
• Issued: 10/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rofougaran, Ahmadreza, Rofougaran, Maryam
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, John J
• Application Number:
  US14/069,781
• Publication Number:
  US 20140085126A1
• Time in Patent Office: 711 Days
• Field of Search: 455/129, 455/121, 455/269, 455/67.11, 455/127.2, 455/272, 455/66.1, 455/456.1, 455/276.1, 342/104, 342/386, 342/909, 342/432
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/06 Systems determining position data of a target
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10316 using at least one antenna particularly designed for interrogating the wireless record carriers antennas in general H01Q1/22
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/16225 the item being non-metallic, e.g. insulating substrate with or without metallisation
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/32225 the item being non-metallic, e.g. insulating substrate with or without metallisation
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/73204 the bump connector being embedded into the layer connector
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/13091 Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor [MOSFET]
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2283 mounted in or on the surface of a semiconductor substrate as a chip-type antenna or integrated with other components into an IC package
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/20 Non-resonant leaky-waveguide or transmission-line antennas; Equivalent structures causing radiation along the transmission path of a guided wave
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/22 Longitudinal slot in boundary wall of waveguide or transmission line H01Q13/203 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/006 Selective devices having photonic band gap materials or materials of which the material properties are frequency dependent, e.g. perforated substrates, high-impedance surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/0066 said selective devices being reconfigurable, tunable or controllable, e.g. using switches
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/23 Combinations of reflecting surfaces with refracting or diffracting devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/06 using refracting or diffracting devices, e.g. lens radome H01Q1/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/0458 Arrangements for matching and coupling between power amplifier and antenna or between amplifying stages matching circuits in general H03H
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/24 for communication between two or more posts wireless communication networks H04W

Abstract

Methods and systems for dynamic range detection and positioning utilizing leaky wave antennas (LWAs) are disclosed and may include configuring one or more LWAs to enable communication of signals in a particular direction. RF signals that are reflected from an object may be received via the LWAs, and a location of the object may be determined based on the received reflected RF signals. The velocity of the object may be determined based on a Doppler shift associated with the received reflected RF signals. A frequency chirped signal may be transmitted by the LWAs to determine a location of the object. A resonant frequency of the LWAs may be configured utilizing micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) deflection. LWAs may be situated along a plurality of axes in the wireless device. The LWAs may include microstrip or coplanar waveguides, where a cavity height is dependent on spacing between conductive lines in the waveguides.

Claims

1. A wireless communication device comprising:

at least one leaky wave antenna configured to communicate signals; and

circuitry configured to

set a direction in which the at least one leaky wave antenna communicates the signals by adjusting a cavity height of the at least one leaky wave antenna,

receive via the at least one leaky wave antenna reflected RF signals that are reflected from an object, and

determine a location of said object based on said reflected RF signals.

2. The wireless communication device of claim 1 wherein the circuitry is further configured to determine a velocity of said object based on said reflected RF signals.

3. The wireless communication device of claims 2 wherein the circuitry is further configured to determine said velocity of said object based on a Doppler shift associated with said reflected RF signals.

4. The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein the circuitry is further configured to chirp a frequency of an RF signal transmitted by said at least one leaky wave antenna.

5. The wireless communication device of claim 4 wherein the circuitry is further configured to determine said location of said object based on said reflected RF signals resulting from said chirping of said frequency.

6. The wireless communication device of claim 1 wherein the circuitry is further configured to set a resonant frequency of said at least one leaky wave antenna utilizing micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) deflection.

7. The wireless communication device of claim 1 wherein said at least one leaky wave antenna includes plural leaky wave antennas situated along a plurality of axes in said wireless communication device.

8. The wireless communication device of claim 1 wherein said at least one leaky wave antenna includes microstrip waveguides.

9. The wireless communication device of claim 8 wherein the cavity height of said at least one leaky wave antenna is dependent upon spacing between conductive lines in said microstrip waveguides.

10. The wireless communication device of claim 1 wherein said at least one leaky wave antenna includes coplanar waveguides.

11. The wireless communication device of claim 10 wherein the cavity height of said at least one leaky wave antenna is present on spacing between conductive lines on said coplanar waveguides.

12. A method for wireless communication utilizing a wireless communication device that includes at least one leaky wave antenna, said method comprising:

setting, with circuitry, a direction in which the at least one leaky wave antenna communicates signals by adjusting a cavity height of the at least one leaky wave antenna,

receiving, by the circuitry via the at least one leaky wave antenna reflected RF signals that are reflected from an object; and

determining, with the circuitry, a location of said object based on said reflected RF signals.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising determining a velocity of said object based on said reflected RF signals.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising chirping a frequency of an RF signal transmitted by said at least one leaky wave antenna.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising determining said velocity of said object based on a Doppler shift associated with said reflected RF signals.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising determining said location of said object based on said reflected RF signals resulting from said chirping of said frequency.

17. The method of claim 12 further comprising configuring a resonant frequency of said at least one leaky wave antenna utilizing micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) deflection.

18. The method of claim 12 wherein said at least one leaky wave antenna includes plural leaky wave antennas situated along a plurality of axes in said wireless communication device.

19. The method of claim 12 wherein said at least one leaky wave antenna includes microstrip waveguides.

20. The method of claim 12 wherein said at least one leaky wave antenna includes coplanar waveguides.