Transmit-receive module for a means of transportation

Abstract: A communication module for a means of transportation such as an automobile, a vessel or the like, the communication module being disposed on a back side or inside of an identification plate of the means of transportation. The communication module is formed of a millimeter wave integrated circuit section and a plane antenna section. The millimeter wave integrated circuit section has two conductive plates arranged on a parallel with each other, and a dielectric stripline and an electric element disposed between the conductive plates. The plane antenna section has two conductive plates arranged on a parallel with each other, a dielectric stripline disposed between the conductive plates and a slot made in one of the conductive plates. At least respective one of the conductive plates of the millimeter wave integrated circuit section and the conductive plates of the plane antenna section are integrated in a plane. The identification plate is made of a material which transmits a millimeter wave with a small loss, for example, polycarbonate, polybutylene terephtalate, polypropyrene reinforced with glass fiber, ABS resin or the like.

Description: [Technical Field] The present invention relates to a module for transmitting and/or receiving millimeter waves for a means of transportation, and more particularly to a module which is used for measurement of the distance and/or the relative speed between a means of transportation such as an automobile, a vessel or the like and another means of transportation ahead or behind, or for communication between means of transportation. [Background Art] Now, an automobile is given as an example of means of transportation. A module is provided in the front or the rear side of an automobile in order to measure the distance and the relative speed between the automobile and another automobile ahead or behind. The module comprises a Gunn oscillator, a circulator, a directional coupler, a mixer and an antenna. For a high performance communication system, an antenna which has a high directivity and a large gain, that is, an antenna with large dimensions is required to reduce the S/N ratio (signal-to-noise ratio) and the C/N ratio (carrier-to-noise ratio). Accordingly, the module occupies a large area of the front or the rear side of an automobile, which ruins the appearance of the automobile. In IEEE Transactions on antennas and propagation, vol. 41, no. 12, 31 Dec. 1993, NY, US, pages 1680-1686, Maamria et al; "Leaky NRD Guide as a Feeder for Microwave Planar Antennas" a leaky NRD guide as a feeder for microwave planar antennas is described. A conventional NRD waveguide which normally does not radiate any waves is provided with a grating structure to cause an asymetry for producing a net vertical electric field, which in turn excites a TEM mode in the parallel plate region and power is carried away on both sides of the dielectric strip. In a planar slot array antenna a plurality of slots are provided essentially parallel to the leaky NRD waveguide. The wave from the waveguide is reflected towards the slots to provide the excitation of a broadside radiation. It is the object of the present invention to provide a module for transmitting and/or receiving millimeter waves for a means of transportation which is of a thin type and causes substantially no changes in the appearance of the means of transportation. This object is achieved by a module according to claim 1. According to one embodiment, the module is incorporated into an identfication plate of the means of transportation, the identification plate being made of polycarbonate polybutyrene terephthalate, polypropylene reinforced with glass fiber, ABS resin or the like. When the module which is disposed on the front side or the rear side of a means of transportation is used as a radar, a millimeter wave propagated from the millimeter wave integrated circuit section is emitted from the plane antenna section and passes through the identification plate. When the millimeter wave reaches another means of transportation ahead or behind, the millimeter wave is reflected by the means of transportation and comes back to the identification plate. Then, the reflected millimeter wave passes through the identification plate and enters the plane antenna section. The module also can be used as a means of communication. In sending information, the information is converted into a millimeter wave in the millimeter wave integrated circuit section, and the millimeter wave is emitted from the plane antenna section. The millimeter wave passes through the identification plate and is received by an antenna section of a module mounted on another means of transportation ahead or behind. In receiving information, a millimeter wave emitted from an antenna section of another means of transportation ahead or behind passes through the identification plate and is received by the plane antenna section. The module may be a type which either sends or receives information as well as a type which both sends and receives information. Since at least respective one of the conductive plates of the millimeter wave integrated circuit section and the conductive plates of the plane antenna section are integrated in a plane, the module can be assembled as a thin type. Further, the module is disposed on a back side or inside of an identification plate of a means of transportation and hardly shows on the surface of the means of transportation. [Brief Description of the Drawings] This and other objects and features of the present invention will be apparent from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a module for a means of transportation which is an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged internal plan view of a millimeter wave integrated circuit section and a plane antenna section; Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the plane antenna section, taken along the line III-III of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan view of a conductive plate used in the module of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of an automobile which is provided with the module of Fig. 1; and Fig. 6 is an equivalent electric circuit diagram of the module of Fig. 1. [Best Mode for Carrying out the Invention] An embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiment is a radar head which is mounted on an automobile to measure the distance and the relative speed between the automobile and another automobile ahead or behind. Figs. 1 and 2 show the structure of a radar head 1 to be mounted on an automobile. The radar head 1 is rectangular and comprises a millimeter wave integrated circuit section 2 and a plane antenna section 3. The millimeter wave integrated circuit section 2 comprises a nonradiative dielectric waveguide (hereinafter referred to as NRD waveguide) 20 and a group of NRD waveguide electric elements, namely, an FM modulating Gunn oscillator 21, circulators 22 and 23, directional couplers 24a, 24b and 25, a mixer 26 and nonreflective terminals 27. The NRD waveguide 20 is mainly composed of a conductive base plate 5, dielectric striplines 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d, 20e, 20f, 20g 20h and 20i, and a conductive plate 6. The dielectric striplines 20a through 20i are made of a material with a small loss, for example, fluororesin, polyethylene resin, polystyrene resin or the like. The conductive base plate 5 and the conductive plate 6 have tapped holes 51 and 68, respectively. The conductive base plate 5 and the conductive plate 6 are Joined on a parallel with each other by putting a screw into the holes 51 and 68 with a spacer 7 in-between. Then, the dielectric striplines 20a through 20i and the NRD waveguide electric elements 21 through 27 are inserted between the plates 5 and 6. The FM modulating Gunn oscillator 21 is connected to the circulator 22 via the dielectric stripline 20a, and the circulator 22 is connected to the terminal 27 via the dielectric stripline 20b. The circulator 22 is also connected to the directional coupler 24a via the dielectric stripline 20c. Because of the directional coupler 24a, a signal generated from the Gunn oscillator 21 diverges in two ways. The directional coupler 24a is connected to the directional coupler 25 via the dielectric stripline 20d and connected to the directional coupler 24b via the dielectric stripline 20g. The directional coupler 25 is connected to a dielectric stripline 30a of the plane antenna section 3. The directional coupler 24b is connected to the circulator 23 via the dielectric stripline 20f and connected to the mixer 26 via the dielectric stripline 20h. The circulator 23 is connected to a dielectric stripline 30b of the plane antenna section 3 via the dielectric stripline 20e. The circulator 23 is also connected to a nonreflective terminal 27 via the dielectric stripline 20i. Lead wires extend from the FM modulating Gunn oscillator 21 and the mixer 26, respectively, and pierce through the conductive base plate 5. Accordingly, the ends of the lead wires are lead out on the reverse side of the conductive base plate 5 and are connected to, for example, a signal processing section provided in the body of an automobile. A frequency control signal which drives the FM modulating Gunn oscillator 21 and an intermediate frequency signal which is outputted from the mixer 26 are transmitted via the respective lead wires. The FM modulating Gunn oscillator 21, the circulators 22 and 23, the directional couplers 24a, 24b and 25, the mixer 26 and the nonreflective terminals 27 are conventional, and the detailed description of these elements is omitted. The plane antenna section 3, which is composed of an NRD waveguide 30 and a slot antenna 33, is separated from the millimeter wave integrated circuit section 2 by a partition conductor 50 which is provided to the spacer 7. The NRD waveguide 30 is mainly composed of the conductive base plate 5, dielectric striplines 30a and 30b, and the conductive plate 6. The NRD waveguide 20 of the millimeter wave integrated circuit section 2 and the NRD waveguide 30 of the plane antenna section 3 commonly use the conductive base plate 5 and the conductive plate 6. The dielectric striplines 30a and 30b are inserted between the plates 5 and 6. The dielectric striplines 30a and 30b are made of a material with a small loss, for example, fluororesin, polyethylene resin, polystyrene resin or the like. The conductive base plate 5 has steps S1 and S2 in positions which are at specified distances from the dielectric striplines 30a and 30b and have relatively large electric field strengths generated by millimeter waves propagated by the dielectric striplines 30a and 30b, respectively (see Fig. 3). Thus, the portion of the conductive base plate 5 which is opposite the slot antenna 33 has a larger thickness. With this arrangement, the millimeter waves propagated by the dielectric striplines 30a and 30b leak and radiate, thereby improving the impedance matching of the plane antenna section 3. Consequently, the plane antenna section 3 obtains a high radiation efficiency in a wide band. Further, dielectric prisms 34a and 34b are provided near the dielectric striplines 30a and 30b to deflect the millimeter waves in directions perpendicular to the extending directions of the dielectric striplines 30a and 30b, respectively (see Fig. 3). The dielectric prisms 34a and 34b are made of a dielectric material, for example, fluororesin. Each of the dielectric prisms 34a and 34b has a saw-tooth or chopping surface on the side facing the corresponding dielectric stripline 30a or 30b and has a flat surface extending parallel with the corresponding dielectric stripline 30a or 30b on the opposite side. As shown in Fig. 4, the conductive plate 6 has a latticed slots 32, and the lattice portion works as the slot antenna 33. Small conductive pieces 6a separated from the conductive plate 6 by making the latticed slots 32 are stuck on a prevention film (not shown), and the prevention film is put on the conductive plate 6 such that the pieces 6a are held in the lattice portion. This prevention film is made of a material which can transmit the millimeter wave with only a small loss. The radar head 1 of the above structure has a very small dimension in the millimeter wave radiating direction and large dimensions in the directions perpendicular to the millimeter wave radiating direction. Thus, the radar head 1 is a thin type but has a large radiation area. Next, the action of the radar head 1 is described. In the radar head 1, the NRD waveguide 20 of the millimeter wave integrated circuit section 2 matches the NRD waveguide 30 of the plane antenna section 3 electrically and mechanically. A millimeter wave emitted from the FM modulating Gunn oscillator 21 is propagated through the dielectric stripline 20a, the circulator 22, the dielectric stripline 20c, the directional coupler 24a, the dielectric stripline 20d in order and is led to the directional coupler 25. Then, the millimeter wave diverges in two ways to the dielectric stripline 30a and to the dielectric stripline 30b. The millimeter wave guided to the dielectric stripline 30a and the millimeter wave guided to the dielectric stripline 30b have a phase difference of 90 degrees. The millimeter wave guided to the dielectric stripline 30a leaks and radiates because of the step S1. Then, the millimeter wave is deflected by the dielectric prism 34a in a direction perpendicular to the extending direction of the dielectric stripline 30a and enters the slot antenna 33 made in the conductive plate 6. In the meantime, the millimeter wave guided to the dielectric stripline 30b leaks and radiates because of the step S2. Then, the millimeter wave is deflected by the dielectric prism 34b in a direction perpendicular to the extending direction of the dielectric stripline 30b and enters the slot antenna 33. These millimeter waves are combined. Since these millimeter waves which enter the slot antenna 33 have a mutual phase difference of 90 degrees, a clockwise or counterclockwise circularly polarized wave is emitted from the slots 32 of the antenna 33. If automobiles have such radar heads, which emit circularly polarized waves with the same plane of polarization, respectively, a millimeter wave which is emitted from an automobile and reflected by an automobile ahead or behind and a millimeter wave which is emitted from an oncoming automobile are circularly polarized in mutually opposite directions. Therefore, only the millimeter wave which is reflected by the automobile ahead or behind can be selectively received by the automobile, and magnetic interference of the millimeter wave which is emitted from the oncoming automobile can be prevented. The millimeter wave reflected by the automobile ahead or behind is received by the radar head 1 in the following way. The millimeter wave enters the plane antenna section 3 through the slots 32 of the slot antenna 33 and is received by the dielectric striplines 30a and 30b. Then, the millimeter wave is guided to the millimeter wave integrated circuit section 2 and propagated to the directional coupler 25, the dielectric stripline 20e, the circulator 23, the dielectric stripline 20f and the directional coupler 24b in order. The millimeter wave emitted from the FM modulating Gunn oscillator 21 is partly propagated to the directional coupler 24b via the directional coupler 24a and the dielectric stripline 20g. This millimeter wave emitted from the FM modulating Gunn oscillator 21 and the millimeter wave received by the antenna section 3 are propagated to the mixer 26 and mixed therein, and accordingly, an intermediate frequency signal is generated. Next, mounting of the radar head 1 onto an automobile is described. As shown in Fig. 5, the radar head 1 is fitted in a license plate fitting portion 81a of a front bumper 81 of an automobile 80 such that the slot antenna 33 faces forward. Then, a license plate 70 is fixed on the radar head 1 by inserting and tightening vises in holes 67 made in the conductive plate 6 and holes 71 made in the license plate 70. At that time, the radar head 1 is positioned such that the slot antenna 33 is vertically set and that the radar head 1 is inside the area of the license plate 70. Thus, the radar head 1 is set behind the license plate 70 and hardly changes the appearance of the automobile 80. The license plate 70 is made of a material which can transmit a millimeter wave with a small loss. For example, polycarbonate, polybutyrene terephthalate, polypropylene reinforced with glass fiber, ABS resin or the like is used as the material of the license plate 70. Fig. 6 shows the equivalent electric circuit of the radar head 1. Referring to Fig. 6, the action of the radar head 1 mounted on the automobile 80 is described. A millimeter wave is emitted from the FM modulating Gunn oscillator 21 by order of the frequency control signal. The millimeter wave is propagated through the circulator 22, the directional coupler 24a, the directional coupler 25, the dielectric striplines 30a and 30b, and is radiated forward from the slots 32 of the slot antenna 33. The radiated millimeter wave passes through the license plate 70 and reaches an automobile ahead. Then, the millimeter wave is reflected by the automobile and comes back to the license plate 70. The reflected millimeter wave passes through the license plate 70 and enters the plane antenna section 3 through the slots 32. Then, the millimeter wave is received by the dielectric striplines 30a and 30b and propagated to the mixer 26 through the directional coupler 25 and the circulator 23. The mixer 26 generates an intermediate frequency signal in accordance with the millimeter wave, and the intermediate frequency signal is sent to a signal processing section of the automobile 80. In the signal processing section, the distance of the automobile 80 from the automobile ahead, etc. are calculated from the intermediate frequency signal, and the result is indicated on a liquid crystal display or the like provided in the automobile 80. As described above, the radar head 1 has a structure wherein the conductive plates 5 and 6 arranged on a parallel with each other, and the dielectric striplines 20a through 20i, 30a and 30b which are provided between the conductive plates 5 and 6 form the NRD waveguide 20 of the millimeter integrated circuit section 2 and the NRD waveguide 30 of the plane antenna section 3. Therefore, the millimeter integrated circuit section 2 matches the plane antenna section 3 well, and the radar head 1 can be assembled as a thin type. Further, since the radar head 1 has a simple configuration and a simple structure, the radar head 1 is high in productivity and costless. Moreover, since the dielectric prisms 34a and 34b deflect leaking and radiating millimeter waves, the radar head 1 can emit a millimeter wave with a substantially even electric field distribution and with substantially no residual power. Although the embodiment is a module employed in an automobile, the embodiment can be employed in a vessel or any other means of transportation. The positional relationship between the millimeter integrated circuit section and the plane antenna section, and the sizes of these sections can be determined optionally according to the specification. Although in the embodiment, both the conductive plates 5 and 6 are jointless, it is possible to, instead of one of the jointless conductive plates 5 and 6, use two separate pieces for the millimeter integrated circuit section and the plane antenna section. It is possible to incorporate the module in the license plate or to assemble the module and the license plate in the same process. Also, the module can be fitted to the rear license plate. Such a module for means of transportation is ordinarily coated with a dielectric protector and thereby is protected from rain, snow, ice, etc. The dielectric protector, that is, antenna radome can be modified to serve as a license plate. More specifically, numbers and letters are formed on the surface of the antenna radome by printing, pressing or the like. The antenna radome is required to be thin and wheatherproof, and the antenna radome is made of polycarbonate, polybutyrene terephthalate, polypropylene reinforced with glass fiber, ABS resin or the like. The module functions not only as a radar as described above but also as a means of communication between means of transportation. Although the present invention has been described in connection with the preferred embodiment, it is to be noted that various changes and modifications are possible to those who are skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications are to be understood as being within the scope of the present invention.

Claims: A module (1) for transmitting and/or receiving millimeter waves for a means of transportation (80), comprising: a first conductive plate (5) and a second conductive plate (6) arranged parallel to each other at a predefined distance (7); and a plane antenna section (3) comprising: a slot (32) to form a slot antenna (33); and a first non-radiative dielectric waveguide (30) formed by a dielectric strip line (30a), said first conductive plate (5), and said second conductive plate (6); wherein one of the conductive plates (5, 6) of the plane antenna section (3) has a step (S1) to cause a millimeter wave propagated by said first non-radiative dielectric waveguide (30) to leak and to radiate; characterized by a millimeter wave integrated circuit section (2), comprising: a second non-radiative dielectric waveguide (20) formed by a dielectric strip line (20a), said first conductive plate (5) and said second conductive plate (6), wherein said second non-radiative dielectric waveguide (20) is in connection with said first non-radiative dielectric waveguide (30); and an electrical element (21) connected to said second non-radiative dielectric waveguide (20) for generating a signal to be propagated therein. The module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plane antenna section has a deflecting means (34a) for deflecting a leaking and radiating millimeter wave in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the non-radiative dielectric waveguide (30). The module as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said radiation system is disposed on a backside or inside of an identification means (70) of said means of transportation (80), said identification means (70) being made of a material that allows a transmission of millimeter rays with a small loss. The module as claimed in claim 3, wherein the identification means (70) is a license plate.

Inventors: ISHIKAWA YOUHEI, TANIZAKI TORU, ISHIKAWA, YOUHEI, TANIZAKI, TORU, ISHIKAWA, YOUHEI, C/O MURATA MANUF. CO., LTD., TANIZAKI, TORU, C/O MURATA MANUF. CO., LTD.
Applicants: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO, MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
Application year: 1995
Main classification: G01S7
IPC codes: H01Q3, H01Q21, G01S13, H01Q13, H01Q1, G01S7, H04B1, H01Q23