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Digital-beam-forming extension for a two-channel E-band FMCW-sensor

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 January 2013

Markus Goppelt ,
Peter Feil  and
Winfried Mayer
Markus Goppelt*
Affiliation:
Continental AG, Maria-Merian-Straße 2b, 85521 Ottobrunn, Germany
Peter Feil
Affiliation:
Cassidian Ulm, Wörthstraße 85, 89077 Ulm, Germany
Winfried Mayer
Affiliation:
Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KG, Hauptstraße 1, 79689 Maulburg, Germany
*
Corresponding author: Markus Goppelt Email: [email protected]
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Abstract

A general purpose two-channel Frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW)-sensor in E-band is extended to a digital-beam-forming (DBF) system. The hardware extension contains a transmit multiplexer, which allows switching of the (DBF) transmit signal of the sensor to any of 32 linearly arranged waveguide antennae. To maintain the spatial sampling condition by λ/2 element distance, the antenna ports are arranged in the E-plane. The ports can directly radiate or serve as primary radiators of a cylindrical dielectric lens focusing in the H-plane. By realizing the hardware extension based on a metal-backed substrate, some novel radio frequency (RF) structures became necessary. One of these structures is a special twisting microstrip-to-waveguide-transition to connect the switching matrix to waveguide ports arranged in the E-plane. Key elements of the multiplexer are commercially available pin-diode-based MMIC-switches in microstrip technology. To lower the inductance of the interconnects, they are embedded in cavities in the metal-backed RF-substrate. RF interconnects between the sensor and the extension are all done with waveguide ports. Further interconnects between the module and the extension are low-frequency or digital and are led via cables and removable plugs. Both module and extension can be powered separately. This gives an easily mountable extension for making a two-dimensional (2D) DBF sensor out of a 1D FMCW-sensor.

Keywords

Radar architecture and systemsRadar applications
Type
Industrial and Engineering Paper
Information
International Journal of Microwave and Wireless Technologies , Volume 5 , Special Issue 1: Special Issue on the German RoCC Project , February 2013 , pp. 85 - 90
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press and the European Microwave Association 2013

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References

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