A system and method are disclosed for providing a bi-directional data communication link within a LIDAR assembly that has a stationary portion attached to an autonomous vehicle and a second portion rotatably connected to the stationary portion. The second portion may include one or more emitting/receiving devices (e.g., lasers) for detecting objects surrounding the autonomous vehicle. A first printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) having a first optical transceiver may be located within the stationary portion. A second PCBA having a second optical transceiver may be located within the second portion. A hollow shaft may be positioned so as to extend between the stationary portion and the second portion.

The invention is directed to a decorative vehicle element including a, preferably radio-transmissive, substrate having a first surface on a first side and a second surface on a second side; and a first surface, preferably radio-transmissive, decorative coating on the substrate, the decorative coating including a decorative layer consisting of a metal or consisting of an alloy including a metal; as well as a radar system including a radio wave transmitter, a radio wave receiver and a decorative element, especially radome.

This document describes techniques, apparatuses, and systems for a wave-shaped ground structure for antenna arrays. A radar system may include a ground structure with a first surface having a wave shape and a second surface opposite the first surface. The ground structure includes multiple antenna arrays separated in a longitudinal direction on the first surface. Each antenna array includes one or more antenna elements configured to emit or receive electromagnetic (EM) energy. The ground structure also includes antenna feeds separated in the longitudinal direction on the second surface and operably connected to the antenna arrays. The wave shape of the ground structure configures the radar system to provide an antenna radiation pattern that provides a uniform radiation pattern among the antenna arrays. The wave shape can also be configured to provide an asymmetrical radiation pattern or a narrow beamwidth for specific applications.

According to an embodiment, an antenna includes a conductive antenna element, a voltage-bias conductor, and a polarization-compensation conductor. The conductive antenna element is configured to radiate a first signal having a first polarization, and the voltage-bias conductor is coupled to a side of the antenna element and is configured to radiate a second signal having a second polarization that is different from the first polarization. And the polarization-compensating conductor is coupled to an opposite side of the antenna element and is configured to radiate third a signal having a third polarization that is approximately the same as the second polarization and that destructively interferes with the second signal. Such an antenna can be configured to reduce cross-polarization of the signals that its antenna elements radiate.

Examples disclosed herein relate to a radiating structure. The radiating structure has a transmission array structure having a plurality of transmission paths with each transmission path having a plurality of slots and a pair of adjacent transmission paths forming a superelement. Each superelement has a phase control module to control a phase of a transmission signal. The radiating structure also includes a radiating array structure having a plurality of radiating elements configured in a lattice, with each radiating element corresponding to at least one slot from the plurality of slots and the radiating array structure positioned proximate the transmission array structure. A feed coupling structure is coupled to the transmission array structure and adapted for propagation of a transmission signal to the transmission array structure. The transmission signal is radiated through at least one superelement and at least one of the plurality of radiating elements and has a phase controlled by the phase control module in the at least one superelement.

Transitional elements to offset a capacitive impedance in a transmission line are disclosed. Described are various examples of transitional elements in a multilayer substrate that introduce a transitional reactance to cancel the transmission line capacitive effects. The transitional elements reduce insertion loss.

Examples disclosed herein relate to radar systems to coordinate detection of objects external to the vehicle and distractions within the vehicle. A method of environmental detection with a radar system includes detecting an object in an external environment of a vehicle with the radar system positioned on the vehicle. The method includes determining a distraction metric from measurements of user activity obtained within the vehicle with the radar system. The method includes adjusting one or more detection parameters of the radar system based at least on the detected object and the distraction metric. Other examples disclosed herein relate to a radar sensing unit for a vehicle that includes an internal distraction sensor, an external object detection sensor, a coordination sensor and a central controller for internal and external environmental detection.

An antenna system includes a substrate of a dielectric material. A conductive layer defines a feed slot joins a number of side slots arranged in a line forming an array. The side slots are spaced from one another and the conductive layer is disposed on the substrate. The array is configured to radiate a radiation pattern characterized by a first beam width in a first plane and a second beam width in a second plane perpendicular to the first plane, wherein the first beam width is wider than the second beam width.

An electromagnetic-wave-transmissive module of a vehicle radar is provided to minimize a dielectric impact reflection effect, which occurs when an electromagnetic wave radiated from an antenna is transmitted through a radome and a transmissive cover The electromagnetic-wave-transmissive module includes one or more of a radome covering the antenna and a transmissive cover, which is disposed to be spaced apart from a front side of the antenna and through which a radio wave radiated from the antenna and then transmitted through the radome is subsequently transmitted. At least one coating layer, which includes PTFE and which has a dielectric permittivity higher than the dielectric permittivity of air and lower than the dielectric permittivity of the radome and the transmissive cover, is formed on the surface of at least one of the radome and the transmissive cover.

Disclosed is an antenna including a radiating element, a co-planar ground plane element and a transmission line extending across at least a portion of the radiating element and the ground plane element. The transmission line includes a dielectric layer. The dielectric layer has a portion of a first major surface adjacent to the ground plane and a second major surface opposite and separated from the first surface. A shield is formed on the second major surface. At least one via extends through the dielectric layer to connect the shield to the ground plane. A feed line extends longitudinally through the dielectric layer from a feed point at a proximal end of the transmission line towards a distal end of the transmission line, the feed line being shielded along a portion of its length extending across the ground plane element by the shield with the distal end of the transmission line lying in register with the radiating element and coupling the feed line to the radiating element.