阅读说明：本技术 带有双鳍部的雷达模块 (Radar module with double fins ) 是由 罗兰·鲍尔 于 2020-03-23 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及一种雷达模块,其被配置为用于工厂监测并包括微波芯片,该微波芯片包括雷达信号源以及连接到雷达信号源并将雷达信号源产生的雷达信号耦合到波导或天线中的耦合器。(The invention relates to a radar module configured for plant monitoring and comprising a microwave chip comprising a radar signal source and a coupler connected to the radar signal source and coupling a radar signal generated by the radar signal source into a waveguide or an antenna.)

1. A radar module (100) configured for plant monitoring, the radar module comprising a microwave chip (101) having:

a radar signal source (102) configured to generate a radar signal having a frequency exceeding 75GHz,

-a coupler (103) connected to the radar signal source.

2. The radar module (100) of claim 1,

wherein the coupler (103) comprises two fins (105, 106) arranged opposite to each other.

3. The radar module (100) of claim 2,

wherein the two fins (105, 106) are configured to emit a symmetric radar signal.

4. The radar module (100) of any one of claims 2 and 3,

wherein the radar module has a frame (107) surrounding the two fins (105, 106) such that the frame protects the two fins from external mechanical influences.

5. The radar module (100) of any one of claims 2 to 4,

wherein the two fins (105, 106) are surrounded by a chamber (108);

wherein the cavity is filled with a dielectric.

6. The radar module (100) of any one of claims 2 to 4,

wherein the two fins (105, 106) are surrounded by a chamber (108);

wherein the chamber is filled with an atmospheric gas.

7. The radar module (100) of any preceding claim,

wherein the coupler (103) is a coupling pin.

8. The radar module (100) of any preceding claim,

wherein the coupler (103) is a patch antenna.

9. The radar module (100) of any preceding claim,

wherein the coupler (103) and the radar signal source (102) are connected to each other by a common substrate (111).

10. The radar module (100) of any preceding claim,

wherein the radar module comprises a waveguide and/or an antenna (401);

wherein the coupler (103) is configured to couple the radar signal into the waveguide or the antenna;

wherein the waveguide is configured to convey the coupled radar signal.

11. The radar module (100) of claim 10,

wherein the antenna is a horn antenna.

12. A radar measuring device (400) comprising a radar module (100) according to any of the preceding claims.

13. Use of the radar module (100) according to any of the preceding claims for filling level gauging, limit level gauging, logistics automation or manufacturing automation.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to radar measurement techniques for plant monitoring and process automation. In particular, the invention relates to a radar module for plant monitoring, a radar measuring device having such a radar module, and the use of the radar module for filling level gauging, limit level gauging, logistics automation or manufacturing automation.

Background

Radar measuring devices are used for process automation, in particular for monitoring plants, for example in the filling level measuring field, the limit level measuring field or the object recognition field.

The radar signal to be transmitted is generated by a radar module having a radar signal source and coupled into a waveguide or antenna, from which the radar signal is then transmitted in the direction of the object or product to be monitored.

For this reason, common designs of waveguide coupling structures include metal pins, fins, patch antennas, or similar structures. The microwave signal is typically connected to the circuit components (e.g., microstrip structures) on the carrier board by a bond connection.

Such radar measuring devices can be designed in particular for W-band or K-band frequencies.

Disclosure of Invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide an alternative radar module suitable for plant monitoring.

This object is achieved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Further developments of the invention emerge from the dependent claims and the following description of the exemplary embodiments.

A first aspect of the invention relates to a radar module configured for plant monitoring, comprising a microwave chip. The microwave chip includes a radar signal source configured to generate a radar signal having a frequency in excess of 75 GHz. It also comprises a coupler (hereinafter also referred to as coupling element) connected to the radar signal source.

For example, the plant monitoring may be filling level or limit level measurements. The radar module may also be configured to monitor the hazardous area of the machine, for example in the case of hazardous area monitoring, to detect or even identify objects, or to detect and count objects on the conveyor belt or to determine the mass flow of bulk material on the conveyor belt.

The term "process automation" is understood to mean a sub-field of technology which encompasses all measures for the operation of machines and plants without human intervention. One goal of relevant plant monitoring and process automation is to automate the interaction of various components of a plant in the fields of chemistry, food, pharmaceutical, petroleum, paper, cement, shipping, or mining. For this purpose, a large number of sensors can be used, which are particularly suitable for the specific requirements of the process industry, such as mechanical stability, insensitivity to contaminants, extreme temperatures, extreme pressures, etc. The measurements of these sensors are typically transmitted to a control room where process parameters such as fill level, limit level, flow, pressure or density can be monitored and the settings of the entire plant can be altered manually or automatically.

One sub-field of process automation relates to logistics automation. In the field of logistics automation, processes within buildings or within individual logistics apparatuses are automated by means of distance sensors and angle sensors. A typical application is a logistics automation system for the following fields: the field of baggage and freight handling at airports, the field of traffic monitoring (toll systems), the field of commerce, the distribution of parcels or also the field of building security (access control). Common to the previously listed examples is that each application needs to combine presence detection with accurate measurement of object size and position. For this purpose, sensors based on optical measurement methods by means of lasers, LEDs, 2D cameras or 3D cameras can be used, which detect distances according to the time of flight principle (ToF).

Another sub-field of process automation relates to factory/manufacturing automation. Examples of such applications are found in many industries, such as the automotive industry, food manufacturing industry, pharmaceutical industry or general packaging industry. The purpose of factory automation is to automate the manufacture of goods by machines, production lines and/or robots, i.e. to run without human intervention. The sensors used here and the specific requirements for the measurement accuracy when detecting the position and size of an object are comparable to those in the logistics automation example described above.

The use at high frequencies reduces the overall size of the antenna and coupler and the waveguide or antenna coupling structure of which the coupler is a part. Thus, all components of the radar signal coupling structure can be integrated directly on the microwave chip.

The radar signal generated by the radar signal source of the microwave chip is coupled directly from the microwave chip into the waveguide or directly into the antenna. In particular, the radar signal source is configured to generate radar signals having a frequency of more than 75GHz or more than 150GHz, alternatively more than 200GHz, in particular more than 240 GHz.

According to an embodiment, the coupler comprises two fins arranged opposite each other and for example mirror-symmetrical to each other. The two fins convert the transmitted signal generated by the radar signal source into an electromagnetic wave, which then propagates in the waveguide or horn antenna. The connection between the radar signal source and the fins is also carried out in the microwave chip, so that interfering transitions from the radar signal source (HF generator) to the line and from the line to the respective fin are largely avoided, and interfering reflections are reduced.

According to an embodiment, the two fins are configured to emit a symmetric radar signal.

In order to improve the coupling characteristics, one or more steps may be provided in the coupling region.

According to a further embodiment, the radar module has a frame surrounding the two fins, such that the frame protects the two fins from external mechanical influences. The frame is intended to be connected to a waveguide or directly to an antenna. A dielectric that is part of the microwave chip may be provided inside and around the frame. In this case, the dielectric is, for example, the top layer of the chip.

According to another embodiment, the two fins are surrounded by a cavity (which may also be referred to as a resonant cavity) which is at least partially filled with a dielectric.

According to another embodiment, the chamber is filled with an atmospheric gas.

According to another embodiment, the coupler is a coupling pin (Einkoppelshift) or a patch antenna.

According to another embodiment, the coupler and the radar signal source are connected to each other via a common substrate. The substrate is a layer of a microwave chip. The signal connection between the radar signal source and the coupler can be configured with as little attenuation as possible, so that the sensitivity of the radar module is influenced as little as possible. Since no bond wires are provided for connecting the coupler to the radar signal sourceThus, variations in the length and position of the bond wire do not adversely affect the performance of the radar module.

According to another embodiment, the radar module comprises a waveguide and/or an antenna. The coupler is configured to couple a radar signal into the waveguide and/or the antenna, wherein the waveguide is configured to communicate the coupled radar signal. The antenna is configured to transmit the coupled radar signal and to receive the echo again.

According to another embodiment, the antenna is a horn antenna and optionally has a connection in the form of a waveguide.

According to another embodiment, the radar module is designed to generate radar signals having a transmission frequency exceeding 200 GHz.

According to another embodiment, the diameter of the resonant cavity is less than 1.5 mm.

Another aspect relates to a radar measuring device having a radar module as described above and below.

Another aspect relates to the use of the above and below described radar module for filling level gauging, limit level gauging, logistics automation or manufacturing automation.

The embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings. The illustrations in the drawings are schematic and not drawn to scale. If the same reference numbers are used in the following description of the drawings, they refer to the same or similar elements.

Drawings

Fig. 1 shows a radar module according to an embodiment.

Fig. 2 shows a top view of the radar module of fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of a radar module according to an embodiment.

Fig. 4 shows a radar measuring device with the above and below described radar modules.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows a small part of a radar module 100 of a radar measuring device according to an embodiment. Radar modules are used in the field of process automation, in particular for plant monitoring.

The radar module comprises a microwave chip 101 on or in which a radar signal source 102 is formed. A coupler 103 is provided, for example in the form of two fins 105, 106 arranged opposite each other. The radar signal source is connected to one of the two fins 105 by an electrical connection 116 to the radar signal source 102.

The chip itself forms a resonant cavity (resonanzr um) which is formed by a metal frame 107 and in whose cavity the coupler 103 is located. The frame is used to connect the coupling structure to the waveguide or directly to the antenna.

The frame 107 and the coupler 103/105 are at least substantially made of metal and are for example at least partially embedded in a dielectric layer of the microwave chip 101. The dielectric layer may extend approximately to the height of the end face of coupler 103 or beyond such height so that coupler 103 is fully embedded in the dielectric layer.

The cross-section of the resonant cavity may be configured as a rectangle having a width greater than its depth, for example having a width of about twice the depth.

Steps 109, 110 may be provided on both narrower sides of the resonant cavity (see in particular fig. 2), by means of which the coupling characteristics may be improved.

Fig. 2 shows a top view of the radar module of fig. 1. The second fin 106 is located on a ground plane 115, the ground plane 115 being conductively connected to the frame 107.

Between the oppositely arranged fins 105, 106 there is a cavity 108 which may be at least partially filled with a dielectric.

Fig. 3 shows a further embodiment of the radar module 100, in which the bottom of the frame 107 is designed to be narrower than the upper region of the frame 107. In the lower region, grooves are provided on the opposite longer sides of the frame. Electrical connections 116 connected to the first fin 105 pass through one of the grooves.

Fig. 3 shows three layers of the microwave chip 101. Reference numeral 111 denotes a dielectric layer, above and below which are metal layers 112, 113, respectively. A further dielectric layer may be provided above the metal layer 113, for example formed to the dashed line 114 such that the frame 107 protrudes therefrom.

Another waveguide is connected to the frame 107 or the antenna is directly connected to the frame.

Due to the high frequency of the radar signal (greater than 75GHz), the mechanical design of the twin fins is so small that it can be easily integrated into a microwave chip.

By means of the two mirror-symmetrically oppositely arranged fins 105, 106, the radar signal is fed into the waveguide or antenna through the resonant cavity 108. Therefore, the electromagnetic wave is symmetrically released into the waveguide or horn antenna from the beginning and is not absorbed.

By filling the resonant cavity 108 around the two fins with a dielectric suitable for microwaves, the mechanical design of the device is reduced due to the resulting (physical, wave) shortening factor, so that space on the chip and thus costs can be saved accordingly.

Due to the integration on the chip, no connection circuit outside the chip is needed between the chip and the double fins. Reflections are thus avoided, whereby the so-called ringing behavior of the radar module can be improved and costs can be saved.

The use at high frequencies reduces the size of the mechanical elements of the waveguide coupling structure or the antenna coupling structure so that they can be directly integrated into the microwave chip.

The double fin can be built by arranging copper and dielectric accordingly, like other elements of the chip in the chip production process. In this case, the space between the two fins may be left with air or filled with a dielectric. Which of the two variants is preferred may depend on the type of antenna being fed, e.g. a dielectric conductor or an unfilled horn.

Fig. 4 shows a radar measuring device 400 with the above-described radar module 100 and a horn antenna 401 connected thereto.

Furthermore, it should be noted that "comprising" and "having" do not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. It should also be pointed out that characteristics or steps which have been described with reference to one of the above exemplary embodiments can also be used in combination with other characteristics or steps of other exemplary embodiments described above. Reference signs in the claims shall not be construed as limiting.