MIMO radar using a frequency scanning antenna

A method of detecting an object comprising:

• providing an array of squintable elements wherein;
• a squintable element is an array of two or more resonant elements;
• a first plurality of the squintable elements of the array of squintable elements arranged linearly along a first direction is configured to transmit an electromagnetic signal at a first frequency;
• and a second plurality of the squintable elements of the array of squintable elements arranged linearly along or parallel to the first direction is configured to receive a reflection of the electromagnetic signal, wherein the first plurality of the squintable elements of the array of squintable elements comprise travelling wave antennas orientated normal to the line of the array of the squintable elements and the second plurality of the squintable elements of the array of squintable elements comprise one-dimensional phased array antennas, each orientated normal to the line of the array of squintable elements;
• changing an angular position of the beam formed by the first plurality of the squintable elements of the array of squintable elements in the orientation direction of the travelling wave antennas by tuning one or more tuners to alter the first frequency of the electromagnetic signal for deflecting the electromagnetic signal in the given direction;
• and providing one or more phase shifters to steer the beam formed by the second plurality of the squintable elements of the array of squintable elements in the orientation direction of the one-dimensional phased array antennas.

A computer readable storage medium comprising instructions which, upon executed by a processor when the processor is coupled to a linear array of squintable elements, cause the processor to:

• provide a linear array of squintable elements wherein:
• a squintable element is an array of two or more resonant elements;
• a first plurality of squintable elements of the linear array of squintable elements is configured to transmit an electromagnetic signal at a first frequency;
• and a second plurality of the squintable elements of the linear array of squintable elements is configured to receive a reflection of the electromagnetic signal, wherein the first plurality of the squintable elements of the array of squintable elements comprise travelling wave antennas orientated normal to the line of the array of squintable elements and the second plurality of the squintable elements of the array of squintable elements comprise one-dimensional phased array antennas, each orientated normal to the line of the array of squintable elements;
• change an angular position of the beam formed by the first plurality of the squintable elements of the array of squintable elements in the orientation direction of the travelling wave antennas by tuning one or more tuners to alter the first frequency of the electromagnetic signal for deflecting the electromagnetic signal in the given direction;
• and provide one or more phase shifters to steer the beam formed by the second plurality of the squintable elements of the array of squintable elements in the orientation of the one-dimensional phased array antennas.