US5724042A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Radar module and antenna device
Assignee: Honda Motor Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1996-03-06
•
Granted: 1998-03-03
•
Expires: 2016-03-06
Abstract
Abstract A radar module has an antenna assembly, a plurality of transmitting and receiving assemblies, and a plurality of circulators all mounted on a dielectric substrate. The antenna assembly has a plurality of transmitting and receiving channels including respective planar array antenna elements each composed of a plurality of patches connected to and spaced along a linear distal end portion of a feeder line. The planar array antenna elements are arrayed in a direction substantially perpendicular to the linear distal end portion of the feeder line. The transmitting and receiving assemblies, implemented as monolithic microwave integrated circuits, selectively transmit high-frequency signals to the planar array antenna elements and selectively receive echo signals from the planar array antenna elements. The circulators are associated with the transmitting and receiving channels, respectively, and connect the respective linear distal end portions of the feeder lines to transmission and reception end portions which are connected to the transmitting and receiving assemblies, respectively.
Inventors
- 👤 Satoru Komatsu
- 👤 Masanobu Urabe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 01:53
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01Q; H01Q21/00; H01Q21/0006; G; G01; G01S; G01S13/00; G01S13/88; G01S13/93; G01S13/931; G01S7/00; G01S7/02; G01S7/03; G01S7/032; H01Q1/00; H01Q1/27; H01Q1/32; H01Q1/3208; H01Q1/3233; H01Q1/36; H01Q1/38; H01Q19/00; H01Q19/10; H01Q19/12; H01Q19/13; H01Q19/132; H01Q21/0025; H01Q21/06; H01Q21/061; H01Q21/065; H01Q21/08; H01Q23/00; H01Q25/00; G01S13/87; G01S2013/9321
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
162 words
A radar module comprising: a dielectric substrate; an antenna assembly mounted on said dielectric substrate, said antenna assembly comprising a plurality of transmitting and receiving channels including respective planar array antenna elements each composed of a plurality of patches connected to and spaced along a linear distal end portion of a feeder line, said planar array antenna elements being arrayed in a direction substantially perpendicular to the linear distal end portion of the feeder line; a plurality of transmitting and receiving assemblies mounted as monolithic microwave integrated circuits on said dielectric substrate, for selectively transmitting high-frequency signals to said planar array antenna elements and selectively receiving echo signals from said planar array antenna elements; and a plurality of circularors mounted on said dielectric substrate and associated with the transmitting and receiving channels, respectively, said circulators connecting the respective linear distal end portions of the feeder lines to transmission and reception end portions which are connected to the transmitting and receiving assemblies, respectively.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
162 words
A radar module comprising: a dielectric substrate; an antenna assembly mounted on said dielectric substrate, said antenna assembly comprising a plurality of transmitting and receiving channels including respective planar array antenna elements each composed of a plurality of patches connected to and spaced along a linear distal end portion of a feeder line, said planar array antenna elements being arrayed in a direction substantially perpendicular to the linear distal end portion of the feeder line; a plurality of transmitting and receiving assemblies mounted as monolithic microwave integrated circuits on said dielectric substrate, for selectively transmitting high-frequency signals to said planar array antenna elements and selectively receiving echo signals from said planar array antenna elements; and a plurality of circularors mounted on said dielectric substrate and associated with the transmitting and receiving channels, respectively, said circulators connecting the respective linear distal end portions of the feeder lines to transmission and reception end portions which are connected to the transmitting and receiving assemblies, respectively.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A radar module according to claim 1, wherein said antenna assembly serves as a primary radiator of a multiple-beam antenna.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
A radar module according to claim 2, wherein said planar array antenna elements are arranged to radiate respective electromagnetic waves at a predetermined tilt angle, and said multiple-beam antenna has a secondary radiator positioned closely to said primary radiator.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
90 words
A radar module comprising: a dielectric substrate; a plurality of planar array antenna elements mounted in respective channels on said dielectric substrate; and a plurality of monolithic microwave integrated circuits mounted on said dielectric substrate, said monolithic microwave integrated circuits including a plurality of transmitting assemblies for amplifying and supplying respective high-frequency signals to said planar array antenna elements, respectively, and a plurality of receiving assemblies for receiving echo signals from said planar array antenna elements and mixing the echo signals with amplified local signals related to said high-frequency signals.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
90 words
A radar module comprising: a dielectric substrate; a plurality of planar array antenna elements mounted in respective channels on said dielectric substrate; and a plurality of monolithic microwave integrated circuits mounted on said dielectric substrate, said monolithic microwave integrated circuits including a plurality of transmitting assemblies for amplifying and supplying respective high-frequency signals to said planar array antenna elements, respectively, and a plurality of receiving assemblies for receiving echo signals from said planar array antenna elements and mixing the echo signals with amplified local signals related to said high-frequency signals.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
76 words
A radar module according to claim 4, wherein said planar array antenna elements are divided into two groups, the planar array antenna elements of one of the two groups and the planar array antenna elements of the other of the two groups being arranged in an interdigitating pattern and disposed on respective linear distal end portions of feeder lines belonging to the respective groups and extending in opposite directions that are 180° apart from each other.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
92 words
A radar module according to claim 4, wherein said planar array antenna elements are divided into two groups, the planar array antenna elements of one of the two groups and the planar array antenna elements of the other of the two groups being disposed on respective linear distal end portions of feeder lines belonging to the respective groups and extending in opposite directions that are 180° apart from each other, and being positioned substantially in an end-to-end configuration and staggered with respect to each other in a direction across the feeder lines.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
A radar module according to claim 4, wherein said high-frequency signals transmitted to said planar array antenna elements comprise frequency-modulated signals, said receiving assemblies including mixers for mixing the echo signals from said planar array antenna elements with said frequency-modulated signals to thereby produce beat signals.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
50 words
A radar module according to claim 4, wherein said transmitting assemblies include transmission amplifiers for amplifying the high-frequency signals and said receiving assemblies include reception amplifiers for amplifying the local signals, and said radar module further comprises a control circuit for selectively operating the transmission amplifiers and the reception amplifiers.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4742354A
Cited
US4929956A
Cited
US5008678A
Cited
US5206655A
Cited
US5339083A
Cited
US5243354A
Cited
US5459474A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-03-02 | 2001-09-01 | 2002-03-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-03-02 | 2005-09-01 | 2006-03-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-03-02 | 2009-09-01 | 2010-03-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |