Phase Compensated Multi-Layer, Multi-Steering Antenna Array For Millimeter Wave Applications

Abstract

Examples disclosed herein relate to a multi-layer, multi-steering (“MLMS”) antenna array for millimeter wavelength applications. The antenna array is part of an antenna in package.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An antenna in package, comprising:
 an antenna element layer comprising a plurality of radiating elements;   an antenna controller layer comprising a phase network adapted to control phases of the plurality of radiating elements; and   a substrate layer coupled between the antenna element layer and the antenna controller layer.   
     
     
         2 . The antenna in package as in  claim 1 , wherein the antenna element layer further comprises a power distribution network coupled to the phase network. 
     
     
         3 . The antenna in package as in  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of radiating elements comprise a plurality of slot elements. 
     
     
         4 . The antenna in package as in  claim 1 , wherein the antenna element layer comprises a transmit portion of the plurality of radiating elements and a receive portion of the plurality of radiating elements. 
     
     
         5 . The antenna in package as in  claim 4 , wherein the antenna in package is adapted for radar operation. 
     
     
         6 . A radar system, comprising:
 an antenna element layer comprising a receive antenna array and a transmit antenna array;   an antenna controller layer comprising an analog phase network adapted to control phases of the plurality of radiating elements;   a transceiver module coupled to the antenna element layer; and   a perception module coupled to the receive antenna array and adapted to classify detected objects.   
     
     
         7 . The radar system as in  claim 6 , wherein the antenna controller layer comprises a phase control network adapted to control the phase of the receive antenna array and the transmit antenna array. 
     
     
         8 . The radar system as in  claim 7 , wherein the perception module is adapted to identify multiple dimensions of a received signal. 
     
     
         9 . The radar system as in  claim 8 , further comprising a micro-doppler module adapted to extract micro-doppler signals from the received signal. 
     
     
         10 . The radar system as in  claim 9 , wherein the micro-doppler module is adapted to provide information to the perception module for identification of targets. 
     
     
         11 . The radar system as in  claim 6 , wherein the transmit and receive arrays comprise phase compensated antenna elements. 
     
     
         12 . The radar system as in  claim 11 , wherein the radar system operates at 77 GHz frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) signal. 
     
     
         13 . The radar system as in  claim 11 , wherein slots in each of the transmit and receive arrays are separated by different distances and phase compensated with different phases based at least on a relative position of slots. 
     
     
         14 . The radar system as in  claim 6 , further comprising an interface to provide processed radar data to a sensor fusion control module. 
     
     
         15 . The radar system as in  claim 14 , wherein the interface provides information describing an object location relative to the radar module. 
     
     
         16 . The radar system as in  claim 6 , wherein the antenna controller layer is adapted to beam steer the receive and transmit arrays. 
     
     
         17 . The radar system as in  claim 16 , wherein the antenna controller layer is adapted to beam steer in elevation and azimuth. 
     
     
         18 . The radar system as in  claim 17 , wherein the transmit and receive arrays are configured into subarrays.