Martin Ira Herman

US Patent:

50086782, Apr 16, 1991

Filed:

Mar 2, 1990

Appl. No.:

7/487338

Inventors:

Martin I. Herman - Torrance CA

Assignee:

Hughes Aircraft Company - Los Angeles CA

International Classification:

G01S 1360

US Classification:

342158

Abstract:

A plurality of transmitting (14, 16, 18, 20) and receiving antenna elements (22, 24, 26, 28) are formed on a support member (12) which may be mounted on a corner of a vehicle for scanning a pattern including areas on opposite sides of the vehicle corner. In an automotive application, the pattern may include a rear area, and a blind spot on the side of the vehicle adjacent to the rear area. A transmitter (50) is connected to the transmitting antenna elements (14, 16, 18, 20) by a passive phased array (30) such as a planar microstrip Butler matrix, and an electronic switch (52) which sequentially connects the transmitter (50) to inputs of the transmitting array (30). A receiver (62) is similarly connected to the receiving antenna elements (22, 24, 26, 28) by a planar microstrip passive phased array (40), and an electronic switch (64) which sequentially connects the receiver (62) to outputs of the receiving array (40). The support member (12) may be formed into a non-planar shape, or be flexible enough to be bent into a non-planar shape, to conform to a non-planar surface of the vehicle on which the sensor is to be mounted.