US-12625249-B2 - Vehicular radar system with enhanced waveguide and antenna

Abstract

A vehicular radar sensing system includes a radar sensor that includes a radiation slot sheet, a wave port sheet, and a waveguide sheet sandwiched between the radiation slot sheet and the wave port sheet. The sheets are joined together. The radiation slot sheet includes at least one transmitter that transmits radio signals and at least one receiver that receives radio signals. The waveguide sheet guides the transmitted radio signals from the radiation slot sheet to the wave port sheet and guides reflected radio signals from the wave port sheet to the radiation slot sheet. The transmitted radio signals are provided to the environment via at least one wave port of the wave point sheet. The reflected radio signals are received from the environment at the at least one wave port.

Inventors

• Yi Luo
• Sujith Gurram
• Suresh Boddi

Assignees

• MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20231011

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A vehicular radar sensing system, the vehicular radar sensing system comprising: a radar sensor disposed at a vehicle; wherein the radar sensor comprises a printed circuit board (PCB); wherein the PCB comprises at least one transmitter that transmits radio signals and at least one receiver that receives radio signals; wherein the radar sensor comprises a radio frequency (RF) antenna array comprising a plurality of sheets, and wherein the plurality of sheets comprises (i) a radiation slot sheet, (ii) a waveguide sheet and (iii) a wave port sheet; wherein the waveguide sheet is sandwiched between the radiation slot sheet and the wave port sheet; wherein individual sheets of the plurality of sheets are joined together; wherein the radiation slot sheet comprises (i) at least one transmitter aperture that receives first radio signals from the at least one transmitter and provides the first radio signals to the waveguide sheet and (ii) at least one receiver aperture that receives second radio signals from the waveguide sheet and provides the second radio signals to the at least one receiver; wherein the waveguide sheet comprises a plurality of waveguide slots that includes (i) at least one first waveguide slot that guides the first radio signals from the radiation slot sheet to the wave port sheet and (ii) at least one second waveguide slot that guides the second radio signals from the wave port sheet to the radiation slot sheet; and wherein the wave port sheet comprises a plurality of wave ports, and wherein at least one first wave port of the plurality of wave ports receives the first radio signals from the at least one first waveguide slot of the waveguide sheet and guides the first radio signals to an external environment, and wherein at least one second wave port of the plurality of wave ports receives the second radio signals from the external environment and guides the second radio signals to the at least one second waveguide slot of the waveguide sheet; and wherein the at least one transmitter comprises a plurality of transmitters, and wherein the at least one transmitter aperture comprises a plurality of transmitter aperture, and wherein each transmitter of the plurality of transmitters aligns with a respective transmitter aperture of the plurality of transmitter apertures.
2. 2 . The vehicular radar sensing system of claim 1 , wherein at least one sheet of the plurality of sheets comprises a metallic sheet.
3. 3 . The vehicular radar sensing system of claim 2 , wherein each sheet of the plurality of sheets comprises a respective metallic sheet.
4. 4 . The vehicular radar sensing system of claim 1 , wherein the individual sheets of the plurality of sheets are joined together via electrically conductive adhesive.
5. 5 . The vehicular radar sensing system of claim 1 , wherein the individual sheets of the plurality of sheets are joined together via welding.
6. 6 . The vehicular radar sensing system of claim 1 , wherein the radar sensor comprises a millimeter wave radar sensor.
7. 7 . The vehicular radar sensing system of claim 1 , wherein each sheet of the plurality of sheets is independently fabricated.
8. 8 . A vehicular radar sensing system, the vehicular radar sensing system comprising: a radar sensor disposed at a vehicle; wherein the radar sensor comprises a printed circuit board (PCB); wherein the PCB comprises at least one transmitter that transmits radio signals and at least one receiver that receives radio signals; wherein the radar sensor comprises a radio frequency (RF) antenna array comprising a plurality of sheets, and wherein the plurality of sheets comprises (i) a radiation slot sheet, (ii) a waveguide sheet and (iii) a wave port sheet; wherein the waveguide sheet is sandwiched between the radiation slot sheet and the wave port sheet; wherein individual sheets of the plurality of sheets are joined together; wherein the radiation slot sheet comprises (i) at least one transmitter aperture that receives first radio signals from the at least one transmitter and provides the first radio signals to the waveguide sheet and (ii) at least one receiver aperture that receives second radio signals from the waveguide sheet and provides the second radio signals to the at least one receiver; wherein the waveguide sheet comprises a plurality of waveguide slots that includes (i) at least one first waveguide slot that guides the first radio signals from the radiation slot sheet to the wave port sheet and (ii) at least one second waveguide slot that guides the second radio signals from the wave port sheet to the radiation slot sheet; wherein the wave port sheet comprises a plurality of wave ports, and wherein at least one first wave port of the plurality of wave ports receives the first radio signals from the at least one first waveguide slot of the waveguide sheet and guides the first radio signals to an external environment, and wherein at least one second wave port of the plurality of wave ports receives the second radio signals from the external environment and guides the second radio signals to the at least one second waveguide slot of the waveguide sheet; and wherein the at least one receiver comprises a plurality of receivers, and wherein each receiver of the plurality of receivers aligns with a respective receiver aperture of the at least one receiver aperture.
9. 9 . The vehicular radar sensing system of claim 1 , wherein the waveguide sheet comprises at least one waveguide, and wherein the at least one waveguide (i) guides the first radio signals from the at least one transmitter aperture to the plurality of wave ports and (ii) guides the second radio signals from the plurality of wave ports to the at least one receiver aperture.
10. 10 . The vehicular radar sensing system of claim 1 , wherein the PCB comprises a processor operable to process radio signals transmitted by the at least one transmitter and received by the at least one receiver.
11. 11 . The vehicular radar sensing system of claim 1 , wherein the radiation slot sheet is closer to the PCB than the wave port sheet.
12. 12 . The vehicular radar sensing system of claim 1 , wherein joining of the plurality of sheets together comprises adhering a rear side of the radiation slot sheet to a front side of the waveguide sheet and adhering a rear side of the waveguide sheet to a front side of the wave port sheet.
13. 13 . The vehicular radar sensing system of claim 1 , wherein, with the waveguide sheet sandwiched between the radiation slot sheet and the wave port sheet, the at least one transmitter aperture of the radiation slot sheet juxtaposes the at least one first waveguide slot of the waveguide sheet.
14. 14 . The vehicular radar sensing system of claim 13 , wherein the at least one first waveguide slot of the waveguide sheet juxtaposes the at least one first wave port of the wave port sheet.
15. 15 . The vehicular radar sensing system of claim 14 , wherein the at least one receiver aperture of the radiation slot sheet juxtaposes the at least one second waveguide slot of the waveguide sheet, and wherein the at least one second waveguide slot of the waveguide sheet juxtaposes the at least one second wave port of the wave port sheet.
16. 16 . A vehicular radar sensing system, the vehicular radar sensing system comprising: a millimeter radar sensor disposed at a vehicle; wherein the millimeter radar sensor comprises a printed circuit board (PCB); wherein the PCB comprises at least one transmitter that transmits radio signals and at least one receiver that receives radio signals; wherein the millimeter radar sensor comprises a radio frequency (RF) antenna array comprising a plurality of sheets, and wherein the plurality of sheets comprises (i) a radiation slot sheet, (ii) a waveguide sheet and (iii) a wave port sheet; wherein the waveguide sheet is sandwiched between the radiation slot sheet and the wave port sheet; wherein individual sheets of the plurality of sheets are joined together; wherein the radiation slot sheet comprises (i) at least one transmitter aperture that receives first radio signals from the at least one transmitter and provides the first radio signals to the waveguide sheet and (ii) at least one receiver aperture that receives second radio signals from the waveguide sheet and provides the second radio signals to the at least one receiver; wherein the waveguide sheet comprises a plurality of waveguide slots, and wherein, with the waveguide sheet sandwiched between the radiation slot sheet and the wave port sheet, (i) the at least one transmitter aperture of the radiation slot sheet juxtaposes at least one first waveguide slot of the plurality of waveguide slots and (ii) the at least one receiver aperture of the radiation slot sheet juxtaposes at least one second waveguide slot of the plurality of waveguide slots; wherein the wave port sheet comprises a plurality of wave ports, and wherein, with the waveguide sheet sandwiched between the radiation slot sheet and the wave port sheet, (i) at least one first wave port of the plurality of wave ports juxtaposes the at least one first waveguide slot of the waveguide sheet and (ii) at least one second wave port of the plurality of wave ports juxtaposes the at least one second waveguide slot of the waveguide sheet; and wherein the at least one transmitter comprises a plurality of transmitters, and wherein the at least one transmitter aperture comprises a plurality of transmitter aperture, and wherein each transmitter of the plurality of transmitters aligns with a respective transmitter aperture of the plurality of transmitter apertures.
17. 17 . The vehicular radar sensing system of claim 16 , wherein at least one sheet of the plurality of sheets comprises a metallic sheet.
18. 18 . The vehicular radar sensing system of claim 17 , wherein each sheet of the plurality of sheets comprises a respective metallic sheet.
19. 19 . The vehicular radar sensing system of claim 16 , wherein the individual sheets of the plurality of sheets are joined together via electrically conductive adhesive.
20. 20 . A vehicular radar sensing system, the vehicular radar sensing system comprising: a millimeter radar sensor disposed at a vehicle; wherein the millimeter radar sensor comprises a printed circuit board (PCB); wherein the PCB comprises at least one transmitter that transmits radio signals and at least one receiver that receives radio signals; wherein the millimeter radar sensor comprises a radio frequency (RF) antenna array comprising a plurality of sheets, and wherein the plurality of sheets comprises (i) a radiation slot sheet, (ii) a waveguide sheet and (iii) a wave port sheet; wherein the waveguide sheet is sandwiched between the radiation slot sheet and the wave port sheet, and wherein the radiation slot sheet is closer to the PCB than the wave port sheet; wherein each sheet of the plurality of sheets is independently fabricated, and wherein individual sheets of the plurality of sheets are joined together after being independently fabricated; wherein the radiation slot sheet comprises (i) at least one transmitter aperture that receives first radio signals from the at least one transmitter and provides the first radio signals to the waveguide sheet and (ii) at least one receiver aperture that receives second radio signals from the waveguide sheet and provides the second radio signals to the at least one receiver; wherein the waveguide sheet comprises a plurality of waveguide slots that includes (i) at least one first waveguide slot that guides the first radio signals from the radiation slot sheet to the wave port sheet and (ii) at least one second waveguide slot that guides the second radio signals from the wave port sheet to the radiation slot sheet; wherein the wave port sheet comprises a plurality of wave ports, and wherein at least one first wave port of the plurality of wave ports receives the first radio signals from the at least one first waveguide slot of the waveguide sheet and guides the first radio signals to an environment, and wherein at least one second wave port of the plurality of wave ports receives the second radio signals from the environment and guides the second radio signals to the at least one second waveguide slot of the waveguide sheet; and wherein the at least one transmitter comprises a plurality of transmitters, and wherein the at least one transmitter aperture comprises a plurality of transmitter aperture, and wherein each transmitter of the plurality of transmitters aligns with a respective transmitter aperture of the plurality of transmitter apertures.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION The present application claims the filing benefits of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 63/379,335, filed Oct. 13, 2022, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to a vehicle sensing system for a vehicle and, more particularly, to a vehicle sensing system that utilizes one or more radar sensors at a vehicle. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Use of radar sensors in vehicle sensing systems is common and known. Examples of such known systems are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,146,898; 8,027,029 and/or 8,013,780, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A vehicular radar sensing system includes a radar sensor disposed at a vehicle. The radar sensor includes a printed circuit board (PCB). The PCB includes at least one transmitter that transmits radio signals and at least one receiver that receives radio signals. The radar sensor includes a radio frequency (RF) antenna array including a plurality of sheets, and the plurality of sheets includes (i) a radiation slot sheet, (ii) a waveguide sheet and (iii) a wave port sheet. The waveguide sheet is sandwiched between the radiation slot sheet and the wave port sheet. Individual sheets of the plurality of sheets are joined together. The radiation slot sheet includes (i) at least one transmitter aperture that receives first radio signals from the at least one transmitter and provides the first radio signals to the waveguide sheet and (ii) at least one receiver aperture that receives second radio signals from the waveguide sheet and provides the second radio signals to the at least one receiver. The waveguide sheet includes a plurality of waveguide slots that includes (i) at least one first waveguide slot that guides the first radio signals from the radiation slot sheet to the wave port sheet and (ii) at least one second waveguide slot that guides the second radio signals from the wave port sheet to the radiation slot sheet. The wave port sheet includes a plurality of wave ports and at least one first wave port of the plurality of wave ports receives the first radio signals from the at least one first waveguide slot of the waveguide sheet and guides the first radio signals to the environment. At least one second wave port of the plurality of wave ports receives the second radio signals from the environment and guides the second radio signals to the at least one second waveguide slot of the waveguide sheet. These and other objects, advantages, purposes and features of the present invention will become apparent upon review of the following specification in conjunction with the drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle with a sensing system that incorporates a radar sensor; and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a plurality of layers of a radar module of the sensing system of FIG. 1. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A vehicle sensing system and/or driver or driving assist system and/or object detection system and/or alert system operates to capture sensor data representative of the exterior of the vehicle and may process the captured sensor data to detect objects at or near the vehicle and in the predicted path of the vehicle, such as to assist a driver of the vehicle in maneuvering the vehicle in a rearward direction. The sensing system includes a data processor or data processing system that is operable to receive sensor data from one or more sensors (e.g., radar sensors) to detect objects for one or more assistance systems of the vehicle. Referring now to the drawings and the illustrative embodiments depicted therein, a vehicle 10 (FIG. 1) includes an driving assistance system or sensing system 12 that includes at least one radar sensor unit, such as a forward facing radar sensor unit 14 (and the system may optionally include multiple exterior facing sensors, such as cameras, radar, or other sensors, such as a rearward facing sensor at the rear of the vehicle, and a sideward/rearward facing sensor at respective sides of the vehicle), which sense regions exterior of the vehicle. The sensing system 12 includes a control or electronic control unit (ECU) that includes a data processor that is operable to process data captured by the radar sensor(s). The sensing system may also include a radar sensor that includes one or more transmitters that transmit radio signals via a plurality of antennas. The radar sensor also includes one or more receivers that receive radio signals via the plurality of antennas. The received radio signals are transmitted radio signals that are reflected from an object. The ECU or processor is operable to process the received radio signals to sense or detect the object that the received radio signals reflected from. The ECU or sensing system 12 may be part of a driving assist system of the vehicle, with the driving assist syste