# US 12,111,384 B2 · Radar device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,111,384 B2 - Document ID: US12111384B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/450,133 - Filed: 2023-08-15 - Published: 2023-11-30 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2020-02-04 - Assignees: Aptiv Technologies AG - Applicants: Aptiv Technologies AG - Inventors: Dennis Vollbracht; Alexander Ioffe - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12111384B2 ## CPC - G01S 7/024: {using polarisation effects (in waveguides H01P1/165; for aerials H01Q, e.g. H01Q15/22, H01Q15/24, H01Q19/195)} - G01S 13/426: {Scanning radar, e.g. 3D radar (G01S13/66 takes precedence)} - G01S 7/02: of systems according to group G01S13/00 - G01S 7/03: Details of HF subsystems specially adapted therefor, e.g. common to transmitter and receiver - G01S 7/35: Details of non-pulse systems - G01S 7/352: {Receivers} - G01S 7/417: {involving the use of neural networks} - G01S 13/343: {using sawtooth modulation} - G01S 13/931: of land vehicles - G01S 7/028: {Miniaturisation, e.g. surface mounted device [SMD] packaging or housings} - G01S 13/325: {using transmission of coded signals, e.g. P.S.K. signals} - G01S 13/44: Monopulse radar, i.e. simultaneous lobing - G01S 2013/0254: {Active array antenna} - G01S 2013/0263: {Passive array antenna} - G01S 2013/93271: {in the front of the vehicles} - G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES ## Abstract A method for operating an angle resolving radar device for automotive applications comprises: routing at least a first and second antenna signal between a radar circuit and an antenna device, wherein the first and second antenna signals are routed via a common signal port of the radar circuit; transducing between the first antenna signal and a first radiation field, the first radiation field having a first phase center, and between the second antenna signal and a second radiation field, the second radiation field having a second phase center, wherein a location of the second phase center is shifted with respect to a location of the first phase center; constructing at least one angle resolving virtual antenna array using the location of the first phase center as a first antenna position and the location of the second phase center of the second radiation field as a second antenna position. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for operating an angle-resolving radar device, the method comprising: transmitting, with a first antenna of the radar device, a first antenna signal into a first radiation field, the first radiation field having a first phase center, the first antenna comprising a first set of antenna elements and one or more common antenna elements; transmitting, with a second antenna of the radar device, a second antenna signal into a second radiation field, the second radiation field having a second phase center that is shifted with respect to the first phase center, the second antenna comprising a second set of antenna elements and the one or more common antenna elements; transmitting, with a third antenna of the radar device, a third antenna signal into a third radiation field, the third radiation field having a third phase center that is shifted with respect to the first phase center and the second phase center, the third antenna comprising the one or more common antenna elements; and constructing, with a signal processing device of the radar device, at least one angle resolving virtual antenna array using the first phase center as a first antenna position, the second phase center as a second antenna position, and the third phase center as a third antenna position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first phase center, the second phase center, and the third phase center are positioned at a same location in a first direction and at separate locations in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the first set of antenna elements, the second set of antenna elements, and the one or more common antenna elements comprise two rows of antenna elements along the second direction to form the first antenna, the second antenna, and the third antenna. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein: the first antenna transmits in a first frequency band; the second antenna transmits in a second frequency band that is different from the first frequency band; and the third antenna transmits in a third frequency band that is different from the first frequency band and the second frequency band. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein: the second frequency band is located at higher frequencies than the first frequency band; and the third frequency band is located at frequencies in between the first frequency band and the second frequency band. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the first antenna signal, the second antenna signal, and the third antenna signal are routed between a radar circuit and a respective antenna of the radar device via a common signal port of the radar circuit. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein: a first filter is located in between the first set of antenna elements and the one or more common antenna elements so that the first set of antenna elements are operatively connected to the common signal port via the first filter and the one or more common antenna elements, the first filter being configured as a low pass filter that only transduces the first frequency band; and a second filter is located in between the second set of antenna elements and the one or more common antenna elements so that the second set of antenna elements are operatively connected to the common signal port via the second filter and the one or more common antenna elements, the second filter being configured as a high pass filter that only transduces the second frequency band. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the third antenna further comprises the first set of antenna elements and the second set of antenna elements. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein: the first set of antenna elements are coupled to the common signal port by a first filter that is configured as a low pass filter that blocks the second frequency band and passes the first frequency band and the third frequency band; and the second set of antenna elements are coupled to the common signal port by a second filter that is configured as a high pass filter that blocks the first frequency band and passes the second frequency band and the third frequency band. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the first set of antenna elements and the second set of antenna elements are coupled to the common signal port via a switching device that selectively couples or decouples one of the first set of antenna elements and the second set of antenna elements to or from the common signal port. ### Claim 11 An angle-resolving radar device comprising: a radar circuit for transceiving antenna signals; an antenna device connected to the radar circuit via a common signal port of the radar circuit, the radar circuit and the antenna device being configured to: transmit, with a first antenna of the radar device, a first antenna signal into a first radiation field, the first radiation field having a first phase center, the first antenna comprising a first set of antenna elements and one or more common antenna elements; transmit, with a second antenna of the radar device, a second antenna signal into a second radiation field, the second radiation field having a second phase center that is shifted with respect to the first phase center, the second antenna comprising a second set of antenna elements and the one or more common antenna elements; and transmit, with a third antenna of the radar device, a third antenna signal into a third radiation field, the third radiation field having a third phase center that is shifted with respect to the first phase center and the second phase center, the third antenna comprising the one or more common antenna elements; and a signal processor configured to construct at least one angle resolving virtual antenna array using the first phase center as a first antenna position, the second phase center as a second antenna position, and the third phase center as a third antenna position. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The angle-resolving radar device of claim 11, wherein the first phase center, the second phase center, and the third phase center are positioned at a same location in a first direction and at separate locations in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The angle-resolving radar device of claim 12, wherein the first set of antenna elements, the second set of antenna elements, and the one or more common antenna elements comprise two rows of antenna elements along the second direction to form the first antenna, the second antenna, and the third antenna. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The angle-resolving radar device of claim 11, wherein: the first antenna is configured to transmit in a first frequency band; the second antenna is configured to transmit in a second frequency band that is different from the first frequency band; and the third antenna is configured to transmit in a third frequency band that is different from the first frequency band and the second frequency band. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The angle-resolving radar device of claim 14, wherein: the second frequency band is located at higher frequencies than the first frequency band; and the third frequency band is located at frequencies in between the first frequency band and the second frequency band. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The angle-resolving radar device of claim 15, wherein the first antenna signal, the second antenna signal, and the third antenna signal are routed between a radar circuit and a respective antenna of the radar device via a common signal port of the radar circuit. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The angle-resolving radar device of claim 16, wherein: a first filter is located in between the first set of antenna elements and the one or more common antenna elements so that the first set of antenna elements are operatively connected to the common signal port via the first filter and the one or more common antenna elements, the first filter being configured as a low pass filter that only transduces the first frequency band; and a second filter is located in between the second set of antenna elements and the one or more common antenna elements so that the second set of antenna elements are operatively connected to the common signal port via the second filter and the one or more common antenna elements, the second filter being configured as a high pass filter that only transduces the second frequency band. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The angle-resolving radar device of claim 16, wherein the third antenna further comprises the first set of antenna elements and the second set of antenna elements. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The angle-resolving radar device of claim 18, wherein: the first set of antenna elements are coupled to the common signal port by a first filter that is configured as a low pass filter that blocks the second frequency band and passes the first frequency band and the third frequency band; and the second set of antenna elements are coupled to the common signal port by a second filter that is configured as a high pass filter that blocks the first frequency band and passes the second frequency band and the third frequency band. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The angle-resolving radar device of claim 18, wherein the first set of antenna elements and the second set of antenna elements are coupled to the common signal port via a switching device that selectively couples or decouples one of the first set of antenna elements and the second set of antenna elements to or from the common signal port.