Abstract: A microwave frequency Doppler vehicle intruder alarm comprises an oscillator 3, a mixer 2 and an amplification stage 4, 5 having its output applied to a low-pass filter 7, whose output is split into two branches. A first branch, comprising a rectifier diode and a comparator, provides a signal on its output when a significant level of non-carrier microwave signals is received. This branch is sensitive to signals having Doppler frequencies of 0-200 Hz, which includes the intruder indicative frequencies. A second branch, comprising an amplifier 8, a high pass filter 9, and a comparator 10, provides an output signal on the detection of a significant level of signals in the 40-200 Hz band, which frequencies are indicative of externally generated interference. A logic element 15 mutes the output of the alarm when the second branch indicates the presence of externally generated interference. An antenna arrangement (FIG.

Abstract: A Doppler microwave sensor for a vehicle alarm employs a mixer stage and a signal-processing stage on a printed circuit board, the printed circuit board having a ground plane containing a slot antenna which is coupled to the mixer stage. The ground plane is electrically connected to an electrically conductive enclosure which is disposed behind the slot antenna and encloses the component parts of the mixer and signal-processing stages. A dielectric lens may be placed over the slot antenna to provide a transmission beam pattern which is configured to the vehicle in which the sensor is to be used. In a preferred embodiment, the mixer stage is based arounda self-oscillating mixer arrangement in which the active element is a bipolar transistor and a single antenna is employed both to transmit the oscillator signal and to receive the Doppler-shifted return signal.