Communications: radio wave antennas – Antennas – With ice clearer or preventer
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-29
2001-01-16
Ho, Tan (Department: 2821)
Communications: radio wave antennas
Antennas
With ice clearer or preventer
C343S753000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06175335
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a dielectric lens antenna and radio equipment including the same. More specifically, the present invention relates to a dielectric lens antenna for use in a motor-vehicle-mounted radar, and radio equipment including the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
With the recent development of motor-vehicle-mounted radar, a dielectric lens antenna for use in a motor-vehicle-mounted radar has been required to be resistant to influences due to snowfall and snow accumulation.
FIG. 8
shows a conventional dielectric lens antenna.
FIG. 8A
is a plan view;
FIG. 8B
is a sectional view taken along the line A—A of FIG.
8
A.
In
FIG. 8
, a dielectric lens antenna
1
has such an arrangement that a lens
2
, whose material is dielectric, is attached to a frame
3
for retaining it. Other components such as a primary radiator are omitted, since they are not the primary constituents in the present invention.
The dielectric lens antenna
1
having such an arrangement is mounted in such a manner that the z-axis direction shown in
FIG. 8
is oriented toward a direction in which the motor vehicle is headed. As a result, snow accumulates on a surface of the lens
2
of the motor vehicle when it runs in snow, so that this leads to deterioration in the efficiency of the dielectric lens antenna
1
.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To overcome the above described problems, preferred embodiments of the present invention provide a dielectric lens antenna having a snow-melting function, which does not deteriorate the lens-efficiency, and radio equipment including the same.
One preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a dielectric lens antenna comprising: a lens comprising a dielectric material; and a heating body disposed on a surface of the lens.
Another preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a dielectric lens antenna comprising: a lens comprising a dielectric material; a matching layer disposed on a surface of the lens; and a heating body associated with the matching layer.
Yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a dielectric lens antenna comprising: a lens comprising a dielectric material; a radome covering a surface of the lens; and a heating body associated with the radome.
In the above described dielectric lens antenna, the heating body may comprise a plurality of heating wires, the plurality of heating wires being disposed in a direction substantially perpendicular to a principal polarized wave of an electric wave passing through the lens.
The sectional area of the heating wires and the distances between the adjacent heating wires may be different depending on the place where they are disposed.
In the above described dielectric lens antenna, a sensor for measuring the amount of snow accumulated on the periphery of the heating body and a controller for controlling the heating value of the heating body according to the amount of the accumulated snow may be equipped therewith.
Yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention provides radio equipment including the above described dielectric lens antenna.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the invention which refers to the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4972197 (1990-11-01), McCauley et al.
patent: 4999639 (1991-03-01), Frazita et al.
patent: 5154973 (1992-10-01), Imagawa et al.
patent: 5172024 (1992-12-01), Broussoux et al.
patent: 5617107 (1997-04-01), Fleming
patent: 5729238 (1998-03-01), Walton, Jr.
patent: 5861855 (1999-01-01), Arsenault et al.
patent: 2551366 (1977-05-01), None
patent: 19724320 (1998-12-01), None
patent: 0478852 (1992-04-01), None
patent: 0632522 (1995-01-01), None
Japanese Laid Open No. 9-191212 “Dielectric Lens and Its Manufacture” Jul. 1997.
Ishikawa Yohei
Nakamura Fuminori
Sakamoto Koichi
Yamada Hideaki
Ho Tan
Murata Manufacturing Co. Ltd.
Ostrolenk Faber Gerb & Soffen, LLP
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