A TFT substrate includes a plurality of antenna element regions each including a TFT and a patch electrode electrically connected to a drain electrode of the TFT. The TFT substrate further includes a source metal layer including a source electrode of the TFT, a gate metal layer formed on the source metal layer and including a gate electrode of the TFT, a semiconductor layer of the TFT, a gate insulating layer formed between the semiconductor layer and the gate metal layer, wherein the source metal layer further includes the patch electrode. The TFT substrate further includes a source terminal portion arranged in a non-transmitting/receiving region, and the gate metal layer further includes a source terminal upper connection portion of the source terminal portion.

The present invention includes a method of making a slotted waveguide antenna structure with a matched ground plane comprising: forming in a photosensitive glass substrate a coaxial-to-coplanar waveguide (CPW) section connected to a power divider, an emission cavity area for the slotted antenna and one or more vias; depositing a metal ground plane to a first surface of the photosensitive glass substrate; depositing a copper layer on the photosensitive glass substrate with a pattern of slots that form a slot antenna above the emission cavity; forming one or more glass pillars in the emission cavity under the slot antenna; etching away the photosensitive glass in the emission cavity while retaining the one or more glass pillars; connecting a micro coaxial connector to the coaxial-to-coplanar waveguide (CPW) section; and one or more solder bumps at the vias that connect to the ground plane, to form a slotted antenna.

The present invention includes a method of making a slotted waveguide antenna structure with a matched ground plane comprising: forming in a photosensitive glass substrate a coaxial-to-coplanar waveguide (CPW) section connected to a power divider, an emission cavity area for the slotted antenna and one or more vias; depositing a metal ground plane to a first surface of the photosensitive glass substrate; depositing a copper layer on the photosensitive glass substrate with a pattern of slots that form a slot antenna above the emission cavity; forming one or more glass pillars in the emission cavity under the slot antenna; etching away the photosensitive glass in the emission cavity while retaining the one or more glass pillars; connecting a micro coaxial connector to the coaxial-to-coplanar waveguide (CPW) section; and one or more solder bumps at the vias that connect to the ground plane, to form a slotted antenna.

An electromagnetic band-gap (EBG) structure includes an antenna substrate layer, first conductive regions, and second conductive regions. The antenna substrate includes a first planar surface and a second planar surface. The first conductive regions are located on the first planar surface of the antenna substrate and separated from adjacent first conductive regions by a first distance. The second conductive regions are located on the first planar surface of the antenna substrate and are separated from the first conductive regions by a second distance and wherein the second conductive regions at least partially surround the first conductive regions.

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. An antenna structure may be operably coupled with the waveguide groove and may comprise one or more slots extending within the waveguide groove along the elongated axis. The antenna structure may be positioned and configured to deliver electromagnetic radiation from the waveguide groove therethrough. The waveguide groove and/or the slot(s) of the antenna structure may intermittently oscillate on opposite sides of the elongated axis, in some embodiments in a periodic manner, along at least a portion of the elongated axis.

RADAR sensor assemblies/modules, particularly those for vehicles. In some embodiments, the assembly may comprise a plurality of waveguides, each waveguide of the plurality of waveguides being defined by a waveguide groove. A slot may be positioned to extend along an axis of each of the plurality of waveguide grooves. Each of the waveguides may be further defined, at least in part, by a periodic feature that extends back and forth in a periodic manner along at least a portion of its respective waveguide and a plurality of periodic signal confinement structures, a first periodic signal confinement structure of which may extend adjacent to a first side of each of the plurality of waveguides, and a second periodic signal confinement structure which may extend along a second side of each of the plurality of waveguides opposite the first side.

A method for measuring a residual DC voltage in a liquid crystal device including an active region having a plurality of liquid crystal capacitors and a plurality of TFTs, and a non-active region positioned outside the active region and having at least one monitoring capacitor, in which the plurality of liquid crystal capacitors and the at least one monitoring capacitor include a liquid crystal layer. The method includes: generating a V-I curve by applying a positive and negative symmetrical triangular wave voltage measuring, in the V-I curve, a voltage Vmax having a maximum absolute value where a current value reaches a positive maximum value or minimum value, and a voltage Vmin having a maximum absolute value where a current value reaches a negative minimum value or maximum value, and measuring one-half of the sum of the voltage Vmax and the voltage Vmin as the residual DC voltage.

A method for measuring a residual DC voltage in a liquid crystal device including an active region having a plurality of liquid crystal capacitors and a plurality of TFTs, and a non-active region positioned outside the active region and having at least one monitoring capacitor, in which the plurality of liquid crystal capacitors and the at least one monitoring capacitor include a liquid crystal layer. The method includes: generating a V-I curve by applying a positive and negative symmetrical triangular wave voltage measuring, in the V-I curve, a voltage Vmax having a maximum absolute value where a current value reaches a positive maximum value or minimum value, and a voltage Vmin having a maximum absolute value where a current value reaches a negative minimum value or maximum value, and measuring one-half of the sum of the voltage Vmax and the voltage Vmin as the residual DC voltage.

An antenna array system (“AAS”) for directing and steering an antenna beam is described in accordance with the present disclosure. The AAS may include a feed waveguide having a feed waveguide length, at least two directional couplers in signal communication with the feed waveguide, at least two pairs of planar coupling slots along the feed waveguide length, and at least two horn antennas.

An antenna array system (“AAS”) for directing and steering an antenna beam is described in accordance with the present disclosure. The AAS may include a feed waveguide having a feed waveguide length, at least two directional couplers in signal communication with the feed waveguide, at least two pairs of planar coupling slots along the feed waveguide length, and at least two horn antennas.