Biomimetic Antenna Concepts for Millimeter Wave Sensors

• Applicant: Professor Dr.-Ing. Christian Waldschmidt
• Subject Area: Electronic Semiconductors, Components and Circuits, Integrated Systems, Sensor Technology, Theoretical Electrical Engineering
• Term: from 2016 to 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 315290836

• Final Report Year: 2023

Final Report Abstract

Goals of this project were the development of a generally valid model of biomimetic antenna arrays (BMAAs), the realization of multiple demonstrators, and their use in radar operation. The definition of a generalized model, including design process, allows for an efficient implementation of BMAAs without limiting the choice of antenna elements or design frequencies. Model and mode analysis could be extended to any number of antenna elements. By incorporating biomimetic antenna coupling, side lobe levels can be lowered in bistatic MIMO radar operation, reducing ambiguities in the angle estimation. Also, the radiation pattern can be shaped and the width of the main lobe can be reduced. For monostatic setups, introducing the biomimetic principle can remove inherent redundancy in the virtual aperture and eliminate ambiguities in the 2D angle estimation. Measurements of demonstrators at 20GHz and 160GHz showed an improved angle estimation accuracy for a fixed aperture size. Alternatively, arrays can be built up more compactly while maintaining the same angular performance, thus saving e.g. chip area. Improved angular separability has been demonstrated for multichannel biomimetic arrays. BMAAs with incorporated electrically controllable, discrete devices can adapt their characteristics to the scenario and allow for multi-level angle estimation depending on the target parameters. Part of these results were awarded with the IEEE APS Piergiorgio L. E. Uslenghi Letters Prize Paper Award.

Publications

• Enhanced angle estimation accuracy of ultra compact radars inspired by a biomimetic approach. 2017 IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium (IMS), 1425-1428. IEEE.
  Gruner, Patrik; Chaloun, Tobias & Waldschmidt, Christian
  
• Enhancing Angle Estimation for Off-Boresight Targets Using Biomimetic Antenna Arrays. 2018 48th European Microwave Conference (EuMC), 1377-1380. IEEE.
  Gruner, Patrik; Nguyen, Son; Chaloun, Tobias & Waldschmidt, Christian
  
• A Generalized Model for Two-Element Biomimetic Antenna Arrays. IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, 67(3), 1630-1639.
  Gruner, Patrik; Chaloun, Tobias & Waldschmidt, Christian
  
• Enhancing Angle Estimation Accuracy of Ultra Compact Two-Channel Radar MMICs at 160 GHz Using a Biomimetic Antenna Array. 2019 IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium (IMS), 305-308. IEEE.
  Gruner, Patrik; Chaloun, Tobias & Waldschmidt, Christian
  
• A new coupling network topology for mm-Wave biomimetic antenna arrays, in German Microw. Conf. (GeMiC), Apr. 2020. ISBN: 978-1-7281-4206-7
  P. Grüner, D. Schmucker & C. Waldschmidt
  
• A Radar System Concept for 2D Unambiguous Angle Estimation Using Widely Spaced MMICs with Antennas On-Chip at 150 GHz. 2020 IEEE/MTT-S International Microwave Symposium (IMS), 1279-1282. IEEE.
  Gruner, Patrik; Klose, Markus & Waldschmidt, Christian
  
• Ultracompact Monostatic MIMO Radar With Nonredundant Aperture. IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques, 68(11), 4805-4813.
  Gruner, Patrik; Geiger, Martin & Waldschmidt, Christian
  
• A Switchable Biomimetic Antenna Array. IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters, 20(12), 2422-2426.
  Dorsch, Ines; Schwarz, Dominik & Waldschmidt, Christian
  
• N-Element Biomimetic Antenna Arrays. IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, 69(7), 3899-3912.
  Gruner, Patrik; Dorsch, Ines & Waldschmidt, Christian
  
• Performance Evaluation and Optimization of MIMO Radars Using Biomimetic Antenna Arrays. IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques, 69(11), 5173-5184.
  Dorsch, Ines; Gruner, Patrik; Klose, Markus; Schmucker, David & Waldschmidt, Christian