Waveguide and/or antenna structures for use in RADAR sensor assemblies and the like. In some embodiments, the assembly may comprise a waveguide groove extending along an elongated axis on a first side of a block and an antenna structure operably coupled with the waveguide groove. The antenna structure may comprise an antenna slot extending along the elongated axis on a second side of the block opposite from the first side and the antenna slots may be positioned and configured to deliver electromagnetic radiation from the waveguide groove therethrough. Some embodiments may further comprise one or more grooves extending adjacent to the antenna slot, such as opposing grooves extending adjacent to the antenna slot.

Waveguide and/or antenna structures for use in RADAR sensor assemblies and the like. In some embodiments, the assembly may comprise a waveguide groove extending along an elongated axis on a first side of a block and an antenna structure operably coupled with the waveguide groove. The antenna structure may comprise an antenna slot extending along the elongated axis on a second side of the block opposite from the first side and the antenna slots may be positioned and configured to deliver electromagnetic radiation from the waveguide groove therethrough. Some embodiments may further comprise one or more grooves extending adjacent to the antenna slot, such as opposing grooves extending adjacent to the antenna slot.

Waveguide and/or antenna assemblies for RADAR sensor assemblies/modules, particularly those for vehicles. In some embodiments, the assembly may comprise a waveguide block defining one or more waveguides, each waveguide defined by a waveguide groove. In some embodiments, at least a portion of at least one waveguide groove is non-straight, such as meandering/oscillating back and forth. An antenna structure may be operably coupled with the one or more waveguides, which structure may comprise an array of one or more slots. In some embodiments, a single, elongated slot of the one or more slots may extend along an axis of each waveguide groove for delivering electromagnetic radiation from a corresponding waveguide of the one or more waveguides therethrough.

This document describes a single-layer air waveguide antenna integrated on a circuit board. The waveguide guides electromagnetic energy through channels filled with air. It is formed from a single layer of material, such as a sheet of metal, metal-coated plastic, or other material with conductive surfaces that is attached to a circuit board. A portion of a surface of the circuit board is configured as a floor of the channels filled with air. This floor is an electrical interface between the circuit board and the channels filled with air. The single layer of material is positioned atop this electrical interface to define walls and a ceiling of the channels filled with air. The single layer of material can be secured to the circuit board in various ways. The cost of integrating an air waveguide antenna on to a circuit board this way may be less expensive than other waveguide-manufacturing techniques.

This document describes a waveguide with a beam-forming feature with radiation slots. The beam-forming feature of the waveguide includes recessed walls surrounding a plurality of radiation slots. The recessed walls of the waveguide may be walls of equal height and width, or they may include further features that manipulate the beam being formed for certain applications. Some examples of these further features are the inclusion of a choke on one wall, one wall having a height greater than a parallel wall, or the walls either including a step or a taper, such that the beam-forming feature is narrower near the surface of the waveguide with the radiation slots and wider further from the surface of the waveguide with the radiation slots. The beam-forming feature may reduce grating lobes in the radiation pattern thereby improving accuracy and performance of the host system.

A cavity slotted-waveguide antenna array has several waveguide columns disposed in parallel in a housing. Several of the waveguide columns being provided with cavity slots on the front side of the housing. The housing includes a front part secured to a rear part, with a rear portion of the waveguide columns being formed in the rear part, and with a front portion of the waveguide columns being formed in said front part. The waveguide columns can have a rectangular cross-section, with the columns defined by two opposing wide inner surfaces, a narrow inner back surface, and a narrow inner front surface, with the plurality of cavity slots extending from the front side of the housing to said narrow inner front surface. A signal probe is disposed in the columns. Conductive parallel plate blinds are conductively secured to the front side of the housing.

A cavity slotted-waveguide antenna array has several waveguide columns disposed in parallel in a housing. Several of the waveguide columns being provided with cavity slots on the front side of the housing. The housing includes a front part secured to a rear part, with a rear portion of the waveguide columns being formed in the rear part, and with a front portion of the waveguide columns being formed in said front part. The waveguide columns can have a rectangular cross-section, with the columns defined by two opposing wide inner surfaces, a narrow inner back surface, and a narrow inner front surface, with the plurality of cavity slots extending from the front side of the housing to said narrow inner front surface. A signal probe is disposed in the columns. Conductive parallel plate blinds are conductively secured to the front side of the housing.

In a communications system for communication between a vehicle guided along a predefined movement path and a stationary station using a slotted waveguide which extends parallel to the movement path of the vehicle and into which at least one antenna connected to a transceiver unit of the stationary station and at least one antenna of the vehicle project, wherein the antenna of the vehicle is moved in the longitudinal direction of the slotted waveguide with a movement of the vehicle, a switching device is arranged between the antenna of the vehicle and a transceiver unit of the vehicle, by means of which the antenna can be selectively connected to the transceiver unit of the vehicle either directly or via at least one interconnected attenuation element. The switching device can be actuated by the control device of the vehicle according to the power of a received signal.

In a communications system for communication between a vehicle guided along a predefined movement path and a stationary station using a slotted waveguide which extends parallel to the movement path of the vehicle and into which at least one antenna connected to a transceiver unit of the stationary station and at least one antenna of the vehicle project, wherein the antenna of the vehicle is moved in the longitudinal direction of the slotted waveguide with a movement of the vehicle, a switching device is arranged between the antenna of the vehicle and a transceiver unit of the vehicle, by means of which the antenna can be selectively connected to the transceiver unit of the vehicle either directly or via at least one interconnected attenuation element. The switching device can be actuated by the control device of the vehicle according to the power of a received signal.

Antenna assemblies for vehicles, such as RADAR sensor antenna assemblies. In some embodiments, the assembly may comprise an antenna block defining a waveguide groove and an adapter portion comprising a ridge. The ridge may taper or otherwise transition in height and/or width to facilitate a transition between two adjacent elements of the assembly, such as two adjacent waveguide structures comprising ridges having different cross-sectional dimensions.