Abstract: Provided is an object shape detection apparatus that can detect the shape of a raised or depressed portion on the surface of an object. In accordance with a comparison result obtained by a reflection intensity comparator with regard to intensity of a horizontally polarized wave component and a vertically polarized wave component of a reflected wave, the object shape determiner detects the shape of the raised portion and the shape of the depressed portion of a detection target object. The object locator detects the position of the raised portion and the position of the depressed portion of the detection target object by measuring the distance to the raised portion and the distance to the depressed portion of the detection target object detected by the object shape determiner.

Abstract: A radar apparatus and an automobile including the radar apparatus are provided. The radar apparatus may measure the elevation/declination angle of a target with high accuracy by using simple circuits at low cost without use of a detection circuit and an AD conversion circuit having high time resolution. A transmit antenna transmits transmit signal waves modulated through the multilevel FSK, and receive antennas receive reflected waves obtained by reflecting, off a target, the transmit signal waves which return. The multilevel FSK is used as a modulation method so that the beat frequency between the receive signal waves from the target and the transmit signal waves serves as the Doppler frequency. Thus, the elevation/declination angle ? of the target is calculated by a computing unit, not from the frequencies of the receive signal waves as in the related art, but from the frequency of the transmit signal waves.

Abstract: A radar device includes plural transmit antennas, plural receive antennas, a local oscillator that oscillates a local signal, a transmit processor that sends transmit signals based on the local signal from the transmit antennas, a receive processor that outputs beat signals from the local signal and echo signals generated as a result of the transmit signals being reflected by a target and received by the receive antennas, and a signal processor that executes signal processing on the beat signals. The transmit processor sends the transmit signals from the plural transmit antennas at different timings and also simultaneously sends the transmit signals which are combinable with each other from the plural transmit antennas.

Abstract: Provided is an object shape detection apparatus that can detect the shape of a raised or depressed portion on the surface of an object. In accordance with a comparison result obtained by a reflection intensity comparator with regard to intensity of a horizontally polarized wave component and a vertically polarized wave component of a reflected wave, the object shape determiner detects the shape of the raised portion and the shape of the depressed portion of a detection target object. The object locator detects the position of the raised portion and the position of the depressed portion of the detection target object by measuring the distance to the raised portion and the distance to the depressed portion of the detection target object detected by the object shape determiner.

Abstract: A radar apparatus and an automobile including the radar apparatus are provided. The radar apparatus may measure the elevation/declination angle of a target with high accuracy by using simple circuits at low cost without use of a detection circuit and an AD conversion circuit having high time resolution. A transmit antenna transmits transmit signal waves modulated through the multilevel FSK, and receive antennas receive reflected waves obtained by reflecting, off a target, the transmit signal waves which return. The multilevel FSK is used as a modulation method so that the beat frequency between the receive signal waves from the target and the transmit signal waves serves as the Doppler frequency. Thus, the elevation/declination angle ? of the target is calculated by a computing unit, not from the frequencies of the receive signal waves as in the related art, but from the frequency of the transmit signal waves.

Abstract: A microprocessor includes a memory, an input/output port and a switch controller. Transmission data, a spread code and an inverted code are stored in the memory. The switch controller generates a spread spectrum signal by calling up either of the spread code or the inverted code in accordance with a bit of the transmission data. A switch connected to the input/output port is switched on and off based on the spread spectrum signal. In addition, an antenna is connected to the input/output port via a coupler. An oscillation circuit includes a reference oscillator and a BPF and inputs a harmonic of a reference signal to the coupler as a carrier wave.

Abstract: A reflected signal detector (12) detects the amplitude and the phase of a reflected signal and outputs detection signals. A control circuit (13) adjusts first control signals and second control signals on the basis of the detection signals. A first cancel signal output portion (9) adjusts a first cancel signal so that the first cancel signal has a phase opposite to that of the reflected signal and has the same amplitude as that of the reflected signal using the first control signals. A second cancel signal output portion (10) adjusts a second cancel signal so that the second cancel signal has a phase opposite to that of a leakage signal and has the same amplitude as that of the leakage signal using the second control signals. A combining portion (11) combines a reception signal including noise signals with the first and second cancel signals.

Abstract: A microprocessor includes a memory, an input/output port and a switch controller. Transmission data, a spread code and an inverted code are stored in the memory. The switch controller generates a spread spectrum signal by calling up either of the spread code or the inverted code in accordance with a bit of the transmission data. A switch connected to the input/output port is switched on and off based on the spread spectrum signal. In addition, an antenna is connected to the input/output port via a coupler. An oscillation circuit includes a reference oscillator and a BPF and inputs a harmonic of a reference signal to the coupler as a carrier wave.

Abstract: A reflected signal detector (12) detects the amplitude and the phase of a reflected signal and outputs detection signals. A control circuit (13) adjusts first control signals and second control signals on the basis of the detection signals. A first cancel signal output portion (9) adjusts a first cancel signal so that the first cancel signal has a phase opposite to that of the reflected signal and has the same amplitude as that of the reflected signal using the first control signals. A second cancel signal output portion (10) adjusts a second cancel signal so that the second cancel signal has a phase opposite to that of a leakage signal and has the same amplitude as that of the leakage signal using the second control signals. A combining portion (11) combines a reception signal including noise signals with the first and second cancel signals.

Abstract: An antenna with an integral RF circuit includes a dielectric base, a plurality of radiation electrodes disposed on a top surface of the dielectric base and a plurality of RF circuits. The RF circuits include circuit patterns disposed partially in a gap between the radiation electrodes. On a bottom surface of the dielectric base, a concavity is formed in a region corresponding to where the circuit patterns are located. The circuit patterns are disposed on a thin portion of the dielectric base, associated with the concavity, while the radiation electrodes are disposed on thick portions thereof. Accordingly, radiation loss of the circuit patterns is reduced, and the radiation electrodes favorably transmit or receive radio waves. The antenna with an integral RF circuit is constructed efficiently using the gap between the radiation electrodes to define the RF circuits. Reduction in the size of a communication apparatus is facilitated because the RF circuits need not be disposed on a circuit board thereof.

Abstract: An antenna with an integral RF circuit includes a dielectric base, a plurality of radiation electrodes disposed on a top surface of the dielectric base and a plurality of RF circuits. The RF circuits include circuit patterns disposed partially in a gap between the radiation electrodes. On a bottom surface of the dielectric base, a concavity is formed in a region corresponding to where the circuit patterns are located. The circuit patterns are disposed on a thin portion of the dielectric base, associated with the concavity, while the radiation electrodes are disposed on thick portions thereof. Accordingly, radiation loss of the circuit patterns is reduced, and the radiation electrodes favorably transmit or receive radio waves. The antenna with an integral RF circuit is constructed efficiently using the gap between the radiation electrodes to define the RF circuits. Reduction in the size of a communication apparatus is facilitated because the RF circuits need not be disposed on a circuit board thereof.

Abstract: A circularly polarized wave antenna which allows the matching of resonant frequencies in a higher order mode to be easily achieved. In this circularly polarized wave antenna, a flat portion is provided by flattening a portion of the peripheral side surface of a substrate. Two feeding electrodes for use in the higher order mode excitation are formed on this flat plane. On one main surface of the substrate, a circular radiation electrode is formed, while, on the other main surface of the substrate, a ground electrode is formed.

Abstract: A circularly polarized wave antenna device that has improved the orthogonality of two radiation electric fields in a degeneration-separated mode. A radiation conductor is formed on one main surface of a substrate, and a ground conductor is formed on the other main surface of the substrate opposite to the radiation conductor. A feeding conductor is formed on the side surface of the substrate so as to extend from the other main surface toward the one main surface. The radiation conductor is formed into a square shape or an electrically square shape in a plan view. On the substrate, capacitive loading conductors are provided in the extended directions of the two diagonal lines of the radiation conductor, the capacitive loading conductors being formed between the ground conductor and the radiation conductor, and having mutually different shapes between the one diagonal direction and the other diagonal direction.

Abstract: A circularly polarized antenna device in which a recess is formed in the bottom surface of a dielectric base, and in which a feeder circuit is formed on an area of the top surface of a feeder circuit board covered by the recess. A shield for the feeder circuit is provided inside the recess. A feeder electrode is formed on an outer peripheral side surface of the dielectric base so as to be separated from a radiation electrode. A feeder wiring pattern which connects the feeder circuit and the feeder electrode so that they are in electrical conduction is formed on the top surface of the feeder circuit board. Electrical power supplied to the feeder electrode from the feeder circuit through the feeder wiring pattern is transmitted to the radiation electrode by capacitive coupling. Since the feeder circuit and the shield are accommodated inside the recess of the dielectric base, it is possible to restrict the bulkiness of the circularly polarized antenna device, and, thus, to make it thin.

Abstract: A radiation electrode is formed on the upper face of the substantially columnar dielectric substrate. Feed electrodes for a fundamental mode and for a higher mode are formed on the side peripheral face of the dielectric substrate. Power is supplied through the respective feed electrodes to the radiation electrode via capacitive coupling. The radiation electrode has both of the functions in the fundamental and higher modes. Thus, the circular polarized wave antenna can be reduced in size. Furthermore, since a capacitive feeding system is employed as described above, the respective resonance frequencies in the fundamental and higher modes can be easily adjusted and set at predetermined frequencies. Also, the circularly polarized wave characteristics in the fundamental and higher modes can be easily enhanced, respectively.

Abstract: A circularly polarized wave antenna which allows the matching of resonant frequencies in a higher order mode to be easily achieved. In this circularly polarized wave antenna, a flat portion is provided by flattening a portion of the peripheral side surface of a substrate. Two feeding electrodes for use in the higher order mode excitation are formed on this flat plane. On one main surface of the substrate, a circular radiation electrode is formed, while, on the other main surface of the substrate, a ground electrode is formed.

Abstract: A circularly polarized wave antenna device that has improved the orthogonality of two radiation electric fields in a degeneration-separated mode. A radiation conductor is formed on one main surface of a substrate, and a ground conductor is formed on the other main surface of the substrate opposite to the radiation conductor. A feeding conductor is formed on the side surface of the substrate so as to extend from the other main surface toward the one main surface. The radiation conductor is formed into a square shape or an electrically square shape in a plan view. On the substrate, capacitive loading conductors are provided in the extended directions of the two diagonal lines of the radiation conductor, the capacitive loading conductors being formed between the ground conductor and the radiation conductor, and having mutually different shapes between the one diagonal direction and the other diagonal direction.

Abstract: A circularly polarized antenna device in which a recess is formed in the bottom surface of a dielectric base, and in which a feeder circuit is formed on an area of the top surface of a feeder circuit board covered by the recess. A shield for the feeder circuit is provided inside the recess. A feeder electrode is formed on an outer peripheral side surface of the dielectric base so as to be separated from a radiation electrode. A feeder wiring pattern which connects the feeder circuit and the feeder electrode so that they are in electrical conduction is formed on the top surface of the feeder circuit board. Electrical power supplied to the feeder electrode from the feeder circuit through the feeder wiring pattern is transmitted to the radiation electrode by capacitive coupling. Since the feeder circuit and the shield are accommodated inside the recess of the dielectric base, it is possible to restrict the bulkiness of the circularly polarized antenna device, and, thus, to make it thin.

Abstract: A radiation electrode is formed on the upper face of the substantially columnar dielectric substrate. Feed electrodes for a fundamental mode and for a higher mode are formed on the side peripheral face of the dielectric substrate. Power is supplied through the respective feed electrodes to the radiation electrode via capacitive coupling. The radiation electrode has both of the functions in the fundamental and higher modes. Thus, the circular polarized wave antenna can be reduced in size. Furthermore, since a capacitive feeding system is employed as described above, the respective resonance frequencies in the fundamental and higher modes can be easily adjusted and set at predetermined frequencies. Also, the circularly polarized wave characteristics in the fundamental and higher modes can be easily enhanced, respectively.

Abstract: An antenna includes: a base having opposing first and second surfaces and opposing end surfaces; a radiation electrode covering at least a portion of the first major surface of the base; a power terminal disposed on the base and operable to conduct signal power which is at least one of received and transmitted by the antenna; a mounting substrate having spaced apart first and second major surfaces; a first ground electrode covering at least a portion of the second major surface of the base, wherein the base is disposed on the mounting substrate such that the second major surface of the base is coupled to the first major surface of the mounting substrate and a distance D is defined from the first major surface of the base to the second major surface of the mounting substrate, and the first ground electrode is electrically coupled to the first ground electrode such that a gain of the antenna is a function of the distance