Radar antenna array with parasitic elements excited by surface waves
AssigneeWaymo LLC
InventorsJamal Izadian, Russell Smith
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus includes a waveguide of an antenna block configured to propagate electromagnetic energy along a propagation direction. The antenna block includes a port located on a bottom surface of the antenna block and an antenna array located on a top surface of the antenna block. The antenna block further includes a set of waveguides in the antenna block configured to couple the antenna array to the port. Additionally, the antenna block includes at least one surface wave radiator, where the surface wave radiator is located on the top surface of the antenna block.
Claims20
An antenna block comprising:
- a port located on an antenna block;
- an antenna located on a top surface of the antenna block;
- a waveguide in the antenna block configured to couple the antenna to the port;
- and
- at least one parasitic surface wave radiator located on the top surface of the antenna block, wherein the parasitic surface wave radiator is configured to radiate at least a portion of a surface wave propagating along the top surface of the antenna block.
A method comprising:
- coupling electromagnetic energy into an antenna block via a port located on an antenna block;
- propagating, by a waveguide in the antenna block, a first portion of the coupled electromagnetic energy from the port to an antenna located on a top surface of the antenna block, wherein a second portion of the coupled electromagnetic energy is present in a surface wave on the top surface of the antenna block;
- radiating, by the antenna, at least a portion of the waveguide-propagated electromagnetic energy;
- and
- radiating, by at least one surface wave radiator located on the top surface of the antenna block, at least a portion of the electromagnetic energy present in the surface wave.
A system comprising:
- a bottom block;
- a top block comprising an antenna on a top surface of the top block;
- a port;
- a seam at a coupling location of the top block and the bottom block, wherein the seam defines a center of a waveguide configured to couple the port to the antenna;
- and
- at least one surface wave radiator on the top surface of the top block.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.