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EP-4148901-B1 - ANTENNA

EP4148901B1EP 4148901 B1EP4148901 B1EP 4148901B1EP-4148901-B1

Inventors

  • IOFFE, ALEXANDER

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20210909

Claims (15)

  1. An antenna (1) comprising: a body (2) having a convex surface (7); a conductive structure (5) deposited onto an antenna region of the convex surface (7), the conductive structure (5) configured as a conformal slot antenna array; wherein the antenna region of the convex surface (7) comprises corrugations (3,4) having peaks (4) and valleys (3), and characterized in that a plurality of slots (6) of the slot antenna array (5) are located on said peaks (4) or said valleys (3).
  2. An antenna (1) according to claim 1, wherein the body (2) is a cylindrical body.
  3. An antenna (1) according to claim 2, wherein the cylindrical body (2) is a non-circular cylindrical body (2).
  4. An antenna (1) according to claim 3, the non-circular cylindrical body (2) comprises congruent bases, wherein the congruent bases are one of elliptical bases and stadium bases.
  5. An antenna (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein the plurality of slots (6) of the slot antenna array (5) comprise a first plurality of slots (6) located on said peaks (4) and a second plurality of slots (6) located in said valleys (3).
  6. An antenna (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein the conformal slot antenna array (5) is a substrate integrated waveguide, SIW, conformal slot antenna array (5) .
  7. An antenna (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein the conformal slot antenna array (5) is configured for an operating wavelength, and wherein a depth of the valleys (3) relative to the peaks (4) is half the operating wavelength.
  8. An antenna (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein the corrugations (3,4) further comprise lateral wave formations in the peaks (4) and valleys (3) such that adjacent slots (6) on common peaks (4) are offset.
  9. An antenna (1) according to any preceding claim, further comprising a circuit board (8) for operating the conformal slot antenna array (5); wherein the circuit board (8) is located at a circuit board region of the body (2) diametrically opposite to the antenna region.
  10. An antenna (1) according to claim 9, wherein the body (2) has a width larger than a width of the circuit board (8).
  11. An antenna (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein the body (2) is formed of a polymer, and the conductive structure (5) is formed as a metalized structure (5) onto the polymer body (2).
  12. An antenna (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein a subset of slots (6) in the slot antenna array (5) are independently operable.
  13. An antenna (1) according to claim 12, wherein the subset of slots (6) comprise a plurality of slots (6) from one or more rows of slots (6) for a wide elevation field of view.
  14. An antenna (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein the antenna (1) is an automotive antenna (1).
  15. An antenna (1) according to claim 14, further comprising a mounting for mounting the body (2) to one of a headlamp cavity, a bumper cavity, and a vehicle side mirror unit.

Description

Introduction The present disclosure relates to an antenna and, in particular, conformal antennas for automotive applications. The present disclosure is particularly relevant to automotive radar sensors and conformal antenna arrays for a wide view angle radar system. Background In recent years, interest has grown in using conformal antennas in automotive radar sensor systems. Conformal antennas offer the potential to provide a very wide-angle view, i.e. an azimuth field of view (FoV) greater than 180 degrees. As such, radar detection around a vehicle may be achieved using a reduced number of antenna arrays. For instance, with azimuth FoV >180°, complete 360° coverage around a vehicle could be achieved with four antenna located in the corners of the vehicle body. As such, sensor system integration into the vehicle may be simplified. Conventional conformal antennas typically include a plurality of flat antenna elements mounted onto a three-dimensional body to form a shaped array. However, the need to form the elements individually, and then mount them to a support means that the overall construction is relatively bulky. To address this, recent investigations have looked at forming an antenna array on a flexible substrate, and then fixing the substrate onto a moulded conformal object. However, ensuring bonding of the laminated structure may be difficult in practical applications, and is limited by the flexibility and characteristics of the substrate. Consequently, in-vehicle integration is more restrictive and ultimately real-world performance is compromised. The present disclosure is therefore directed to addressing issues with conventional arrangements. EP 2 993 733 A1 discloses an array antenna device. DE 10 2014 208389 discloses an antenna device for a vehicle. DE 10 2016 222474 discloses a radar sensor arrangement on a motor vehicle. SE 1 930 410 A1 discloses antenna arrangements for vehicle radar transceivers. Summary According to a first aspect there is provided an antenna including: a body having a convex surface; a conductive structure deposited onto an antenna region of the convex surface, the conductive structure configured as a conformal slot antenna array; wherein the antenna region of the convex surface includes corrugations having peaks and valleys, and wherein a plurality of slots of the slot antenna array are located on the peaks or valleys of the corrugations. In this way, an improved conformal antenna may be provided in which the antenna structure is integrated into the surface profile of the metalized body for providing both multibounce mitigation and a wide field of view. At the same time, the conformal shape allows for easier matching to the shape of vehicle parts. In embodiments, the body is a cylindrical body. In embodiments, the cylindrical body is a non-circular cylindrical body. In embodiments, the non-circular cylindrical body includes congruent bases, wherein the congruent bases are one of elliptical bases and stadium bases. In embodiments, the plurality of slots of the slot antenna array includes a first plurality of slots located on the peaks of the corrugated surface and a second plurality of slots located in the valleys of the corrugated surface. In this way, phase compensation may be provided by the provision of slots at different surface depths. In embodiments, the conformal slot antenna array is a substrate integrated waveguide, SIW, conformal slot antenna array. In embodiments, the conformal slot antenna array is configured for an operating wavelength, and wherein a depth of the valleys relative to the peaks is half the operating wavelength. In this way, multibounce mitigation may be optimised. It will be understood that in other embodiments depth of the valleys relative to the peaks may be adjusted by the surface design. In embodiments, the corrugations further include lateral wave formations in the peaks and valleys such that adjacent slots on common peaks are offset. In this way, antenna element coupling may be minimised. In embodiments, the corrugations are vertical. In embodiments, the antenna further includes a circuit board for operating the conformal slot antenna array; wherein the circuit board is located at a circuit board region of the body diametrically opposite to the antenna region. In this way, a more compact antenna arrangement may be provided. In embodiments, the body has a width larger than a width of the circuit board. In this way, a more compact circuit board may be used since the size antenna array is realised by the body. In embodiments, the body is formed of a polymer, and the conductive structure is formed as a metalized structure onto the polymer body. In embodiments, a subset of slots in the slot antenna array are independently operable. In embodiments, the subset of slots includes a plurality of slots from one or more rows of slots for a wide elevation field of view. In embodiments, the antenna is an automotive antenna. In embodiments, the antenna