Raytheon Company

Valeo Radar Systems, Inc.

Valeo Raytheon Systems, Inc.

Joseph S Pleva

Michael Joseph Delcheccolo

Mark E Russell

Walter Gordon Woodington

H Barteld Van Rees

Stephen P Leblanc

Richard Paul Donovan

Norbert Sa

Caroline Breglia

Landon L Rowland

James T Hanson

Paul Setzco

James B Conant

Steven A Upson

Joseph Simoneau

Eugene Gelshteyn

Thomas W French

Robert B Lombardi

Jeffrey Millar

Matthew Fassett

John Michael Firda

Jeffrey P Lane

Wilson J Wimmer

Luis M Viana

Joseph P Biondi

Edward G Churchwell

Conant: James B

John M Firda

Richard P Donovan

Presently disclosed is a structure and technique for de-coupling a sensor (such as an automotive radar sensor), from a surrounding electrically conductive structure (such as a vehicle) on which the sensor is mounted.

Structure and technique for antenna decoupling in a vehicle mounted sensor

Described herein is an automotive radar system which utilizes a three channel switched antenna to improve the angular resolution of an azimuth tracking two-channel, radar.

Method and apparatus for increasing angular resolution in an automotive radar system

A radar electronics module includes a support structure having a first surface having a plurality of recesses with a transmitter circuit board and a receiver circuit board disposed thereon. The transmitter and receiver circuit boards are disposed over the first surface of the supports structure such that transmitter and receive circuits are disposed in cavities on the support structure. The radar electronics module further includes a digital/power supply circuit printed wiring board (PWB) disposed on a second surface of the support structure and a connector disposed on the support structure. The connector is disposed in such a way that it provides electrical connections for at least one of power signals, analog signals or digital signals between at least two of the digital/power supply PWB, the transmitter circuit board and the receiver circuit board.

Vehicle radar sensor assembly

An RF interconnection between RF Printed Wiring Boards (PWBs) includes a waveguide transmission line coupled between the RF PWBs. The waveguide feeds are provided as integral parts of each PWB. In one embodiment, the waveguide interconnecting the PWBs is provided as an integral part of a support structure which supports the PWBs. By providing the interconnecting waveguide and the feeds at each end of the waveguide as integral pieces of other already existing structures, a reliable, low cost RF interconnection between RF PWBs having relatively few separate pieces is provided.

Waveguide&#x2014;printed wiring board (PWB) interconnection

An automotive radar system includes a beamformer circuit and a beamcombiner circuit. The beamformer circuit forms a plurality of antenna beams at a plurality of beam ports. The beam combiner circuit receives the beams provided thereto from the beamformer circuit and combines the beams to provide a desired number of beams, with each of the beams having a desired beam shape. In one embodiment, the beamcombiner provides first and second end beams having a beamwidth which is less than a beamwidth of middle beams.

Beam architecture for improving angular resolution

A transmit and receiving system including a first array including at least one antenna element disposed to provide a transmit antenna. The system further includes a second array having a second different plurality of antenna elements disposed to provide a receive antenna. The first array is coupled to a switching system, which is operative to selectively form at least one transmit beam. The second array is coupled to a beam combining system, which is operative to selectively form a plurality of receive beams.

Antenna configurations for reduced radar complexity

A radar system and method use a radar FMCW chirp having variable chirp characteristics.

Radar detection method and apparatus

A transmit and receiving system including a first array including a first plurality of antenna elements disposed to provide a transmit antenna. The system further includes a second array having a second different plurality of antenna elements disposed to provide a receive antenna. The first array is coupled to a first switching system, which is operative to selectively form at least one transmit beam. The second array is coupled to a beam combining system, which is operative to selectively form a plurality of receive beams.

A radar detection process includes computing a derivative of an FFT output signal to detect an object within a specified detection zone. In one embodiment, a zero crossing in the second derivative of the FFT output signal indicates the presence of an object. The range of the object is determined as a function of the frequency at which the zero crossing occurs. Also described is a detection table containing indicators of the presence or absence of an object within a respective radar beam and processing cycle. At least two such indicators are combined in order to detect the presence of an object within the detection zone and with changing range gates in each of the antenna beams the coverage of the detection zone can be varied.

Technique for changing a range gate and radar coverage

A radio frequency (RF) circulator includes a low temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) substrate and a ferrite structure disposed in the LTCC substrate. The circulator also includes first, second and third transmission lines disposed in the LTCC substrate and coupled between the ferrite disk and first, second and third ports of the circulator. The ferrite structure embedded in the LTCC substrate is exposed to an appropriate direct current (DC) magnetic field, to provide the circulator as an integrated LTCC substrate circulator.

Method of designing a circulator

A video amplifier for a radar receiver includes a temperature compensating attenuator. The attenuator includes a temperature sensitive device, such as a thermistor, arranged in a voltage divider network and is coupled in cascade between two filter stages. Each of the filter stages has a bandpass characteristic in order to filter low-frequency leakage signals and provide sensitivity control based on frequency and thus range, while also filtering high frequency signals to reduce aliasing.

Video amplifier for a radar receiver

A radar detection process includes computing a derivative of an FFT output signal to detect an object within a specified detection zone. In one embodiment, a zero crossing in the second derivative of the FFT output signal indicates the presence of an object. The range of the object is determined as a function of the frequency at which the zero crossing occurs. Also described is a detection table containing indicators of the presence or absence of an object within a respective radar beam and processing cycle. At least two such indicators are combined in order to detect the presence of an object within the detection zone.

Growing community of inventors

Londonderry, NH, United States of America

Joseph S Pleva