Abstract: The present invention provides a radar for a road vehicle. The radar comprises a beam-forming network having a first number of input ports and a second number of beam-forming ports, wherein the first and second numbers are greater than 1; a first number of antennas, wherein the first number of antennas is for receiving signals and each antenna in the first number of antennas is connected to a respective input port of the beam-forming network; a second number of receivers, wherein at least two receivers can operate simultaneously, each receiver is connected to a respective beam-forming port of the second number of beam-forming ports; a third number of antennas, wherein the number of antennas is for transmitting a signal, wherein the third number is greater than 1; and a processing means configured to determine the position of an object relative to the radar based on the magnitudes of the signals received by the receivers.

Abstract: The present invention provides a circularly polarised, CP, antenna device for multiband GNSS. It comprises a spiral antenna and a high impedance surface, HIS, comprising a conductive layer comprising a first region and a separate second region, and a ground plane. The first region of the conductive layer is provided with at least one resonant element of a first resonant frequency and the second region of the conductive layer is provided with at least one resonant element of a second resonant frequency.

Abstract: The present invention provides a transition for millimetre wave circuits. The transition comprises a tapered slot antenna and a microstrip feed line coupled to the antenna. The transition is adapted to provide a tuneable frequency response.

Abstract: The present invention provides an amplitude comparison monopulse radar system. The system comprises a beam forming network for coupling to the phased array antenna. The beam forming network is adapted to change the phase delays between the antenna elements in a phased array antenna such that the monopulse radiation pattern is scanned over an angular range through space.

Abstract: The present invention provides a transition for millimetre wave circuits. The transition comprises a tapered slot antenna and a microstrip feed line coupled to the antenna. The transition is adapted to provide a tuneable frequency response.

Abstract: The present invention provides a circularly polarised, CP, antenna device for multiband GNSS. It comprises a spiral antenna and a high impedance surface, HIS, comprising a conductive layer comprising a first region and a separate second region, and a ground plane. The first region of the conductive layer is provided with at least one resonant element of a first resonant frequency and the second region of the conductive layer is provided with at least one resonant element of a second resonant frequency.

Abstract: The present invention provides an amplitude comparison monopulse radar system. The system comprises a beam forming network for coupling to the phased array antenna. The beam forming network is adapted to change the phase delays between the antenna elements in a phased array antenna such that the monopulse radiation pattern is scanned over an angular range through space.

Abstract: A wideband chip antenna which is capable of receiving and transmitting signals from an ultra wideband system, where the ultra wideband system comprising a plurality of band groups, and where the response of the antenna can be tuned at the design stage so that a zero in the response of the antenna falls so that its peak is at a particular given frequency, and so that the zero occurs inside an unwanted band group of the ultra wideband system.

Abstract: A two-tier wideband antenna comprising a chip of a dielectric material with an upper radiating structure and a lower radiating structure, the dielectric chip being mounted on an insulating carrier substrate which includes a feed-line to connect the antenna to a transceiver device. The lower radiating structure comprises two side elements which have a large aspect ratio so as to reduce the frequency of the lower band edge of the frequency response of the antenna when compared with the frequency response of a monopole patch antenna fabricated on a similar dielectric chip. The antenna of the present invention is suitable for operation over an ultra wideband, e.g. a frequency range extending from 3.1 to 10.6 GHz.

Abstract: A wideband chip antenna which is capable of receiving and transmitting signals from an ultra wideband system, where the ultra wideband system comprising a plurality of band groups, and where the response of the antenna can be tuned at the design stage so that a zero in the response of the antenna falls so that its peak is at a particular given frequency, and so that the zero occurs inside an unwanted band group of the ultra wideband system.

Abstract: A two-tier wideband antenna comprising a chip of a dielectric material with an upper radiating structure and a lower radiating structure, the dielectric chip being mounted on an insulating carrier substrate which includes a feed-line to connect the antenna to a transceiver device. The lower radiating structure comprises two side elements which have a large aspect ratio so as to reduce the frequency of the lower band edge of the frequency response of the antenna when compared with the frequency response of a monopole patch antenna fabricated on a similar dielectric chip. The antenna of the present invention is suitable for operation over an ultra wideband, e.g. a frequency range extending from 3.1 to 10.

Abstract: A balun including a single-ended port, a differential port and first and second sets of coupled transmission line sections. Each set has three coupled transmission line sections. The signal carrying terminal of the single-ended port is connected to an inner end of a third coupled transmission line sections in one of the sets, and the terminals of the differential port are connected to a respective outer end of a respective first transmission line. The balun is fabricated in a multi-layer insulating substrate with the single-ended port located on an upper surface of the substrate and the differential port located on a lower surface of the substrate. The balun is suitable for connection to a chip antenna mounted on a common carrier substrate.

Abstract: A radar system comprising a transmit antenna, a receive antenna and a mixer for combining a signal received by said receive antenna with a reference signal to produce an output signal. The transmit antenna includes an active antenna oscillator, the reference signal being derived from the active antenna oscillator. The active antenna oscillator is turned on and off by a pulse modulated biasing signal to produce a pulse modulated RF signal. The reference signal is delayed before being supplied to the mixer, the output of the mixer being used to determine when a detected object is a pre-determined distance from the system.

Abstract: An boundary monitoring apparatus comprising an object detection device arranged to transmit a signal into a detection region and to detect an object in said detection region upon receipt of a reflected signal from said object; means for defining a boundary in said detection region; means for determining a path of said object in the detection region; means for performing an evaluation of the determined path of the object with respect to the boundary; and means for causing an alarm event depending on the evaluation.

Abstract: A balun including a single-ended port, a differential port and first and second sets of coupled transmission line sections. Each set has three coupled transmission line sections. The signal carrying terminal of the single-ended port is connected to an inner end of a third coupled transmission line sections in one of the sets, and the terminals of the differential port are connected to a respective outer end of a respective first transmission line. The balun is fabricated in a multi-layer insulating substrate with the single-ended port located on an upper surface of the substrate and the differential port located on a lower surface of the substrate. The balun is suitable for connection to a chip antenna mounted on a common carrier substrate.

Abstract: An boundary monitoring apparatus comprising an object detection device arranged to transmit a signal into a detection region and to detect an object in said detection region upon receipt of a reflected signal from said object; means for defining a boundary in said detection region; means for determining a path of said object in the detection region; means for performing an evaluation of the determined path of the object with respect to the boundary; and means for causing an alarm event depending on the evaluation.

Abstract: A radar system comprising a transmit antenna, a receive antenna and a mixer for combining a signal received by said receive antenna with a reference signal to produce an output signal. The transmit antenna includes an active antenna oscillator, the reference signal being derived from the active antenna oscillator. The active antenna oscillator is turned on and off by a pulse modulated biasing signal to produce a pulse modulated RF signal. The reference signal is delayed before being supplied to the mixer, the output of the mixer being used to determine when a detected object is a pre-determined distance from the system.

Abstract: A component for a simulation tool, the component comprising means for defining a model of a circuit element, for example an inductor, capacitor or resistor. The defining means comprises a set of performance parameters, for example S-parameters, that define the performance of the circuit element over a range of frequencies. The parameter set is derived from the performance of the circuit element in a test environment, for example on a test substrate. The defining means further includes means for negating the effect on the parameter set of the test environment. The negating means is conveniently derived from a circuit model having a circuit topology derived from a circuit model of the test environment, but in which component values are negated in comparison with the corresponding component values of the test environment model.

Abstract: The invention provides a filter network comprising a plurality of circuit branches, each circuit branch comprising one or more filter elements. At least one of the circuit branches comprises a resonant circuit and is preferably arranged between the circuit path and ground. The filter network further comprises a switch device associated with the resonant circuit, the switch device being operable between an on state, in which the resonant circuit is connected to said circuit path, and an off state in which the resonant circuit is substantially isolated from said circuit path. The filter network also includes a switch control input for receiving a signal for operating the switch device between the on and off states. Switching in and out the resonant circuit changes the operational characteristics of the filter.

Abstract: The invention provides a filter network comprising a plurality of circuit branches, each circuit branch comprising one or more filter elements. At least one of the circuit branches comprises a resonant circuit and is preferably arranged between the circuit path and ground. The filter network further comprises a switch device associated with the resonant circuit, the switch device being operable between an on state, in which the resonant circuit is connected to said circuit path, and an off state in which the resonant circuit is substantially isolated from said circuit path. The filter network also includes a switch control input for receiving a signal for operating the switch device between the on and off states. Switching in and out the resonant circuit changes the operational characteristics of the filter.