Patent Application
20250202125
The present disclosure relates to an antenna assembly including a negative harmonic wave-ground.
This section provides background information related to the present disclosure, which is not necessarily prior art.
Radar uses electromagnetic signals to detect and track objects. The electromagnetic signals are transmitted and received using one or more antennas. An antenna may be characterized in terms of gain and beam width, or more specifically pattern, which is a measure of the gain as a function of direction. By modifying the antenna pattern, the antenna may be customized for a specific application.
This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features.
In various features, the present disclosure provides for an antenna assembly including: a circuit board including an integrated circuit configured to process a radio frequency (RF) signal, and a conductive trace extending from the integrated circuit; a waveguide plate over the circuit board, the waveguide plate including a waveguide configured to guide the RF signal at least one of to and from the conductive trace; and a conductive top plate over the waveguide plate. The conductive top plate includes: an outer surface and an inner surface facing the waveguide plate, the outer surface is opposite to the inner surface; a plurality of slots aligned with the waveguide and extending through the conductive top plate, and a receptacle recessed below the outer surface beside the plurality of slots, the receptacle configured to modify a radiation pattern of the RF signal passing across the receptacle from the plurality of slots.
In further features, the receptacle defines at least one channel extending parallel to the plurality of slots.
In further features, the receptacle defines at least one ridge recessed beneath the outer surface.
In further features, the plurality of slots are aligned along the conductive top plate in a first direction; and the receptacle defines a pair of channels separated by a first ridge that is recessed beneath the outer surface, the pair of channels are spaced apart in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction.
In further features, the pair of channels are spaced apart at a period of 1.3 mm.
In further features, the receptacle defines a second ridge extending from a base of the receptacle to a maximum height co-planar with the outer surface of the conductive top plate, the second ridge is spaced apart from the first ridge in the second direction.
In further features, the pair of channels and the receptacle extend in the first direction parallel to the plurality of slots.
In further features, the second ridge is adjacent to a channel of the pair of channels.
In further features, the first ridge extends 0.8 mm from the base of the receptacle; the first ridge has a maximum cross-sectional width of 1.3 mm; the second ridge extends 1.1 mm from the base to the maximum height co-planar with the outer surface of the conductive top plate; and the second ridge has a maximum cross-sectional width of 0.9 mm.
In further features, the receptacle is a first receptacle on a first side of the plurality of slots, the plurality of slots are aligned in a first direction; a second receptacle is recessed beneath the outer surface on a second side of the plurality of slots opposite to the first side, the second receptacle is spaced apart from the plurality of slots in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction, the second receptacle configured to modify the radiation pattern of the RF signal transmitted from the plurality of slots; and the plurality of slots are between the first receptacle and the second receptacle.
In further features, the plurality of slots are a first plurality of slots, and the waveguide is a first waveguide; the conductive top plate further includes a second plurality of slots extending through the waveguide plate to the inner surface, the second plurality of slots aligned parallel to the first plurality of slots over a second waveguide of the waveguide plate; and the first receptacle is between the first plurality of slots and the second plurality of slots.
In further features, the plurality of slots are aligned in a first direction; and the receptacle defines a plurality of ridges, each one of the plurality of ridges extends in the first direction, is spaced apart in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction, and is recessed beneath the outer surface.
In further features, the plurality of slots are aligned in a first direction; the receptacle defines a plurality of ridges, each one of the plurality of ridges extends in the first direction and is spaced apart in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; and the plurality of ridges progressively decrease in height away from the plurality of slots along the second direction.
The present disclosure further provides for, in various features, an antenna assembly including: a circuit board including an integrated circuit configured to process a radio frequency (RF) signal, and a conductive trace extending from the integrated circuit; a waveguide plate over the circuit board, the waveguide plate including a waveguide configured to guide the RF signal at least one of to and from the conductive trace; and a conductive top plate over the waveguide plate. The conductive top plate includes: an outer surface and an inner surface facing the waveguide plate, the outer surface is opposite to the inner surface; a plurality of openings extending through the conductive top plate to the waveguide, the plurality of openings aligned in a first direction over the waveguide; and a plurality of channels defined beneath the outer surface adjacent to the plurality of openings, each one of the plurality of channels extending in the first direction and spaced apart in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction.
In further features, a plurality of ridges define the plurality of channels, the plurality of ridges each have a maximum height that is at or beneath a plane extending across the outer surface.
In further features, the plurality of ridges include first ridges and second ridges, the first ridges are shorter than the second ridges.
In further features, each one of the first ridges is between two of the second ridges.
In further features, the second ridges are closer to the plurality of openings than the first ridges.
In further features, multiple ones of the first ridges are between two of the second ridges.
In various features, the present disclosure provides for an antenna assembly including: a circuit board including an integrated circuit configured to process a radio frequency (RF) signal, and a conductive trace extending from the integrated circuit; a waveguide plate over the circuit board, the waveguide plate including a waveguide configured to guide the RF signal at least one of to and from the conductive trace; and a conductive top plate over the waveguide plate. The conductive top plate includes: an outer surface and an inner surface facing the waveguide plate, the outer surface is opposite to the inner surface; a plurality of slots extending through the waveguide plate to the waveguide, the plurality of slots aligned in a first direction over the waveguide; and channels recessed beneath a plane extending across the outer surface, the channels extending in the first direction parallel to the plurality of slots and spaced apart in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction, the channels defined by ridges extending in the first direction, each one of the ridges has a maximum height that is at or below the outer surface.
Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. The description and specific examples in this summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of select embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.
Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The present disclosure provides for an antenna with a conductive outer plate including negative wave-grounds adjacent to slots of the antenna. The negative wave-grounds are in the form of receptacles defined by the conductive outer plate. The receptacles are recessed below a plane extending across an outermost surface of the outer plate. The receptacles include a plurality of ridges defining channels. The receptacles may be customized to generate a radiation pattern of a custom width and total gain to fit any suitable application. For example, the heights, widths, spacing, and number of ridges may be varied to customize the radiation pattern, as explained herein.
The antenna assembly 10 generally includes a circuit board 20, a waveguide plate 30, and a conductive top plate 50. The circuit board 20, the waveguide plate 30, and the conductive top plate 50 are secured together in any suitable manner, such as with any suitable fasteners 12. The waveguide plate 30 is secured between the circuit board 20 and the conductive top plate 50.
The circuit board 20 includes an integrated circuit (IC) 22 configured to process radio frequency (RF) signals. Extending from the IC 22 are conductive traces 24, which are electrically connected to the IC 22. Conductive pads 26 are at distal ends of the traces 24. The pads 26 and the traces 24 are configured to electrically conduct RF signals to and from the IC 22.
Mounted over the circuit board 20 is the waveguide plate 30. The waveguide plate 30 defines a plurality of waveguides 32. The waveguides 32 extend from feeding holes 34. The feeding holes 34 are aligned with the pads 26 of the circuit board 20. RF signals transmitted from the IC 22 are conducted along the traces 24 to the pads 26, and through the feeding holes 34 of the waveguide plate 30 to the waveguides 32. Conversely, received RF signals are directed by the waveguides 30 to the feeding holes 34, and to the IC 22 by way of the pads 26 and the traces 24. Distal ends 36 of the waveguides 32 opposite to the feeding holes 34 are positioned and shaped to correspond with slots of the conductive top plate 50, as explained herein.
The conductive top plate 50 has an outer surface 52 and an inner surface 54. The outer surface 52 is opposite to the inner surface 54. The inner surface 54 faces the waveguide plate 30. The outer surface 52 is an outer surface of the antenna assembly 10. The conductive top plate 50 is made of any suitable conductive material, such as any suitable metallic material.
With continued reference to
The plurality of slots 56 are arranged in various groups, each of which is an antenna configured to receive and/or transmit RF signals based on the configuration of the IC 22. The conductive top plate 50 may include any suitable number of groups of the slots 56. In the example illustrated, the conductive top plate 50 includes eight groups: a first group 60A; a second group 60B; a third group 60C; a fourth group 60D; a fifth group 60E; a sixth group 60F; a seventh group 60G; and an eighth group 60H. Each one of the groups 60A-60H includes a plurality of the slots 56, such as six of the slots 56 in the example illustrated. Each one of the groups 60A-60H is aligned in a first direction along the conductive top plate 50. In the example of
Each one of the groups 60A-60D of the slots 56 may be configured as a transmitting antenna, a receiving antenna, or a transceiver antenna. For example, the groups 60A-60D may be configured as transmitting antennas, and the groups 60E-60H may be configured as receiving antennas. Alternatively, the groups 60E-60H may be configured as transmitting antennas, and the groups 60A-60D may be configured as receiving antennas.
The conductive top plate 50 further includes a plurality of receptacles 70A-70L recessed beneath the outer surface 52 of the top plate 50. Any suitable number of receptacles 70A-70L may be included. In the example of
With particular reference to
The channels 72 are defined by ridges within the receptacles 70A-70L. As illustrated in the example of
In the example of
With respect to the example of
The first ridges 74 may extend from the base 80 to any suitable maximum height below the outer surface 52. For example, the first ridges 74 may extend to a first height A, which is 0.8 mm from the base 80, or about 0.8 mm from the base 80. The first ridge 74 may have a maximum cross-sectional width B of 1.3 mm, or about 1.3 mm, for example. The channels 72 defined on opposite sides of the first ridge 74 may be spaced apart at a sinusoidal period of 1.3 mm, about 1.3 mm, or any other suitable distance. The second ridges 82 extend from the base 80 to a maximum height C of 1.1 mm, for example. The second ridges 82 may have a maximum cross-sectional width D of 0.9 mm, for example.
Any of the other receptacles 70D-70L may be configured with the first ridges 74 and the second ridges 82 as described above and illustrated in
An additional exemplary configuration of the receptacles 70A, 70B, and 70C is illustrated in
The second radiation pattern B has the advantage of a higher total gain at the center thereof relative to the first radiation pattern A, but is more narrow relative to the first radiation pattern A. The second radiation pattern B is representative of the antenna assembly 10 configured with the ridges 74, 82, 84 in the receptacles 70A-70L having fewer even peaks. For example, the second radiation pattern A may result from the configuration of
The present disclosure thus advantageously provides for the antenna assembly 10 with a top plate 50 that may be modified to customize the radiation pattern. In particular, the receptacles 70A-70L serve as negative wave-grounds, which modify the RF signals passing across the receptacles 70A-70L to or from the slots 56. The negative wave-grounds of the receptacles 70A-70L may be customized to customize the radiation pattern. In particular, the ridges 74, 78, and 82 may be varied in height, width, spacing, and/or position about the receptacles 70A-70L to arrive at a radiation pattern suitable for a particular application, such as the radiation pattern A or the radiation pattern B of
The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.
Example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough, and will fully convey the scope to those who are skilled in the art. Numerous specific details are set forth such as examples of specific components, devices, and methods, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that specific details need not be employed, that example embodiments may be embodied in many different forms and that neither should be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure. In some example embodiments, well-known processes, well-known device structures, and well-known technologies are not described in detail.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular example embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “including,” and “having,” are inclusive and therefore specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. The method steps, processes, and operations described herein are not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance in the particular order discussed or illustrated, unless specifically identified as an order of performance. It is also to be understood that additional or alternative steps may be employed.
When an element or layer is referred to as being “on,” “engaged to,” “connected to,” or “coupled to” another element or layer, it may be directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly engaged to,” “directly connected to,” or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, there may be no intervening elements or layers present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.). As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
Although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Terms such as “first,” “second,” and other numerical terms when used herein do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the example embodiments.
Spatially relative terms, such as “inner,” “outer,” “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper,” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Spatially relative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the example term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.
