초록 ▼

A plurality of transmitting (14, 16, 18, 20) and receiving antenna elements (22, 24, 26, 28) are formed on a support member (12) which may be mounted on a corner of a vehicle for scanning a pattern including areas on opposite sides of the vehicle corner. In an automotive application, the pattern may

A plurality of transmitting (14, 16, 18, 20) and receiving antenna elements (22, 24, 26, 28) are formed on a support member (12) which may be mounted on a corner of a vehicle for scanning a pattern including areas on opposite sides of the vehicle corner. In an automotive application, the pattern may include a rear area, and a blind spot on the side of the vehicle adjacent to the rear area. A transmitter (50) is connected to the transmitting antenna elements (14, 16, 18, 20) by a passive phased array (30) such as a planar microstrip Butler matrix, and an electronic switch (52) which sequentially connects the transmitter (50) to inputs of the transmitting array (30). A receiver (62) is similarly connected to the receiving antenna elements (22, 24, 26, 28) by a planar microstrip passive phased array (40), and an electronic switch (64) which sequentially connects the receiver (62) to outputs of the receiving array (40). The support member (12) may be formed into a non-planar shape, or be flexible enough to be bent into a non-planar shape, to conform to a non-planar surface of the vehicle on which the sensor is to be mounted.

대표청구항 ▼

A scanning vehicle radar sensor, comprising: support means; a plurality of transmitting elements formed on the support means in predetermined relation to each other for scanning a predetermined pattern relative to a vehicle on which the sensor is mounted; a passive phased transmitting array means fo

A scanning vehicle radar sensor, comprising: support means; a plurality of transmitting elements formed on the support means in predetermined relation to each other for scanning a predetermined pattern relative to a vehicle on which the sensor is mounted; a passive phased transmitting array means formed on the support means, having a plurality of inputs, and a plurality of outputs connected to the transmitting antenna elements respectively; radar transmitter means; electronic transmitting switch means for sequentially connecting an output of the transmitter means to the inputs of the transmitting array means, and thereby scanning the transmitting antenna elements respectively; a plurality of receiving antenna elements formed on the support means in predetermined relation to each other and to the transmitting antenna elements respectively for scanning said predetermined pattern; a passive phase receiving array means formed on the support means, having a plurality of inputs connected to the receiving antenna elements respectively, and a plurality of outputs; radar receiving means; and electronic receiving switch means for scanning the receiving antenna elements in synchronism with operation of the transmitting switch means by sequentially connecting an input of the receiver means to the outputs of the receiving array means respectively; the support means comprising a flexible sheet having a surface on which the transmitting and receiving antenna elements are formed for facing away from the vehicle, the sheet being capable of flexure for conforming to a non-planar surface of the vehicle on which the sensor is to be mounted.