Patent Application
20240387971
Some devices (e.g., radar devices) use electromagnetic (EM) signals to detect and track objects. The EM signals are transmitted and received using antennas which may be characterized in terms of gains, beam widths, or, more specifically, in terms of antenna patterns, which are measures of the antenna gains as functions of directions. Waveguides are often used to change or improve the antenna patterns.
Waveguides often have various structures designed to guide, balance, or filter the EM signals. For example, a filter may be used to keep undesired signals from entering a portion of a waveguide. These filters are often hard to manufacture and/or are long structures in order to achieve good rejection properties, which makes them potentially expensive options in both cost and/or space.
This document is directed to a waveguide with a curved-wall low-pass filter. Some aspects described below include a waveguide comprising a low-pass filter portion configured to allow low-frequency electromagnetic energy therethrough and reject high-frequency electromagnetic energy. The low-pass filter portion comprises: an input port; an output port; and a cavity feature formed between the input port and the output port. The cavity feature has a greater depth than respective depths of the input port and the output port. The cavity feature comprises a top wall and a bottom wall that is disposed opposite the top wall, that achieves the greater depth for the cavity feature. The bottom wall comprises at least one curved portion configured to allow the cavity feature to achieve the allowance of the low-frequency electromagnetic energy and the rejection of the high-frequency electromagnetic energy.
In some implementations, a length of the cavity feature between the input port and the output port may be less than two times an operating wavelength.
In some implementations, the greater depth of the cavity feature may be approximately an operating wavelength.
In some implementations, the greater depth of the cavity feature may be approximately half a length of the cavity feature.
In some implementations, the input port and the output port may have different depths. The top wall may comprise a jog portion between two parallel portions to achieve the different depths. The jog portion may be halfway between the input port and the output port or offset from a halfway point between the input port and the output port.
In some implementations, the bottom wall may further comprise a flat portion that is parallel to at least a portion of the top wall, the flat portion providing the greater depth. The bottom wall may further comprise a first curved portion that connects the input port to the flat portion and a second curved portion that connects the output port to the flat portion. The first curved portion and the second curved portion may be cylindrical. A first end of the first curved portion may be tangent with the input port, and a first end of the second curved portion may be tangent with the output port. A second end of the first curved portion may be substantially normal with the flat portion, and a second end of the second curved portion may be substantially normal with the flat portion.
In some implementations, the bottom wall may be elliptical to form the greater depth. A first end of the bottom wall may be substantially normal with the input port, and a second end of the bottom wall may be substantially normal with the output port.
In some implementations, the bottom wall may comprise a first elliptical portion and a second elliptical portion, where the first and second elliptical portions form the greater depth. A first end of the first elliptical portion may be substantially normal with the input port, and a second the second elliptical portion may be substantially normal with the output port. The first elliptical portion and the second elliptical portion may meet forming an extension portion that extends towards the top wall away from the greater depth. The extension portion may extend less than half a distance from a bottom extent of the bottom wall to the input port or output port.
Other aspects described below include a system comprising a processor configured to generate low-frequency electromagnetic energy and a waveguide as described above that is configured to guide the low-frequency electromagnetic energy and reject high-frequency electromagnetic energy.
This Summary introduces simplified concepts of a waveguide with a curved-wall low-pass filter that is further described in the Detailed Description and Drawings. This Summary is not intended to identify essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended for use in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
A waveguide with a curved-wall low-pass filter is described with reference to the following drawings that use some of the same numbers throughout to reference like or examples of like features and components.
Waveguides often have various structures designed to guide, balance, or filter EM signals. For example, a filter may be used to keep undesired signals (e.g., higher frequency signals) from entering a portion of a waveguide (e.g., one configured for lower-frequency signals). Such filters are often hard to manufacture and/or are long structures in order to achieve good rejection properties, which makes them potentially expensive options in both cost and/or space.
For example, thin iris filters are often implemented in waveguides; however, they require fine machining, which may be expensive. Stepped impedance filters do not require irises; however, they are very long structures, which means that they are often space prohibitive. Further, notch filters have been developed; however, they often have very narrow rejection bands.
A waveguide with a curved-wall low-pass filter is described herein. The waveguide comprises a low-pass filter portion configured to allow low-frequency electromagnetic energy therethrough and reject high-frequency electromagnetic energy. The low-pass filter portion comprises an input port, an output port, and a cavity feature that is formed between the input port and the output port. The cavity feature has a greater depth than respective depths of the input port and the output port. The cavity feature comprises a bottom wall that achieves the greater depth for the cavity feature. The bottom wall comprises at least one curved portion configured to allow the cavity feature to achieve the allowance of the low-frequency electromagnetic energy and the rejection of the high-frequency electromagnetic energy.
The cavity feature may allow the waveguide to have as good or better performance than conventional means (e.g., at least 10 dB rejection within 2 gigahertz (GHz) and for a bandwidth of at least 5 GHz) while being easier to manufacture and/or taking up less space. Doing so may save costs while also allowing for a smaller footprint on the vehicles in which the waveguide is deployed.
Although illustrated as a car, the vehicle 104 may represent other types of motorized vehicles (e.g., a motorcycle, a bus, a tractor, a semi-trailer truck, construction equipment), non-motorized vehicles (e.g., a bicycle), railed vehicles (e.g., a train or a trolley car), watercraft (e.g., a boat or a ship), aircraft (e.g., an airplane or a helicopter), or spacecraft (e.g., satellite). In general, manufacturers may mount the radar system 102 to any moving platform, including moving machinery or robotic equipment. In other implementations, other devices (e.g., desktop computers, tablets, laptops, televisions, computing watches, smartphones, gaming systems) may incorporate the radar system 102 with the waveguide 106 and support techniques described herein.
The radar system 102 also includes one or more processors (not illustrated) and computer-readable storage media (CRM) (not illustrated). The processor may be a microprocessor or a system-on-chip. The processor executes instructions stored within the CRM. As an example, the processor controls the operation of a transmitter (not illustrated) that is connected to waveguide 106. The processor may also process signals (EM signals/energy) received via the waveguide 106 and determine information about the objects 108. The processor may also generate radar data for the automotive systems. For example, the processor controls or directs operations of an autonomous or semi-autonomous driving system of vehicle 104. In some implementations, the radar system 102 may include a monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) that interfaces with the waveguide 106.
In example environment 100, the radar system 102 may detect and track the objects 108 by operating in different frequency modes and/or polarizations. For example, a low-frequency mode may use low-frequency radar signals (e.g., 76.5 GHZ) and a horizontally polarized antenna array to create the field-of-view 110 with a wide azimuth and a long range (e.g., configured for medium and long-range detections). The low-frequency mode may be used, for example, as an imaging radar. It should be noted that the low-frequency mode could use a single and/or vertically polarized antenna(s). Furthermore, the operating frequencies may vary without departing from the scope of this disclosure.
The waveguide 106 provides electromagnetic energy paths through the waveguide 106. The energy paths are formed by a feed portion 112 and a low-frequency portion 114. Thus, the waveguide 106 has a low-frequency energy path. Feed portion 112 contains a feed port 120 that is configured to interface with a transmitter/receiver (e.g., MMIC).
The low-frequency portion 114 contains a low-pass filter 122 and low-frequency antenna(s) 124. The low-pass filter 122 is configured to block high-frequency radar signals (or other signals) from entering the low-frequency portion 114 and ultimately from reaching the low-frequency antenna(s) 124.
Half of the low-pass filter 122 (and the associated components) is shown, with the rest of the low-pass filter 122 being a mirror image about a separation plane 212. By using symmetry, the waveguide 106 may be easily manufacturable (e.g., in two pieces) with minimal signal loss through the separation plane 212.
It should also be noted that the edges are filleted for ease of manufacturing. The edges may also be squared (or chamfered) without departing from the scope of this disclosure.
In the illustrated example, bottom wall 206 comprises a flat portion 214 and curved portions 216. The flat portion 214 may be parallel to the top wall 204 and be between the curved portions 216. The curved portions 216 may be cylindrical in shape (e.g., having a constant radius) or non-cylindrical in shape (e.g., having a varying radius). The curved portions 216 may be convex from the perspective of cavity 210. In other words, cavity 210 may have a wider profile (e.g., in the x direction) near the filter input port 200 and the filter output port 202 than toward the flat portion 214.
The curved portions 216 may meet the filter input port 200 and the filter output port 202 at tangent angles (e.g., be parallel) and the flat portion 214 at or near perpendicular angles. Depending on the radius(es) used and the dimensions of the low-pass filter 122, the curved portions 216 may meet the flat portion 214 at non-perpendicular angles. The transition from the curved portions 216 to the flat portion 214 may be filleted (as shown), chamfered with smaller radius fillets, chamfered with edges, or along an edge (e.g., not filleted or chamfered).
The greater depth 208 may be less than half a length 220 (e.g., in the x direction) of the cavity 210 between the filter input port 200 and the filter output port 202. The length 220 may be less than two times an operating wavelength (e.g., of the low-frequency portion 114).
The filter input port 200 and the filter output port 202 may have similar or different dimensions. For example, the top wall 204 may have a jog that causes the filter output port 202 to have a lesser depth than the filter input port 200. The jog may have a flat portion that is angled relative to other portions of the top wall 204 or be a smooth curve. Furthermore, the jog may be centered between the filter input port 200 and the filter output port 202 or be offset. For example, the jog may be offset towards the filter input port 200 or the filter output port 202. The jog may be configured to widen the rejection band of the low-pass filter 122.
Half of the low-pass filter 122 (and the associated components) is shown, with the rest of the low-pass filter 122 being a mirror image about the separation plane 212. By using symmetry, the waveguide 106 may be easily manufacturable (e.g., in two pieces) with minimal signal loss through the separation plane 212.
It should also be noted that the edges are filleted for ease of manufacturing. The edges may also be squared (or chamfered) without departing from the scope of this disclosure.
In the illustrated example, bottom wall 206 comprises a single curved surface (minus transitions to the filter input port 200 and the filter output port 202. The bottom wall 206 may be elliptical in shape (as shown).
The bottom wall 206 may meet the filter input port 200 and the filter output port 202 at or near right angles. Depending on the elliptical dimensions used and the dimensions of the low-pass filter 122, the bottom wall 206 may meet the filter input port 200 and the filter output port 202 at non-right angles. The transition from the bottom wall 206 to the filter input port 200 and the filter output port 202 may be filleted, chamfered with smaller radius fillets (as shown), chamfered with edges, or along an edge (e.g., not filleted or chamfered).
The greater depth 208 may be less than half a length 220 (e.g., in the x direction) of the cavity 210 between the filter input port 200 and the filter output port 202. The length 220 may be less than two times an operating wavelength (e.g., of the low-frequency portion 114).
The filter input port 200 and the filter output port 202 may have similar or different dimensions. For example, the top wall 204 may have the jog 400 (as illustrated) that causes the filter output port 202 to have a lesser depth than the filter input port 200. The jog 400 may have a flat portion (as shown) that is at an angle relative to the rest of the top wall 204 or be a smooth curve. Furthermore, the jog 400 may be centered between the filter input port 200 and the filter output port 202 or be offset (as shown). For example, the jog may be offset towards the filter input port 200 (as shown) or towards the filter output port 202. The jog 400 may be configured to widen the rejection band of the low-pass filter 122.
Half of the low-pass filter 122 (and the associated components) is shown, with the rest of the low-pass filter 122 being a mirror image about the separation plane 212. By using symmetry, the waveguide 106 may be easily manufacturable (e.g., in two pieces) with minimal signal loss through the separation plane 212.
It should also be noted that the edges are filleted for ease of manufacturing. The edges may also be squared (or chamfered) without departing from the scope of this disclosure.
In the illustrated example, the bottom wall 206 comprises elliptical portions 600 that join in an extension portion 602. The extension portion 602 may extend toward the top wall 204. The height of the extension portion 602 (e.g., away from deepest extents of the elliptical portions 600) may vary without departing from the scope of this disclosure. The elliptical portions 600 may be convex from the perspective of cavity 210. In other words, cavity 210 may have a wider profile (e.g., in the x direction) near the filter input port 200 and the filter output port 202 than toward extents of the elliptical portions 600 away from the top wall 204.
The bottom wall 206 may meet the filter input port 200 and the filter output port 202 at or near right angles. Depending on the elliptical dimensions used and the dimensions of the low-pass filter 122, the bottom wall 206 may meet the filter input port 200 and the filter output port 202 at non-right angles. The transition from the bottom wall 206 to the filter input port 200 and the filter output port 202 may be filleted (as shown), chamfered with smaller radius fillets, chamfered with edges, or along an edge (e.g., not filleted or chamfered).
The greater depth 208 (e.g., from the top wall 204 to deepest extents of the elliptical portions 600) may be less than half a length 220 (e.g., in the x direction) of the cavity 210 between the filter input port 200 and the filter output port 202. The length 220 may be less than two times an operating wavelength (e.g., of the low-frequency portion 114).
The filter input port 200 and the filter output port 202 may have similar or different dimensions. For example, the top wall 204 may have the jog 400 (as illustrated) that causes the filter output port 202 to have a lesser depth than the filter input port 200. The jog 400 may have a flat portion that is at an angle relative to the rest of the top wall 204 or be a smooth curve (as shown). Furthermore, the jog 400 may be centered between the filter input port 200 and the filter output port 202 or be offset (as shown). For example, the jog may be offset towards the filter input port 200 or towards the filter output port 202 (as shown). The jog 400 may be configured to widen the rejection band of the low-pass filter 122.
At step 802, a waveguide comprising a curved-wall low-pass filter is formed. For example, waveguide 106 may be formed such that it contains low-pass filter with the cavity.
The waveguide 106 may be formed of one or more pieces. For example, the waveguide 106 may be formed of multiple pieces that are adhered or bonded together (e.g., along a center plane). To do so, one or more pieces of the waveguide 106 may be formed using computer numeric control (CNC), injection molding, casting, machining, or any other manufacturing process and may be formed of metal or plastic. As part of forming the waveguide 106, surfaces of the waveguide 106 may be metallicized (e.g., if the waveguide 106 is formed of a non-conductive material). When formed of multiple pieces, the pieces may be glued/bonded (using a non-conductive adhesive), bolted, screwed (e.g., using one or more screws), snapped (e.g., using one or more snaps), welded, clamped using one or more clamps, press-fit, or any other assembly process known by those of ordinary skill in the art to form the waveguide 106.
At step 804, waveguide 106 is integrated into a radar system of a vehicle. For example, the waveguide 106 may be integrated within the radar system 102 of the vehicle 104.
At step 806, the waveguide is utilized to detect objects in an environment of the vehicle. For example, the low-pass filter 122 may be utilized as part of the low-frequency portion 114 to detect objects at far ranges and wide azimuth angles (e.g., field-of-view 110A).
Example 1: A waveguide comprising: a low-pass filter portion configured to allow low-frequency electromagnetic energy therethrough and reject high-frequency electromagnetic energy, the low-pass filter portion comprising: an input port; an output port; and a cavity feature formed between the input port and the output port, the cavity feature having a greater depth than respective depths of the input port and the output port, the cavity feature comprising: a top wall; and a bottom wall, disposed opposite the top wall, that achieves the greater depth for the cavity feature, the bottom wall comprising at least one curved portion configured to allow the cavity feature to achieve the allowance of the low-frequency electromagnetic energy and the rejection of the high-frequency electromagnetic energy.
Example 2: The waveguide of example 1, wherein a length of the cavity feature between the input port and the output port is less than two times an operating wavelength.
Example 3: The waveguide of example 1, wherein the greater depth of the cavity feature is approximately an operating wavelength.
Example 4: The waveguide of example 1, wherein the greater depth of the cavity feature is approximately half a length of the cavity feature.
Example 5: The waveguide of example 1, wherein the input port and the output port have different depths.
Example 6: The waveguide of example 5, wherein the top wall comprises a jog feature between two parallel portions.
Example 7: The waveguide of example 6, wherein the jog feature is halfway between the input port and the output port.
Example 8: The waveguide of example 1, wherein the bottom wall further comprises: a flat portion that is parallel to at least a portion of the top wall, the flat portion providing the greater depth; a first curved portion that connects the input port to the flat portion; and a second curved portion that connects the output port to the flat portion.
Example 9: The waveguide of example 8, wherein the first curved portion and the second curved portion are cylindrical.
Example 10: The waveguide of example 9, wherein: a first end of the first curved portion is tangent with the input port; and a second end of the second curved portion is tangent with the output port.
Example 11: The waveguide of example 9, wherein: a second end of the first curved portion is substantially normal with the flat portion; and a first end of the second curved portion is substantially normal with the flat portion.
Example 12: The waveguide of example 1, wherein the bottom wall is elliptical to form the greater depth.
Example 13: The waveguide of example 12, wherein: a first end of the bottom wall is substantially normal with the input port; and a second end of the bottom wall is substantially normal with the output port.
Example 14: The waveguide of example 1, wherein the bottom wall comprises a first elliptical portion and a second elliptical portion, the first and second elliptical portions forming the greater depth.
Example 15: The waveguide of example 14, wherein: a first end of the first elliptical portion is substantially normal with the input port; and a second end of the second elliptical portion is substantially normal with the output port.
Example 16: The waveguide of example 14, wherein the first elliptical portion and the second elliptical portion meet forming an extension portion that extends towards the top wall away from the greater depth.
Example 17: The waveguide of example 16, wherein the extension portion extends less than half a distance from a bottom extent of the bottom wall to the input port or output port.
Example 18: A system comprising: a processor configured to generate low-frequency electromagnetic energy; and a waveguide configured to guide the low-frequency electromagnetic energy, the waveguide comprising: a low-pass filter portion configured to allow low-frequency electromagnetic energy therethrough and reject high-frequency electromagnetic energy, the low-pass filter portion comprising: an input port; an output port; and a cavity feature formed between the input port and the output port, the cavity feature having a greater depth than respective depths of the input port and the output port, the cavity feature comprising: a top wall; and a bottom wall, disposed opposite the top wall, that achieves the greater depth for the cavity feature, the bottom wall comprising at least one curved portion configured to allow the cavity feature to achieve the allowance of the low-frequency electromagnetic energy and the rejection of the high-frequency electromagnetic energy.
Example 19: The system of example 18, wherein the bottom wall is elliptical to form the greater depth.
Example 20: The system of example 18, wherein the bottom wall comprises a first elliptical portion and a second elliptical portion, the first and second elliptical portions forming the greater depth.
While various implementations/embodiments of the disclosure are described in the foregoing description and shown in the drawings, it is to be understood that this disclosure is not limited thereto but may be variously embodied to practice within the scope of the following claims. From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the following claims.
The use of “or” and grammatically related terms indicates non-exclusive alternatives without limitation unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. As used herein, a phrase referring to “at least one of” a list of items refers to any combination of those items, including single members. As an example, “at least one of: a, b, or c” is intended to cover a, b, c, a-b, a-c, b-c, and a-b-c, as well as any combination with multiples of the same element (e.g., a-a, a-a-a, a-a-b, a-a-c, a-b-b, a-c-c, b-b, b-b-b, b-b-c, c-c, and c-c-c or any other ordering of a, b, and c).
