Single layer shared aperture beam forming network

摘要

A radio detection and ranging (RADAR) system that emits radio signals from a transmit antenna and receives reflected signals with a receive array of antenna elements. The signals received at the receive array are conveyed through a plurality of waveguide couplers. The plurality of waveguide couplers receives signals from each antenna element at a plurality of antenna ports and outputs signals from a plurality of output ports. The waveguide couplers convey signals such that the output ports receive signals from associated sub-array sets of the antenna ports. The waveguide couplers have an overlapping arrangement such that a given sub-array set of antenna ports overlaps with a neighboring sub-array set of antenna ports by including at least half of the antenna ports in the neighboring sub-array set.

主权项

1. A device comprising:
a plurality of antenna ports configured to receive signals from one or more antenna elements; a plurality of output ports; a plurality of waveguide couplers configured to convey the signals received at the plurality of antenna ports to the plurality of output ports such that a given output port provides a combined signal from a sub-array set of antenna ports which overlaps with a neighboring sub-array set of antenna ports by including at least half of the antenna ports in the neighboring sub-array set, wherein the plurality of waveguide couplers are formed by (i) a conductive base having a plurality of channels situated in a single planar layer, and (ii) a conductive foil connected to the conductive base so as to enclose the plurality of channels; and a plurality of slotted waveguide antennas connected to the plurality of antenna ports and arranged in a regularly spaced linear array that is co-planar with the conductive base such that each of the plurality of antenna ports, the plurality of output ports, the plurality of waveguide couplers, and the plurality of slotted waveguide antennas are arranged in the single planar layer.