학술논문

A Planar Differential Wide Fan-Beam Antenna Array Architecture: Modular high-gain array for 79-GHz multiple-input, multiple-output radar applications
Document Type
Periodical
Source
IEEE Antennas and Propagation Magazine IEEE Antennas Propag. Mag. Antennas and Propagation Magazine, IEEE. 63(4):21-32 Aug, 2021
Subject
Communication, Networking and Broadcast Technologies
Fields, Waves and Electromagnetics
Engineered Materials, Dielectrics and Plasmas
Photonics and Electrooptics
Radar antennas
Antenna arrays
Radar cross-sections
MIMO radar
Automotive engineering
Sensor arrays
Planar arrays
Language
ISSN
1045-9243
1558-4143
Abstract
This article proposes a planar, wide fan-beam differential, corporate-fed patch antenna array architecture for automotive radar applications that mitigates the multipath and multiple reflections effects of its conventional series-fed counterpart. The proposed array architecture offers the merits of wide beamwidth in azimuth, high gain, yet, is applicable in multiple-input, multipleoutput (MIMO) configurations. Two 8 × 1 arrays were developed, built, and measured at the 77-81-GHz band. In design 1, the width of driven 50-Ω patch is optimized for the widest beamwidth and the array feeding network employs impedance transformers for matching. The experimental verification showed an azimuthal half-power beamwidth (HPBW) of 70° with a 15-dBi gain. In design 2, the interelement spacing is increased for wider beamwidth and less mutual coupling, and the feeding network transformers were eliminated to mitigate scattering and radar cross section (RCS) in turn. A 130° azimuthal HPBW was measured. A 2 × 2 MIMO radar hardware was built, employing the proposed array architecture on a scalable radar platform to validate its applicability in MIMO radars. For the sake of comparison, another reference demonstrator with conventional series-fed arrays was built. Frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) radar range and angle measurements were performed where multiplereflections and multipath effects were mitigated.