# US 12,191,562 B2 · Radar end-fire antenna array with expanded detection field > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,191,562 B2 - Document ID: US12191562B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/778,666 - Filed: 2020-01-31 - Published: 2024-12-05 - Granted: 2025-01-07 - Earliest claimed: 2020-01-31 - Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc. - Applicants: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc. - Inventors: Jae Seung Lee - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12191562B2 ## CPC - H01Q 1/3233: {particular used as part of a sensor or in a security system, e.g. for automotive radar, navigation systems} - H01Q 1/42: Housings not intimately mechanically associated with radiating elements, e.g. radome - G01S 7/03: Details of HF subsystems specially adapted therefor, e.g. common to transmitter and receiver - G01S 7/032: {Constructional details for solid-state radar subsystems} - G01S 13/933: of aircraft or spacecraft - H01Q 21/067: {using endfire radiating aerial units transverse to the plane of the array} - G01S 13/931: of land vehicles - H01Q: ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS (radiators or antennas for microwave heating H05B6/72) - 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 radar device can be configured to provide an expanded detection field. The radar device can include a plurality of end-fire antennas. The plurality of end-fire antennas can be arranged in a fan-shaped array such that the plurality of end-fire antennas extending radially outward from a central region. Each end-fire antenna can have a transmission end oriented in a different direction than the other end-fire antennas. The plurality of end-fire antennas creating a collective detection field, which is larger than the detection field provided by any individual end-fire antenna. The radar device can be carried on a vehicle, such as an aircraft or a watercraft. For instance, the radar device can be used in connection with a helicopter, particularly when landing. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A radar device comprising: a plurality of end-fire antenna arrays, the plurality of end-fire antenna arrays being arranged in a substantially semi-cylindrical fan-shaped array such that the plurality of end-fire antenna arrays extend radially outward from a central region, each end-fire antenna array having a transmission end oriented in a different direction than the other end-fire antenna arrays, the plurality of end-fire antenna arrays creating a collective detection field, each of the plurality of the end-fire antenna arrays being an automotive end-fire antenna array, each of the plurality of the end-fire antenna arrays having a detection range of more than 150 meters. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The radar device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of end-fire antenna arrays are substantially equally spaced in the substantially semi-cylindrical fan-shaped array. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The radar device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of end-fire antenna arrays are substantially identical to each other. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The radar device of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of end-fire antenna arrays is located in a different plane than the rest of the plurality of end-fire antenna arrays. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The radar device of claim 1, wherein two of the plurality of end-fire antenna arrays are located in substantially the same plane. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The radar device of claim 5, wherein the two of the plurality of end-fire antenna arrays are located on the same printed circuit board. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The radar device of claim 5, wherein the transmission ends of the two of the plurality of end-fire antenna arrays face in directions that are at an angle from substantially 60 degrees to substantially 120 degrees relative to each other. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The radar device of claim 1, wherein the collective detection field is substantially semi-spherical. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The radar device of claim 1, further including a housing, wherein the plurality of end-fire antenna arrays are located at least partially within the housing. ### Claim 10 A system comprising: a vehicle, the vehicle being one of a helicopter or a drone; and a radar device carried on the vehicle, the radar device including a plurality of end-fire antenna arrays, the plurality of end-fire antenna arrays being arranged in a substantially semi-cylindrical fan-shaped array such that the plurality of end-fire antenna arrays extend radially outward from a central region, each end-fire antenna array having a transmission end oriented in a different direction than the other end-fire antenna arrays, the plurality of end-fire antenna arrays creating a collective detection field, each of the plurality of the end-fire antenna arrays being an automotive end-fire antenna array, each of the plurality of the end-fire antenna arrays having a detection range of more than 150 meters. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the radar device is located on the vehicle so as to transmit signals in a downward direction. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the radar device is fixed in position on the vehicle, whereby the end-fire antenna arrays are not movable. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, further including a housing, wherein the plurality of end-fire antenna arrays are located at least partially within the housing. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of end-fire antenna arrays is located in a different plane than the rest of the plurality of end-fire antenna arrays. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein two of the plurality of end-fire antenna arrays are located in substantially the same plane. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the two of the plurality of end-fire antenna arrays are located on the same printed circuit board. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the transmission ends of the two of the plurality of end-fire antenna arrays face in directions that are at an angle from substantially 60 degrees to substantially 120 degrees relative to each other. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the collective detection field is substantially semi-spherical. ### Claim 19 A radar device comprising: a plurality of printed circuit boards arranged in a substantially semi-cylindrical fan-shaped array such that the plurality of printed circuit boards extend radially outward from a central region; and a plurality of end-fire antenna arrays, each end-fire antenna array having a transmission end oriented in a different direction than the other end-fire antenna arrays, the plurality of end-fire antenna arrays being arranged in pairs on a respective one of the plurality of printed circuit boards such that each pair of end-fire antenna arrays are located in substantially the same plane and such the transmission ends of each pair of end-fire antenna arrays facing in directions that are at an angle from substantially 60 degrees to substantially 120 degrees relative to each other, the end-fire antenna arrays not being movable, each of the plurality of the end-fire antenna arrays having a detection range of more than 150 meters, the plurality of end-fire antenna arrays configured to create a collective detection field, the collective detection field being substantially semi-spherical. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The radar device of claim 19, wherein the plurality of printed circuit boards is held in the substantially semi-cylindrical fan-shaped array by a bracket. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The radar device of claim 19, wherein the plurality of end-fire antenna arrays have a bandwidth of substantially 80 gigahertz (GHz).