Built-in radiation structure for a millimeter wave radar sensor

Claim 2

A compact radar system including: a dielectric substrate having an upper and lower surface; a ground plane formed on the upper surface of the dielectric substrate and including a radiating slot formed therein; radar transceiver means located adjacent the lower surface of the dielectric substrate for generating transmit signals; and a frequency selective surface spaced above said dielectric substrate and said radiating slot and including a radiating aperture with and array of uniformly spaced holes, wherein said frequency selective surface decreases flow of electromagnetic energy from said radiating slot in one direction towards said transceiver means and increases said flow of electromagnetic radiation in an opposite direction away from said transceiver means.

Claim 3

The compact radar system of claim 1 wherein said ground plane further includes a receiving slot formed therein, said radar transceiver receives reflected signals, and said frequency selective surface includes a receiving aperture including a plurality of spaced holes.

Claim 4

The compact radar system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of spaced holes are cross-shaped.

Claim 5

The compact radar system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of spaced holes are Jerusalem cross-shaped.

Claim 6

The compact radar system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of spaced holes are circular.

Claim 7

The compact radar system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of spaced holes are tripole-shaped.

Claim 8

The compact radar system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of spaced holes are dipole-shaped.

Claim 9

The compact radar system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of spaced holes are rectangular.

Claim 10

The compact radar system of claim 1 wherein said radiating aperture is substantially square-shaped.

Claim 11

The compact radar system of claim 9 wherein said radiating slot is aligned with a diagonal of said square-shaped radiating aperture.

Claim 12

The compact radar system of claim 2 wherein said receiving aperture is substantially square-shaped.

Claim 13

The compact radar system of claim 11 wherein said receiving slot is aligned with a diagonal of said square-shaped receiving aperture.

Claim 14

The compact radar system of claim 1 further including an upper and lower housing for enclosing said radar system.

Claim 15

The compact radar system of claim 1 wherein the radar transceiver means includes radiating and receiving microstrip feedlines connected to the radiating and receiving slots.

Claim 16

The compact radar system of claim 12 wherein the microstrip feedlines are formed on the lower surface of the dielectric substrate.

Claim 17

The compact radar system of claim 12 wherein the radar system further includes a digital signal processing circuit located between the dielectric substrate and the lower housing.

Claim 18

The compact radar system of claim 1 wherein the radar system further includes means for spacing the frequency selective surface above the ground plane.

Claim 19

The compact radar system of claim 14 wherein the radiating aperture of the frequency selective surface substantially matches an impedance of the radiating microstrip feedline.

Claim 20

The compact radar system of claim 14 wherein the receiving aperture of the frequency selective surface matches an impedance of the receiving microstrip feedline.

Claim 21

The compact radar system of claim 13 wherein said upper housing is formed by a radome connected to a spacer.

Claim 22

The compact radar system of claim 20 wherein the spacer is formed by a plate including radiating and receiving holes which are aligned with the radiating and receiving apertures on the frequency selective surface when assembled.

Claim 23

The compact radar system of claim 1 further including an IF/modulator circuit located below said dielectric substrate.

Claim 24

The compact radar system of claim 22 wherein the IF/modulator circuit and the transceiver means are fabricated on the lower surface of the dielectric substrate.

Claim 25

The compact radar system of claim 1 wherein the compact radar system is incorporated into a tail light of a vehicle.

Claim 26

The compact radar system of claim 1 wherein the compact radar system is incorporated into a side mirror of a vehicle.

Claim 27

A compact radar system including: an upper housing with a radome connected to a spacer; a lower housing; a dielectric substrate having an upper and lower surface; a ground plane formed on the upper surface of the dielectric substrate and including a radiating slot and a receiving slot formed therein; radar transceiver means located adjacent the lower surface of the dielectric substrate for generating transmit signals and for receiving reflected transmit signals, wherein said transceiver includes radiating and receiving microstrip feedlines connected to the radiating and receiving slots; a frequency selective surface spaced above the upper surface of said dielectric substrate and said radiating slot and said receiving slot and including a receiving aperture and a radiating aperture each with an array of spaced holes, wherein said frequency selective surface decreases flow of electromagnetic energy from said radiating slot in one direction towards said transceiver means and increases said flow of electromagnetic radiation in an opposite direction away from said transceiver means, and wherein the frequency selective surface matches an impedance of the radiating and receiving microstrip feedlines; means for spacing the frequency selective surface above the ground plane: and a digital signal processing circuit located between the dielectric substrate and the lower housing.

Claim 28

A compact radar system including: an upper housing with a radome connected to a spacer; a lower housing; a dielectric substrate having an upper and lower surface; a ground plane formed on the upper surface of the dielectric substrate and including a radiating slot and a receiving slot formed therein; radar transceiver means located adjacent the lower surface of the dielectric substrate for generating transmit signals and for receiving reflected transmit signals, wherein said transceiver includes radiating and receiving microstrip feedlines connected to the radiating and receiving slots; a frequency selective surface spaced above the upper surface of said dielectric substrate and said radiating slot and said receiving slot and including a receiving aperture and a radiating aperture each with an array of spaced holes, wherein said frequency selective surface decreases flow of electromagnetic energy from said radiating slot in one direction towards said transceiver means and increases said flow of electromagnetic radiation in an opposite direction away from said transceiver means, and wherein the frequency selective surface matches an impedance of the radiating and receiving microstrip feedlines; means for spacing the frequency selective surface above the ground plane: and a digital signal processing circuit located between the dielectric substrate and the lower housing.

Claim 29

The radar system of claim 26 wherein the radar transceiver means is fabricated on the lower surface of the dielectric substrate.

Claim 30

The compact radar system of claim 26 wherein the spacer is formed by a plate including radiating and receiving portions which are aligned with the radiating and receiving apertures on the frequency selective surface when assembled.

Claim 31

The compact radar system of claim 28 wherein at least one of the radiating and receiving apertures are substantially square and at least one of the radiating and receiving slots are formed partially along a diagonal of said at least one of the radiating and receiving apertures.

Claim 32

The compact radar system of claim 26 further including an IF/modulator circuit located below the lower surface of said dielectric substrate.

Claim 33

The compact radar system of claim 28 wherein the IF/modulator circuit and the transceiver means are fabricated on the lower surface of the dielectric substrate.

Claim 34

The compact radar system of claim 26 wherein the compact radar system is incorporated into a tail light of a vehicle.

Claim 35

The compact radar system of claim 26 wherein the compact radar system is incorporated into a side mirror of a vehicle.

Claim 36

A compact radar system including: an upper housing with a radome connected to a spacer; a lower housing: a dielectric substrate having an upper and lower surface; a ground plane formed on the upper surface of the dielectric substrate and including a radiating slot and a receiving slot formed therein: radar transceiver means for generating transmit signals and for receiving reflected signals, wherein said transceiver includes radiating and receiving microstrip feedlines connected to the radiating and receiving slots; a frequency selective surface spaced above said dielectric substrate and said radiating and receiving slots and including a receiving aperture and a radiating aperture each with an array of spaced holes, wherein said frequency selective surface decreases flow of electromagnetic energy from said radiating slot in one direction towards said transceiver means and increases said flow of electromagnetic radiation in an opposite direction away from said transceiver means, wherein at least one of the radiating and receiving apertures are substantially square and at least one of the radiating and receiving slots are formed partially along a diagonal of said at least one of the radiating and receiving apertures, and wherein the frequency selective surface matches an impedance of the radiating microstrip feedlines; means for spacing the frequency selective surface above the ground plane, wherein the spacing means is formed by a plate including radiating and receiving portions which are aligned with the receive and transmit apertures on the frequency selective surface when assembled; a digital signal processing circuit located between the dielectric substrate and the lower housing; and an IF/modulator circuit fabricated on the lower surface of the dielectric substrate.

Claim 37

A compact radar system including: an upper housing with a radome connected to a spacer; a lower housing: a dielectric substrate having an upper and lower surface; a ground plane formed on the upper surface of the dielectric substrate and including a radiating slot and a receiving slot formed therein: radar transceiver means for generating transmit signals and for receiving reflected signals, wherein said transceiver includes radiating and receiving microstrip feedlines connected to the radiating and receiving slots; a frequency selective surface spaced above said dielectric substrate and said radiating and receiving slots and including a receiving aperture and a radiating aperture each with an array of spaced holes, wherein said frequency selective surface decreases flow of electromagnetic energy from said radiating slot in one direction towards said transceiver means and increases said flow of electromagnetic radiation in an opposite direction away from said transceiver means, wherein at least one of the radiating and receiving apertures are substantially square and at least one of the radiating and receiving slots are formed partially along a diagonal of said at least one of the radiating and receiving apertures, and wherein the frequency selective surface matches an impedance of the radiating microstrip feedlines; means for spacing the frequency selective surface above the ground plane, wherein the spacing means is formed by a plate including radiating and receiving portions which are aligned with the receive and transmit apertures on the frequency selective surface when assembled; a digital signal processing circuit located between the dielectric substrate and the lower housing; and an IF/modulator circuit fabricated on the lower surface of the dielectric substrate.

Claim 38

The compact radar system of claim 34 wherein the compact radar system is incorporated into a tail light of a vehicle.

Claim 39

The compact radar system of claim 34 wherein the compact radar system is incorporated into a side mirror of a vehicle.