Slot array antenna

An antenna device comprising:

• a circuit board having an integrated circuit;
• a first electrically conductive member including a first electrically conductive surface;
• a second electrically conductive member including a second electrically conductive surface opposing the first electrically conductive surface of the first electrically conductive member;
• a waveguide member including a ridge on the second electrically conductive member and an electrically conductive waveguide surface which faces, via a gap, the first electrically conductive member and extends along a first direction;
• and
• a plurality of electrically conductive rods arranged on both sides of the waveguide member, each of the plurality of electrically conductive rods including a leading end opposing, via a gap, the first electrically conductive surface and a root connected to the second electrically conductive surface;
• wherein
• the waveguide surface, the plurality of electrically conductive rods and the first electrically conductive surface define a waveguide;
• the integrated circuit includes at least one of a signal processing circuit and a communication circuit;
• at least one of a spacing between the first electrically conductive surface and the waveguide surface, and a width of the waveguide surface, varies along the first direction;
• the first electrically conductive member and the second electrically conductive member are stacked to be a waveguide device;
• and
• the circuit board is stacked as a layer on the waveguide device;
• the waveguide device includes at least one slot being a radiating element and at least one horn;
• the at least one horn is provided either on the first electrically conductive member at a side opposite to the first electrically conductive surface or on the second electrically conductive member at a side opposite to the second electrically conductive surface;
• and
• the at least one slot opens at a bottom of the at least one horn and couples to the waveguide.

A radar system comprising:

• a circuit board having an integrated circuit;
• a first electrically conductive member including a first electrically conductive surface;
• a second electrically conductive member including a second electrically conductive surface opposing the first electrically conductive surface of the first electrically conductive member;
• a waveguide member including a ridge on the second electrically conductive member and an electrically conductive waveguide surface which faces, via a gap, the first electrically conductive member and extends along a first direction;
• a plurality of electrically conductive rods arranged on both sides of the waveguide member, each of the plurality of electrically conductive rods including a leading end opposing, via a gap, the first electrically conductive surface and a root connected to the second electrically conductive surface;
• and
• a radar signal processing apparatus;
• wherein
• the waveguide surface, the plurality of electrically conductive rods and the first electrically conductive surface define a waveguide;
• the integrated circuit includes at least one of a signal processing circuit and a communication circuit;
• at least one of a spacing between the first electrically conductive surface and the waveguide surface, and a width of the waveguide surface, varies along the first direction;
• the first electrically conductive member and the second electrically conductive member are stacked to be a waveguide device;
• the circuit board is stacked as a layer on the waveguide device;
• the first electrically conductive member includes at least one slot being a radiating element;
• the at least one slot couples to the waveguide;
• the integrated circuit includes a signal processing circuit;
• the radar signal processing apparatus comprises the signal processing circuit;
• and
• the signal processing circuit generates a beat signal from a reception signal, and converting the reception signal of analog format into a reception signal of digital format.

A radio frequency device comprising:

• a first electrically conductive member including a first electrically conductive surface;
• a second electrically conductive member including a second electrically conductive surface opposing the first electrically conductive surface of the first electrically conductive member;
• a waveguide member including a ridge on the second electrically conductive member and an electrically conductive waveguide surface which faces, via a gap, the first electrically conductive member and extends along a first direction;
• and
• a plurality of electrically conductive rods arranged on both sides of the waveguide member, each of the plurality of electrically conductive rods including a leading end opposing, via a gap, the first electrically conductive surface and a root connected to the second electrically conductive surface;
• wherein
• the waveguide surface, the plurality of electrically conductive rods and the first electrically conductive surface define a waveguide;
• at least one of the waveguide surface and the first electrically conductive surface include a plurality of dents or a plurality of bumps;
• a depth of at least one of the plurality of dents is different from the depth of another one of the plurality of dents, or a height of at least one of the plurality of bumps is different from a height of another one of the plurality of bumps;
• and
• the first electrically conductive member and the second electrically conductive member are stacked to be a waveguide device.