Compact volume scan end-fire radar for vehicle applications

A vehicular radar system for providing a volumetric scan of an environment of a vehicle, comprising:

• a first antenna array having two or more tapered slot end-fire antennas positioned adjacent to each other in a direction parallel to an axis;
• a second antenna array having two or more tapered slot end-fire antennas positioned adjacent to each other in the direction parallel to the axis and positioned adjacent to the two or more tapered slot end-fire antennas of the first antenna array in a direction orthogonal to the axis such that the first antenna array is stacked above the second antenna array;
• a first radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC) coupled to the first antenna array and configured to control each of the two or more tapered slot end-fire antennas of the first antenna array to transmit a signal, at least some signals having different phases to form a first radar beam for radar scanning;
• and
• a second RFIC coupled to the second antenna array and configured to control each of the two or more tapered slot end-fire antennas of the second antenna array to transmit a signal, at least some signals having different phases to foam a second radar beam for radar scanning.

A vehicular radar system for providing a volumetric scan of an environment of a vehicle, comprising:

• a metal antenna array having an outer surface and defining a first plurality of horn antennas positioned adjacent to each other in a first direction and a second plurality of horn antennas positioned adjacent to the first plurality of horn antennas in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction, each of the first plurality of horn antennas and each of the second plurality of horn antennas having a transmission end and a chip connection aperture defined by the outer surface;
• a printed circuit board (PCB) mechanically coupled to the outer surface of the metal antenna array;
• a radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC) coupled to the PCB and configured to transmit a signal to each of the first plurality of horn antennas and each of the second plurality of horn antennas, at least some signals having different phases to form one or more radar beam;
• and
• a plurality of metal traces each positioned on the PCB and connecting the RFIC to the chip connection aperture of one of the first plurality of horn antennas or one of the second plurality of horn antennas such that the RFIC can transmit the signal to a desired antenna via a corresponding metal trace.