W-band short distance CW-radar antenna optimized by housing design

Abstract

A highly integrated W-Band Vivaldi antenna for radar systems in LTCC is presented. The antenna properties are optimized for high accuracy CW radar short distance measurements by the housing design. The presented technique allows to reduce the phase error resulting by multipath reflections and a non-linear phase front in the near field by decreasing the beamwidth using a tapered horn around the planar Vivaldi antenna. The paper describes the phase error sources and the influence of the metallic horn around the antenna. The electrical field propagation is explained and the limitations of the optimization because of higher propagating modes in the housing are determined. All results are verified by measurements.978-1-4673-0037-7/12/$26.00 ©2012 IEEE

LTCC Endfire Antenna With Housing for 77-GHz Short-Distance Radar Sensors

“…Only planar antennas in conjunction with an optimal housing design came into consideration to fulfill the mentioned requirements. Previous literature already described the dimensions and design properties of the antenna and the housing [5]. This letter shows why the Vivaldi antenna ( Fig.…”

“…The idea to build a horn around the endfire antenna is influenced by similar feeders for horn antennas, e.g., in [8] and [9]. The measured effect of the housing to the radiation pattern is shown in [5]. The H-plane 10-dB beamwidth could be decreased from 179.8 to 112.4 .…”

“…For the presented housed antenna, different test samples than in [5] and [6] were used. The slight differences between the published return loss measurements in this letter and in previous letters are caused by the manufacturing tolerances of the LTCC process.…”