# US 2019/0379136 A1 · Slot array antenna > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0379136 A1 - Document ID: US20190379136A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/550,577 - Filed: 2019-08-26 - Published: 2019-12-12 - Earliest claimed: 2015-11-05 - Assignees: Nidec Corporation; Wgr Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Nidec Corporation; WGR Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Hideki KIRINO; Hiroyuki KAMO - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190379136A1 ## CPC - H01Q 21/064: {using horn or slot aerials (slotted waveguides arrays H01Q21/005)} - H01Q 1/3233: {particular used as part of a sensor or in a security system, e.g. for automotive radar, navigation systems} - H01Q 1/3266: {using the mirror of the vehicle} - H01Q 13/06: Waveguide mouths (horns H01Q13/02) - H01Q 13/10: Resonant slot antennas - H01Q 13/20: Non-resonant leaky-waveguide or transmission-line antennas; Equivalent structures causing radiation along the transmission path of a guided wave - H01Q: ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS (radiators or antennas for microwave heating H05B6/72) ## Abstract A slot array antenna includes: an electrically conductive member having an electrically conductive surface and slots therein, the slots being arrayed in a first direction which extends along the conductive surface; a waveguide member having an electrically conductive waveguide face which opposes the slots and extends along the first direction; and an artificial magnetic conductor extending on both sides of the waveguide member. At least one of the conductive member and the waveguide member includes dents on the conductive surface and/or the waveguide face, the dents each serving to broaden a spacing between the conductive surface and the waveguide face relative to any adjacent site. The dents include a first, second, and third dents which are adjacent to one another and consecutively follow along the first direction. A distance between centers of the first and second dents is different from a distance between centers of the second and third dents. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A radio frequency 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 face, 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The radio frequency device of claim 1, further comprising a third electrically conductive member; wherein the second electrically conductive member has a third electrically conductive surface at a side opposite to the second electrically conductive surface; the third electrically conductive member has a fourth electrically conductive surface that faces the third electrically conductive surface; and the first electrically conductive member, the second electrically conductive member and the third electrically conductive member are stacked to be the waveguide device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The radio frequency device of claim 1, wherein the second electrically conductive member includes at least one port; and one end of the waveguide member is adjacent to the port. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The radio frequency device of claim 1, further comprising a third electrically conductive member; wherein the second electrically conductive member has a third electrically conductive surface at a side opposite to the second electrically conductive surface; the third electrically conductive member has a fourth electrically conductive surface that faces the third electrically conductive surface; the first electrically conductive member, the second electrically conductive member and the third electrically conductive member are stacked to be the waveguide device; the second electrically conductive member includes at least one port; and one end of the waveguide member is adjacent to the port. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) An antenna device comprising: the radio frequency device of claim 1; wherein the first electrically conductive member includes at least one slot being a radiating element; and the slot couples to the waveguide. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) An antenna device comprising: the radio frequency device of claim 1; and a third electrically conductive member; wherein the first electrically conductive member includes at least one slot being a radiating element; the slot couples to the waveguide; the second electrically conductive member has a third electrically conductive surface at a side opposite to the second electrically conductive surface; the third electrically conductive member has a fourth electrically conductive surface that faces the third electrically conductive surface; and the first electrically conductive member, the second electrically conductive member and the third electrically conductive member are stacked to be the waveguide device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) An antenna device comprising: the radio frequency device of claim 1; wherein the first electrically conductive member includes at least one slot being a radiating element; the slot couples to the waveguide; the second electrically conductive member includes at least one port; and one end of the waveguide member is adjacent to the port. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) An antenna device comprising: the radio frequency device of claim 1; and a third electrically conductive member; wherein the first electrically conductive member includes at least one slot being a radiating element; the second electrically conductive member includes at least one port; one end of the waveguide member is adjacent to the port; the slot couples to the waveguide; the second electrically conductive member has a third electrically conductive surface at a side opposite to the second electrically conductive surface; the third electrically conductive member has a fourth electrically conductive surface that faces the third electrically conductive surface; and the first electrically conductive member, the second electrically conductive member and the third electrically conductive member are stacked to be the waveguide device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) An antenna device comprising: the radio frequency device of claim 1; the second electrically conductive member includes at least one slot being a radiating element; and one end of the waveguide member is adjacent to the port. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) An antenna device comprising: the radio frequency device of claim 1; wherein the first electrically conductive member includes at least one slot being a radiating element; the slot couples to the waveguide; the first electrically conductive member has at least one horn at a side opposite to the first electrically conductive surface; and the at least one slot opens at a bottom of the at least one horn. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) An antenna device comprising: the radio frequency device of claim 1; and a third electrically conductive member; wherein the first electrically conductive member includes at least one slot being a radiating element; the first electrically conductive member has at least one horn at a side opposite to the first electrically conductive surface; the at least one slot opens at a bottom of the at least one horn; the second electrically conductive member includes at least one port; one end of the waveguide member is adjacent to the port; the slot couples to the waveguide; the second electrically conductive member has a third electrically conductive surface at a side opposite to the second electrically conductive surface; the third electrically conductive member has a fourth electrically conductive surface that faces the third electrically conductive surface; and the first electrically conductive member, the second electrically conductive member and the third electrically conductive member are stacked to be the waveguide device. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) An antenna device comprising: the radio frequency device of claim 1; the second electrically conductive member includes at least one slot being a radiating element; one end of the waveguide member is adjacent to the port; the second electrically conductive member has at least one horn 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. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A radar system comprising: the radio frequency device of claim 1; and a radar signal processing apparatus; wherein the first electrically conductive member includes at least one slot being a radiating element; the slot couples to the waveguide; the integrated circuit includes a signal processing circuit; the radar signal processing apparatus comprises the signal processing circuit; 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. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) A radar system comprising: the antenna device of claim 10; and a radar signal processing apparatus; wherein the integrated circuit includes a signal processing circuit; the radar signal processing apparatus comprises the signal processing circuit; 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. ### Claim 15 (depends on 8) A radar system comprising: the antenna device of claim 8; and a radar signal processing apparatus; wherein the first electrically conductive member has at least one horn at a side opposite to the first electrically conductive surface; the at least one slot opens at a bottom of the at least one horn; the integrated circuit includes a signal processing circuit; the radar signal processing apparatus comprises the signal processing circuit; 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. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) A radar system comprising: the antenna device of claim 1; and a radar signal processing apparatus; wherein the second electrically conductive member includes at least one slot being a radiating element; one end of the waveguide member is adjacent to the port; the second electrically conductive member has at least one horn at a side opposite to the second electrically conductive surface; the at least one slot opens at a bottom of the at least one horn; the integrated circuit includes a signal processing circuit; the radar signal processing apparatus comprises the signal processing circuit; 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. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) A wireless communication apparatus comprising: the radio frequency device of claim 1; and at least one of a transmitter and a receiver; wherein the first electrically conductive member includes at least one slot being a radiating element; the slot couples to the waveguide; and the integrated circuit is included in the at least one of the transmitter and the receiver. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) A wireless communication apparatus comprising: the antenna device of claim 10; and at least one of a transmitter and a receiver; wherein the integrated circuit is included in the at least one of the transmitter and the receiver. ### Claim 19 (depends on 10) A wireless communication apparatus comprising: the antenna device of claim 10; a third electrically conductive member; and at least one of a transmitter and a receiver; wherein the second electrically conductive member includes at least one port; one end of the waveguide member is adjacent to the port; the second electrically conductive member has a third electrically conductive surface at a side opposite to the second electrically conductive surface; the third electrically conductive member has a fourth electrically conductive surface that faces the third electrically conductive surface; the first electrically conductive member, the second electrically conductive member and the third electrically conductive member are stacked to be the waveguide device; and the integrated circuit is included in the at least one of the transmitter and the receiver. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) A wireless communication apparatus comprising: the radio frequency device of claim 1; at least one of a transmitter and a receiver; wherein the second electrically conductive member includes at least one slot being a radiating element; one end of the waveguide member is adjacent to the port; the second electrically conductive member has at least one horn at a side opposite to the second electrically conductive surface; the at least one slot opens at a bottom of the at least one horn; and the integrated circuit is included in the at least one of the transmitter and the receiver. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The radio frequency device of claim 1, wherein the integrated circuit couples to the waveguide device. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The radio frequency device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of electrically conductive rods include rods each including a width increasing toward the root.