RU2682174C1 - Millimeter-range antenna array for the three-dimensional imaging radar system - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: radio equipment.SUBSTANCE: invention relates to the field of radio equipment, particularly to the millimeter-range antenna arrays for 3D radar. Antenna array comprises M in-series arranged receiving (Rx) linear antenna arrays, each having 2N antenna elements, where M and N are natural numbers, and arranged opposite the said Rx arrays 2M in-series arranged transmitting (Tx) linear antenna arrays, wherein each of the Tx arrays comprising N antenna elements, wherein distance between the antenna elements in each of the Rx and Tx arrays is the same, wherein each of the Rx and Tx arrays is connected to the control circuit corresponding independent port, wherein each of the Rx and Tx arrays is configured to control the phase and amplitude on the control circuit side in order to form the beam pattern with the required characteristics.EFFECT: technical result is the field of view/resolution maximum ratio with minimum number of transceivers, reduction in the antenna array size due to the surface most efficient use.6 cl, 27 dwg, 2 tbl

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to radio engineering, and, more specifically, to a millimeter-wave antenna array for a three-dimensional visualization radar system.

State of the art

A three-dimensional visualization radar system (3D radar) is one of the key sensors for car navigation. The main functionality of the 3D radar is to provide resolution of objects not only in the azimuthal plane (horizontal), but also in the elevation plane (vertical).

It should be noted that the resolution of the antenna (or 3D radar) in this disclosure is considered to be the beam width of the antenna array at half power from the maximum value, or at -3 decibels from the maximum in the decibel reference system. The antenna field of view (FoV) in this disclosure is the range of angles at which the antenna can efficiently scan while maintaining its characteristics at an acceptable level.

As shown in FIG. 1, the traditional (two-dimensional radar, 2D) radar provides the ability to determine the distance to the target and the direction to it only in the azimuthal (horizontal) plane with a wide FoV (about 80-120 degrees). Three-dimensional (3D) radar with the same wide FoV in the azimuthal plane does not require wide FoV in the elevation plane for car navigation: 10-20 degrees are enough to analyze the situation in the elevation plane for various types of radar applications - for medium, for short, for long range .

The main problem for implementing high-resolution radar is the number of transmitters and receivers. To reduce the number of transmitters and receivers required, a MIMO antenna array configuration is used. MIMO (multiple inputs - multiple outputs) is a spatial coding method for a signal, which allows to increase the channel bandwidth in which data is transmitted and received by systems from several antennas. Transmit and receive antennas are spaced so that the correlation between adjacent antennas is weak. The prior art configuration of the MIMO antenna array for the azimuthal plane for 2D radars. At the same time, the most optimized configuration of the MIMO (virtual) antenna array for the elevation plane for 3D radar has not yet been proposed in the prior art.

The prior art virtual antennas for 3D radar have the following problems:

- A limited number of Tx / Rx (transmit / receive) channels of the transceiver leads to low resolution and, as a result, to a small ratio of the field of view to resolution (FoV / resolution);

- Different applications of the radar require different characteristics to ensure the proper FoV ratio and resolution, which leads to the fact that the manufacture of a large variety of antenna arrays and devices is required;

- Non-optimized arrangement of antenna elements leads to excessive use of the required surface;

- To reduce the level of the side lobes, a technology is used to reduce the transverse size of the emitter to the edges of the grating relative to the central elements (tapering). To achieve a better result, it is necessary to maintain a fairly accurate ratio between the transverse dimensions of the elements. Thus, the requirements for technological tolerances and design increase in a linear antenna array.

In particular, among the analogues of the present invention, the following solutions are known in the art.

1) US 7,362,259 B2, 04/22/2008, ʺ Radar antenna array ʺ, Gottwald Frank, Robert Bosch GmbH.

In this solution, to suppress side lobes in pulsed radar systems (radars), the characteristics of the transmitting antenna and the receiving antenna are designed in such a way that the dominant side lobes are mutually offset, and their maxima and minima are mutually suppressed. This reduces the likelihood of detecting false targets.

This solution has the following disadvantages:

- Side lobes are optimized in only one narrow direction;

- Scanning capabilities are not expected: only one transceiver and one receiver are described;

- It is used only to detect an object in the area of the beam disguised from false targets.

2) US 8,624,775 B2, 01-01-2014, ʺRadar apparatus and antenna deviceʺ, Inami Kazuyoshi et al., Mitsubishi Electric Corp./Denso Corp.

This solution describes an antenna array containing on one side four rows of linear arrays arranged at equal intervals in the vertical direction and arranged at a predetermined interval in the horizontal direction. These gratings form the transmission channels, and the remaining twelve rows located on the other hand form a group of reception channels. Among the remaining twelve rows, four rows of linear gratings in the center form the first receiving grating, in which each row is installed as a channel. Eight rows of linear gratings on both sides form a second receiving grating, in which every two rows are installed as a channel.

This solution has the following disadvantages:

- Virtual beamforming is implemented through specific sublattices;

- Requires at least 8 channels for implementation.

3) US 2016/0285172 A1, 09/29/2016, ʺRadar deviceʺ, Kishigami Takaaki et al., Panasonic Corp.

This solution describes a transmitting antenna array and a receiving antenna array. Each of them includes many elements-sublattices, while the elements-sublattices in the transmitting antenna array and the receiving antenna array are linearly in the first direction, each element-sublattice includes many antenna elements, the element-lattice has a size larger than a predetermined distance between the antenna elements in the first direction, and the absolute value of the difference between the distance between the sublattice elements of the transmitting antenna and the distance between the sublattice elements of the receiving antenna of the antenna array is equal to the specified distance between the antenna elements.

This solution has the following disadvantages:

- Ineffective use of the surface;

- The transmitter and receiver have the same configuration. A virtual reduction in the size of the emitters to the edges of the lattice is realized due to different distances between the elements.

4) US 9,541,639 B2, 10-01-2017, ʺMIMO antenna with elevation detectionʺ, Searcy James F et al., Delphi Technologies, Inc.

This solution describes an antenna with multiple inputs and multiple outputs (MIMO) for a radar system, which includes a receiving antenna, a first transmitting antenna device and a second transmitting antenna device. The receiving antenna is configured to detect radar signals reflected by a target in the direction of the receiving antenna. The second transmitting antenna device is vertically offset relative to the first transmitting antenna device by a vertical offset distance selected so that the elevation angle to the target can be determined by the receiving antenna.

This solution has the following disadvantages:

- It is used only for tracking objects in the elevation plane, but not for three-dimensional visualization

- Lack of scanning in elevation plane

- No optimization for side lobe level

Thus, in the prior art, the need has arisen for creating a 3D radar with high resolution and the ability to scan in both azimuthal and elevation planes. As shown above, known technologies are not suitable for the development of this type of device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to eliminate at least some of the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art, the present invention is directed to an antenna array for a 3D radar.

According to the present invention, an antenna array is provided, comprising: M sequentially arranged first linear antenna arrays, each of which contains 2N antenna elements, where M and N are natural numbers, and 2M sequentially arranged second linear antenna arrays located opposite said first arrays, each of the second arrays contains N antenna elements, the distance between the antenna elements in each of the first and second arrays being the same, each of the first and second arrays n connected to the corresponding port of the control circuit and configured to control the phase and amplitude from the side of the control circuit in order to form a radiation pattern with the required characteristics, each of which each of the ports of the control circuit is configured to set its own parameters of the amplitude and initial phase of the signal moreover, the first gratings are receiving (Rx) or transmitting (Tx) gratings, and the second gratings are, respectively, transmitting (Tx) or receiving (Rx) gratings.

In one embodiment, the antenna elements are made on a printed circuit board.

In one embodiment, the antenna elements are in the form of patches, round patches, or slots.

In one embodiment, the antenna array further comprises a control circuit.

In one embodiment, said first and second linear antenna arrays are part of a MIMO antenna (with multiple inputs and multiple outputs) comprising several rows of Rx linear arrays and several rows of Tx linear arrays.

In one embodiment, the phase and amplitude control of the first and second gratings is performed so that when the lines of the first and second gratings are multiplied, a virtual linear antenna array is formed with a decrease in the size of the emitters to its edges.

The present invention provides a simple, versatile and inexpensive radar that is capable of operating in the millimeter range (mm range), while demonstrating improved performance compared to solutions known in the art, namely:

- Maximum resolution with a minimum number of transceivers;

- Maximum FoV / resolution ratio with a minimum number of transceivers;

- Multifunctionality and simplified scalability for choosing the desired FoV / resolution ratio or implementing a multi-mode radar;

- The smallest possible size of the device due to the most efficient use of the surface;

- Simplified design and reduced sensitivity to technological tolerances due to the virtual reduction in the size of the emitters to the edges of the array, which allows you to make all antenna elements in the line the same.

Brief Description of the Drawings

In FIG. 1 shows exemplary field of view for a car radar.

In FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of an antenna according to the present invention.

In FIG. 3 shows the principle of operation of the proposed antenna at n = 1.

In FIG. 4 shows the principle of operation of the proposed antenna at n = 2.

In FIG. 5 shows the principle of operation of the proposed antenna at n = N.

In FIG. 6 shows exemplary radiation patterns of an antenna according to the present invention.

In FIG. 7 shows the resulting radiation pattern of the proposed antenna for N = 3.

In FIG. 8A-8D show various combinations of virtual antenna array units.

In FIG. 9 shows an embodiment of a multi-mode radar.

In FIG. 10 shows examples of the performance of the emitters.

In FIG. 11 shows an embodiment of an antenna according to the present invention in combination with a classic MIMO configuration.

In FIG. 12 shows a sample of an experimental antenna.

In FIG. 13A-13C show radiation patterns obtained with an experimental antenna.

In FIG. 14 shows radiation patterns obtained by scanning on an experimental antenna.

In FIG. 15 shows the results of checking the resolution of the experimental antenna.

Detailed description

In one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a virtual antenna array unit that comprises one receiver (Rx) linear antenna array (LAA) with 2N antenna elements and two transmitting (Tx1 and Tx2) LAAs with N antenna elements located each opposite, where N is a natural number. In the example of FIG. Figure 2 shows an array with N = 3, where Rx LAA has 2 * 3 = 6 antenna elements, and each of the two Tx LAA has 3 antenna elements. The equivalent circuit for such a set of three LAAs is a virtual antenna array (VLAA), which is defined as Rx LAA * (Tx1 LAA + Tx2 LAA). The dots in the figure show the phasing centers of the arrays. The antenna elements are shown as squares with a solid border, and rectangles with a dashed border represent linear antenna arrays.

It should be noted that hereinafter it is understood that Rx and Tx LAA may be interchanged. That is, instead of a receiving antenna, a transmitting antenna can be used, and vice versa.

The resulting MIMO grating with the ability to scan in the elevation plane uses a different number of elements in the receiving and transmitting LAAs, realizing a special aperture ratio. This approach allows you to ensure the highest possible FoV / resolution ratio of the virtual antenna array and the most efficient use of the surface (antenna aperture). Since the aperture Rx LAA is equal to the aperture of two Tx LAA, the proposed antenna array has the smallest possible size in the vertical plane. Due to the fact that in the resulting antenna, the reduction in the size of the emitters to the edges of the array occurs automatically (virtually), it is possible to perform all the physical antenna elements the same, which ensures low sensitivity to technological tolerances.

In FIG. 3 shows how the proposed antenna functions at n = 1. As in the previous figure, the dots in this figure show the phasing centers of the arrays. The antenna elements are shown as squares with a solid border, and rectangles with a dashed border represent linear antenna arrays. Two linear Tx gratings are shown for convenience in the figure as sublattices of a single LAA ₁ grating. The Rx line array is shown as LAA ₂ . Multiplying the lines of the antenna arrays LAA ₁ and LAA ₂ results in a virtual linear antenna array VLAA, which has 3 virtual elements at a distance d from each other.

The first and second linear lattices can be described as follows:

The result of their multiplication will be the following expression:

,

,

Where

Thus, the resulting virtual antenna array can be described as follows:

)

)

That is, in the case of phasing the elements LAA ₁ with phase α ^o (α ^o to the phasing center of the first sublattice LAA ₁ and -α ^o to the phasing center of the second sublattice LAA ₁ , and vice versa), in order to form a beam at an angle α ^o , VLAA must have following phase distribution:

-α ^'o for the 1st element, 0 ^o for the 2nd element and α ^{' o} for the 3rd element;

and the following amplitude distribution:

для 1-го элемента,

для 2-го элемента и

для 3-го элемента.

for the 1st element,

for the 2nd element and

for the 3rd element.

In FIG. 4 shows how the proposed antenna works with n = 2. For a better understanding of the invention, the resulting virtual lattice is shown twice: above, inside the curly brackets, three virtual sublattices of which the virtual lattice consists, and in general its equivalent configuration is shown below, are shown with vertical shift. As you can see, the third and fifth elements (shown as elements with a different fill from the others) are overlapping elements.

For this example, the following equalities are true:

The resulting virtual antenna array can be described as follows:

)

)

Further in FIG. 5 shows how the proposed antenna functions at n = N. Multiplying the lines of the antenna arrays LAA ₁ and LAA ₂ results in a virtual linear antenna array VLAA, which has 4N-1 virtual elements at a distance d from each other.

As in the previous figure, the resulting virtual lattice is shown twice: above in a row the components of the virtual sublattices are shown with a vertical shift, but in general its equivalent virtual lattice configuration is shown below.

For this example, the following equalities are true:

The resulting virtual antenna array can be described as follows:

)

That is, in the case of phasing the elements LAA ₁ with phase α ^o (α ^o to the phasing center of the first sublattice LAA ₁ and -α ^o to the phasing center of the second sublattice LAA ₁ , and vice versa), in order to form a beam at an angle α ^o , VLAA must have such amplitude and phase distribution, which is indicated in the expression above.

Exemplary antenna patterns of the present invention are shown in FIG. 6. So, if the beam is directed in the main direction (0 degrees, not deflected - shown by line (1)), then the above equation describing the operation of VLAA can be simplified to

).

)

The obtained VLAA works as an antenna array with a reduction in the size of the emitters to the edges: the element located in the middle has the largest amplitude in proportion to 2N. The outermost elements have the lowest amplitude in proportion to 1. This is ideal for tracking radar, when you need to track the position in the elevation plane of one target.

If the beam is deflected through an angle α ^' (shown by line (2)), then the above equation describing the operation of VLAA can be simplified to

)

)

Thus, when deflected by α ^{', the} resulting VLAA works as an antenna array with 3-phase elements spaced d apart from each other, which ensures a minimum level of side lobes and a maximum FoV / resolution ratio.

If the beam is deflected by more than an angle α ^' (shown by line (3)), then the above equation describing the operation of VLAA can be simplified to

)

)

With this deviation, the resulting VLAA works as an antenna array with a significant deterioration in the amplitude of the central elements. This leads to a significant increase in the side lobes and makes the 3D radar inoperative at angles greater than α ^' .

.The following is a calculation of FoV, resolution, angle α ^' and scanning capabilities. As follows from case (2) with the beam deflected by an angle α ^' in Fig., The permissible level of the side lobes during scanning is 1. Thus, the equality

.

или

.It means that

or

.

угол α^' примет значение

.When

angle α ^' takes on value

.

.The beam width in this case will be

.

FoV / resolution ratio = 2.

Sample calculation results for different N are summarized in table 1. For ease of understanding, the results are rounded.

Table 1

N α ^'' Resolution Fov one 19.4 ° 40 ° 80 ° 2 9.6 ° 20 ° 40 ° 3 6.0 ° 12 ° 24 ° four 4.8 ° 9.6 ° 20 °

In addition, the resulting radiation pattern for a particular case with N = 3 is shown in FIG. 7.

Above in the present disclosure, a virtual antenna array unit has been described. Combining several such blocks of the virtual antenna array by adding them to each other in series, you can get any desired FoV and resolution in the elevation plane, while still preserving the characteristic of virtual reduction in the size of the emitters to the edges of the array, inherent in a single block with N = 1. Thus, to provide a higher resolution and / or wider FoV, it is enough to just put several identical blocks in a row instead of designing a new antenna that meets the given requirements. Accordingly, simplified antenna scaling is provided.

In addition, having the same antenna, consisting of several blocks of a virtual antenna array, it is possible to control the phase of existing antenna elements (switching in phase and antiphase relative to each other) and their amplitude (turning on and off), while still maintaining the characteristic of a virtual reduction in the size of the emitters to the edges lattice, and thus make up various combinations of FoV and resolution without changing the geometry of lines and elements. That is, the scaling of the antenna according to the present invention can be performed both upward and downward. Moreover, it becomes possible to provide multi-mode radar within the same device (on the same board).

Figures 8A-8D show various combinations of virtual antenna array units having 8 Rx elements and 8 Tx elements to produce various combinations of FoV and resolution.

In particular, in FIG. 8A, the above-described embodiment is illustrated in which one Rx linear array with 2 * 4 = 8 elements and two Tx linear arrays with 4 elements in each is formed (hereinafter referred to as Execution 1). This provides the ratio FoV / resolution = 2, and the gain is relatively high. This design is suitable for use as a medium-range radar.

In FIG. 8B, an embodiment is illustrated in which of the 8 Rx elements and 8 Tx elements formed, one Rx linear lattice with 2 * 4 = 8 elements and one Tx linear lattice with 8 elements (hereinafter referred to as Execution 2). Here the ratio FoV / resolution = 1 is provided, that is, such an antenna cannot scan, but at the same time a higher gain is provided. This design is suitable for use as a long-range radar to track a single target.

In FIG. 8C, an embodiment is illustrated in which of the 8 Rx elements and 8 Tx elements formed, two Rx linear arrays with 2 * 2 = 4 elements in each and four Tx linear arrays with 2 elements in each (hereinafter referred to as Execution 3) . This provides a higher FoV / resolution and lower gain. This design is suitable for use as a short-range radar.

In the above three embodiments, all 8 Rx elements and 8 Tx elements are involved, and you can see that the resolution (beam width of the radiation pattern) in them remains the same. In FIG. 8D illustrates an embodiment in which of the 8 Rx elements and 8 Tx elements formed, one Rx linear lattice with 2 * 2 = 4 elements and two Tx linear lattices with 2 elements in each (hereinafter referred to as Execution 4). The remaining 4 Rx-elements and 4 Tx-elements are not involved (off). As in Version 3, a large FoV and a small gain are provided here. The resolution is increased, therefore, the FoV / resolution ratio is slightly lower than in Version 3. This version is also suitable for use as a short-range radar.

An example of how it is possible to realize a multi-mode radar by controlling the phase and amplitude of its component antenna elements is illustrated in FIG. 9. Antenna elements are connected to independent ports of the control circuit, which are configured to set their phases and amplitudes on them. From the independent ports of the control circuit, any phases and amplitudes suitable for the formation of a virtual linear antenna array with a reduction in the size of the emitters to its edges, having the desired radiation pattern with a given resolution and main beam deviation, can be supplied to the antenna elements. Corresponding calculations are made according to the theory of antenna arrays.

In particular, in the example of FIG. 9, 4 Rx-elements in series are connected to two independent Rx-ports of the control circuit, and 2 Tx-elements in series are connected to four independent Tx-ports of the control circuit.

In order to obtain the above-described Executions 1-4 using such a device, it is necessary to control the independent ports of the control circuit as follows:

Execution 1

- Common mode operation Rx # 1 and Rx # 2

- Common mode operation Tx # 1 and Tx # 2

- Common mode operation Tx # 3 and Rx # 4

- Phasing (Tx # 1 and Tx # 2) relative to (Tx # 3 and Tx # 4)

Execution 2

- Common mode operation Rx # 1 and Rx # 2

- Common mode operation Tx # 1 ... Tx # 4

Execution 3

- Phasing Rx # 1 relative to Rx # 2

- Phasing Tx # 1 ... Tx # 4

Execution 4

- Enable Rx # 1 / Disable Rx # 2 (or vice versa)

- Phasing Tx # 1 relative to Tx # 2 / Disable Tx # 3, Tx # 4 (or vice versa)

To implement the virtual antenna array unit according to the present invention, a wide variety of different embodiments are acceptable. Examples of such embodiments are shown in FIG. 10. In particular, any PCB options are applicable without reducing the size of the patches to the edges of the grating in the elevation plane. Any variant of printed circuit boards in which an integer number of cells can be selected and which contain, for example, 1 Rx line with 2N antenna elements and 2 Tx lines with N antenna elements, or in general M Rx (or Tx) lines with 2N antennas is also applicable. elements and 2M lines of Tx (or Rx) with N antenna elements, where M and N are any natural numbers. Any possible antenna elements can be used as antenna elements: patches, round patches, slots, etc.

Also described in the invention, a MIMO lattice for visualizing an object in the elevation plane can be used in combination with the classical MIMO configuration (shown in Fig. 11 with k transmitters and m receivers) in a horizontal plane to realize a 3D radar.

In order to confirm the practical characteristics of the antenna, the inventors conducted experiments in which the formation of the antenna radiation pattern for N = 3 was verified: total and difference radiation patterns, digital radiation pattern formation. A sample of the experimental antenna that was tested is shown in FIG. 12.

The test results are shown in FIG. 13A (summary radiation pattern, 79 GHz, main direction), FIG. 13B (total and difference radiation pattern in the elevation plane, 79 GHz, for tracking radar), FIG. 13C (beamforming in the elevation plane and in the azimuthal plane, 79 GHz, for 3D radar).

As you can see, the proposed virtual antenna array can be used for both tracking radar and 3D radar. So, for the tracking radar, the level of the side lobes was -27 dB. For a 3D radar, the level of the side lobes within the FoV does not exceed -10 dB in the elevation plane due to the implementation of a special ratio of the apertures of the receiving (receiving) and transmitting (transmitting) antennas, which is the essence of the invention.

Also during the experiments, the resolution of the proposed antenna was checked, that is, the ability to distinguish between different objects that are within the field of view. So, for example, if two objects are in the region of the main beam, then they will be perceived by the radar as one and the same object. If a beam scan is performed, then at certain points in time only one of these objects can appear in the beam’s area of influence, and the second can become “invisible” to the radar, and vice versa, which will make it possible to distinguish these objects from each other.

The antenna patterns obtained by scanning are shown in FIG. 14. In particular, 5 positions are shown: with the direction of the main beam at -5 °, -2.5 °, 0 °, 2.5 °, 5 °. In FIG. 15 shows a part of the above graph from a level of 0 dB to a level of -3 dB, within which the ability of the radar to detect different objects was tested.

Checks were performed for 3 situations: 1) objects # 1 and # 2 are located close to each other at a distance of less than 10 ° from the point of view of the radar; 2) objects # 1 and # 2 are located relatively far from each other at a distance of more than 10 ° from the point of view of the radar; 3) objects # 1, # 2 and # 3 are located at -10 °, 0 ° and 10 ° from the point of view of the radar. The scan results (the number of objects falling into the beam coverage area) are summarized in the following table 2.

table 2

The situation / direction of the main beam -5 ° -2.5 ° 0 ° 2.5 ° 5 ° 1) 2 objects close one 2 2 2 one 2) 2 objects far one one one - one 3) 3 objects 2 one one one 2

As can be seen from the table and from the graph in FIG. 15, when scanning, there really are times when the radar detects two objects, only one of the objects or none of them at all. In the first case, the radar cannot separate two objects, in the second case, the object can separate two objects located at a distance greater than or equal to the resolution of the radar. And finally, in the extreme case, the radar can separate three objects.

Application

The present invention can be used as an all-weather multi-mode 3D radar, for example, for car navigation, driver assistance, autonomous driving, robot navigation, and for many other suitable applications.

In particular, when used to control a service robot, such as a caring robot, a robot waiter, etc., navigation can be based on a three-dimensional radar-scanned map of the surrounding space. When used for driver assistance or autonomous driving, the radar can detect a faster lane by three-dimensional scanning of obstacles and moving cars, and you can also notify the driver using active feedback such as sound, display, head-mounted display or steering wheel. In addition, in the case of autonomous driving, the present invention allows to increase the resolution of the radar with a limited number of available transmitters and receivers, and also allows you to use the same device for different applications (tracking one or more targets, application for different ranges - small, medium, large )

It should be understood that this document shows the construction principle and basic examples of multi-mode 3D radar. A person skilled in the art, using these principles, will be able to obtain other embodiments of the invention without creative efforts.

It should be understood that although in this document to describe various elements, components, areas, layers and / or sections, terms such as "first", "second", "third" and the like can be used, these elements, components , areas, layers and / or sections should not be limited to these terms. These terms are used only to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another element, component, region, layer or section. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section may be called a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the scope of the present invention. In the present description, the term "and / or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the corresponding items listed. The elements mentioned in the singular do not exclude the plurality of elements, unless specifically indicated otherwise.

The functionality of the element indicated in the description or claims as a single element can be implemented in practice through several components of the device, and vice versa, the functionality of the elements indicated in the description or claims as several separate elements can be implemented in practice through a single component.

In one embodiment, the elements / blocks of the proposed device are located in a common housing, are located on the same frame / structure / printed circuit board and are structurally connected to each other by means of assembly (assembly) operations and functionally by means of communication lines. The mentioned communication lines or channels, unless otherwise indicated, are standard communication lines known to specialists, the material implementation of which does not require creative efforts. A communication line can be a wire, a set of wires, a bus, a track, a wireless communication line (inductive, radio frequency, infrared, ultrasonic, etc.). Communication protocols over communication lines are known to specialists and are not disclosed separately.

The functional connection of elements should be understood as a connection that ensures the correct interaction of these elements with each other and the implementation of one or another functionality of the elements. Particular examples of functional communication may be communication with the possibility of exchanging information, communication with the possibility of transmitting electric current, communication with the possibility of transmitting mechanical motion, communication with the possibility of transmitting light, sound, electromagnetic or mechanical vibrations, etc. The specific type of functional connection is determined by the nature of the interaction of the mentioned elements, and, unless otherwise indicated, is provided by well-known means using principles well known in the art.

The design of the elements of the proposed device is known to specialists in this field of technology and is not described separately in this document, unless otherwise indicated. The elements of the device may be made of any suitable material. These components can be made using known methods, including, by way of example only, machining on machines, investment casting, and crystal growth. Assembly, connection and other operations in accordance with the above description also correspond to the knowledge of a person skilled in the art and, therefore, will not be explained in more detail here.

Although exemplary embodiments have been described in detail and shown in the accompanying drawings, it should be understood that such embodiments are merely illustrative and not intended to limit the present invention, and that the present invention should not be limited to the particular arrangements and structures shown and described, since various other modifications may also be apparent to a person skilled in the art based on the information set forth in the description and knowledge of the prior art. options for carrying out the invention, not beyond the essence and scope of this invention.

Claims (11)

1. Antenna array containing: M sequentially arranged first linear antenna arrays, each of which contains 2N antenna elements, where M and N are natural numbers, and 2M sequentially arranged second linear antenna arrays arranged in the same plane on the opposite side of said antenna array relative to said first linear antenna arrays, each of the second linear antenna arrays containing N antenna elements, moreover, the distance between the antenna elements in each of the first and second linear antenna arrays is the same, moreover, each of the first and second linear antenna arrays is connected to the corresponding independent port of the control circuit and is configured to control the phase and amplitude from the side of the control circuit in order to form a radiation pattern with the desired characteristics, each of the ports of the control circuit is configured to set its own parameters of the amplitude and initial phase of the signal, moreover, the first linear antenna arrays are receiving (Rx) or transmitting (Tx) arrays, and the second linear antenna arrays are transmitting (Tx) or receiving (Rx) arrays, respectively. 2. The antenna array according to claim 1, in which the antenna elements are made on a printed circuit board. 3. The antenna array according to claim 2, in which the antenna elements are made in the form of patches, round patches or slots. 4. The antenna array according to claim 1, further comprising a control circuit. 5. The antenna array according to claim 1, wherein said first and second linear antenna arrays are part of a MIMO antenna (with multiple inputs and multiple outputs) comprising several rows of Rx linear arrays and several rows of Tx linear arrays. 6. The antenna array according to claim 1, wherein the phase and amplitude control of the first and second linear antenna arrays is configured to form, when multiplying the lines of the first and second linear antenna arrays, a virtual linear antenna array with a reduction in the size of the emitters to its edges.

Images