Millimeter wave radar radome and millimeter wave radar system

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a radome for a millimeter wave radar and a millimeter wave radar system with the radome. The radome for a millimeter wave radar includes a member that is transparent to millimeter waves and non-conductive, and a metal structure embedded in the member. The metal structure is transparent to millimeter wave frequency signals and is adjusted in structure to suppress specific external radio frequency signals.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to the field of millimeter-wave technology, and more specifically, to a radome for a millimeter-wave radar and a millimeter-wave radar system with the radome. Background Technology

[0002] Millimeter-wave (mmWave) radar technology is a cornerstone of the rapidly developing field of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and autonomous vehicles. It also has wide applications in smart homes and smart buildings, and is even used to monitor human vital signs and detect the presence of people. These radars operate in the millimeter-wave spectrum from 30 GHz to 300 GHz, providing high-resolution object detection capabilities, which are crucial for collision avoidance and precise navigation in complex environments.

[0003] With the development of technology, integrated millimeter-wave radar systems have become an indispensable part. These systems use high-frequency waves to detect objects at various distances and speeds, which has significant advantages over traditional sensors (such as cameras or infrared sensors), which may be affected by fog, rain, or low-light environmental conditions.

[0004] However, deploying millimeter-wave radar systems presents specific challenges, particularly regarding radio frequency interference (RFI). RFI sources can severely degrade radar performance, leading to reduced accuracy or failure in object detection. This interference typically originates from various electronic devices, other vehicles equipped with communication devices, even industrial sources, and various objects, especially metallic objects, within smart homes / smart buildings, all of which can contribute to RFI.

[0005] The information disclosed in the background section is only intended to enhance the understanding of the background of this disclosure, and therefore may include information that does not constitute prior art known to those skilled in the art. Summary of the Invention

[0006] In view of this, the present disclosure provides a radome for a millimeter-wave radar and a millimeter-wave radar system with the radome.

[0007] Other features and advantages of this disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description, or may be learned in part from practice of this disclosure.

[0008] According to one aspect of this disclosure, an antenna radome for a millimeter-wave radar system is provided, comprising: a component that is transparent to millimeter waves and non-conductive; and a metal structure embedded in the component; wherein the structure of the metal structure is transparent to millimeter-wave frequency signals and is structurally adjusted relative to specific external radio frequency signals to suppress interference from the specific external radio frequency signals.

[0009] In one exemplary embodiment of this disclosure, the component is a combination of polyethylene terephthalate, polyetherimide, or both.

[0010] In one exemplary embodiment of this disclosure, the structure of the metal structure is a metal mesh structure composed of strips or grids, and the metal material used is copper, aluminum, silver or a combination thereof.

[0011] In one exemplary embodiment of this disclosure, the structure of the metal architecture is adjusted according to different external radio frequency signals to form electromagnetic characteristics that respond to specific external radio frequency signals.

[0012] In one exemplary embodiment of this disclosure, structural adjustments to the metal structure are performed by mechanical means or by applying electrical or thermal input to the component to cause the component to respond.

[0013] In one exemplary embodiment of this disclosure, the metal architecture reduces interference from external specific radio frequency signals by forming a Faraday shield for the specific radio frequency signal.

[0014] In one exemplary embodiment of this disclosure, the structure of the metal architecture reduces interference from specific external radio frequency signals by adjusting the size, spacing, and geometry of the metal elements constituting it.

[0015] In one exemplary embodiment of this disclosure, it further includes a feedback system connected to the radar system to monitor the interference state of a specific external radio frequency signal on the radar, so as to adjust the structure of the metal structure accordingly to reduce the interference of the specific external radio frequency signal.

[0016] In one exemplary embodiment of this disclosure, the geometry of the component is designed to have a smaller impact on the transmission and reception of millimeter-wave radar signals.

[0017] According to one aspect of this disclosure, a millimeter-wave radar system is proposed, including the radome of this disclosure.

[0018] It should be understood that the above general description and the following detailed description are merely exemplary and do not limit this disclosure. Attached Figure Description

[0019] The above and other objects, features, and advantages of this disclosure will become more apparent from the detailed description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings described below are merely some embodiments of this disclosure, and those skilled in the art can obtain other drawings based on these drawings without any inventive effort.

[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a millimeter-wave radome according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0021] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a millimeter-wave radome according to another exemplary embodiment.

[0022] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a millimeter-wave radome according to another exemplary embodiment.

[0023] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a millimeter-wave radome according to another exemplary embodiment.

[0024] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a millimeter-wave radar system according to an exemplary embodiment. Detailed Implementation

[0025] Exemplary embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, these exemplary embodiments can be implemented in many forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, they are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the concept of the exemplary embodiments to those skilled in the art. The same reference numerals in the drawings denote the same or similar parts, and therefore repeated descriptions of them will be omitted.

[0026] Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics can be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. Numerous specific details are provided in the following description to give a thorough understanding of embodiments of this disclosure. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that the technical solutions of this disclosure can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or other methods, components, apparatuses, steps, etc., can be employed. In other instances, well-known methods, apparatuses, systems, implementations, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring various aspects of this disclosure.

[0027] The block diagrams shown in the accompanying drawings are merely functional entities and do not necessarily correspond to physically independent entities. That is, these functional entities can be implemented in software, in one or more hardware modules or integrated circuits, or in different network and / or processor devices and / or microcontroller devices.

[0028] It should be understood that while the terms first, second, third, etc., may be used herein to describe various components, these components should not be limited by these terms. These terms are used to distinguish one component from another. Therefore, the first component discussed below may be referred to as the second component without departing from the teachings of this disclosure. As used herein, the term "and / or" includes all combinations of any and more of the associated listed items.

[0029] Those skilled in the art will understand that the accompanying drawings are merely schematic diagrams of exemplary embodiments, and the modules or processes in the drawings are not necessarily necessary for implementing this disclosure, and therefore cannot be used to limit the scope of protection of this disclosure.

[0030] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a millimeter-wave radome according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0031] like Figure 1 As shown, an antenna radome for a millimeter-wave radar system according to this disclosure includes: a component 110 that is transparent to millimeter waves and non-conductive; and a metal structure 120 embedded in the component 110. The structure of the metal structure 120 is transparent to millimeter-wave frequency signals and is structurally adjusted relative to specific external radio frequency signals to suppress interference from those signals.

[0032] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the transparency of component 110 relative to millimeter-wave frequency signals means that when the millimeter-wave signal passes through component 110, its electromagnetic properties are not affected at all or are minimally affected, including signal strength attenuation, changes in radiation direction, polarization direction, etc. This high degree of transparency to millimeter-wave frequency signals can be achieved by selecting a material with an appropriate dielectric constant as component 110. Furthermore, component 110 can be transparent or opaque to visible light and can have different colors to suit the installation environment requirements of millimeter-wave radar.

[0033] Although Figure 1 The millimeter-wave radome shown is rectangular, but it should be understood that the millimeter-wave radome of this disclosure can be of any shape and can be adapted to the appearance and performance requirements of the radar.

[0034] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the metal structure 120 of the embedded member 110 is a series of metal lines, which may be straight lines (e.g., Figure 1 As shown in the figure, it can also be a broken line or a curve, and different metal lines can have different line types. Their relative positions can also be configured according to the performance requirements of the millimeter-wave radar to suppress external radio frequency interference and thus maintain the best transparency to the millimeter-wave radar frequency.

[0035] In one embodiment of this disclosure, if the millimeter-wave radar operates in the 40 GHz band, the metal structure 120 can be configured such that millimeter-wave signals in this band can pass through the radome with minimal interference, while signals from other bands are attenuated to the maximum extent by the radome, thereby shielding and reducing interference from other band signals to the millimeter-wave radar and improving the detection performance of the millimeter-wave radar.

[0036] In one embodiment of this disclosure, component 110 is made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyetherimide (PEI), or a combination of both. Component 110 may use high-quality, durable, non-conductive polymers selected for their excellent transparency and environmental resistance. These materials are chosen for their mechanical stability and minimal impact on radar signal transmission. Component 110 may consist of one or more of these two or other suitable materials, and may be arranged according to different environmental requirements and electromagnetic conditions.

[0037] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a millimeter-wave radome according to another exemplary embodiment.

[0038] like Figure 2 As shown, in an embodiment of the radome according to this disclosure, the metal structure 220 has a metal mesh structure composed of strips or grids, and the metal material used is copper, aluminum, silver or a combination thereof.

[0039] In one embodiment of this disclosure, such as Figure 2 As shown, the metal structure 220 can be a grid-like structure. The metal wires constituting this grid structure can be straight lines (such as...). Figure 2 As shown in the diagram, the lines can be either broken lines or curves, and different metal lines can have different line types. Their relative positions can be configured according to the performance requirements of the millimeter-wave radar, and the density of the mesh can also be uneven, which can be configured as needed. Furthermore, the angle between the meridians and parallels does not have to be 90 degrees but can be adjusted as needed. In addition, the number of meridians and parallels can be in any ratio, and they can be added in other directions, for example, one group at 0 degrees to the horizontal axis, one group at 30 degrees to the horizontal axis, one group at 85 degrees to the horizontal axis, and so on. A suitable metal structure 220 configuration can be used to suppress external radio frequency interference, thereby maintaining optimal transparency to the millimeter-wave radar frequency.

[0040] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the material of the metal structure 220 may be selected from one or more of copper, aluminum, and / or silver; in another embodiment, it may be selected from one or more other metal materials. Different metal materials will have different electromagnetic and shielding properties, and can be appropriately selected according to the millimeter-wave radar performance and the requirements for preventing radio frequency interference.

[0041] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a millimeter-wave radome according to another exemplary embodiment.

[0042] like Figure 3 As shown, in an radome according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the structure of the metal structure 320 is adjusted according to different external radio frequency signals to form electromagnetic characteristics that respond to specific external radio frequency signals.

[0043] In one embodiment of this disclosure, such as Figure 3 As shown, the metal lines of the metal structure 320 can be straight lines (e.g., Figure 3 As shown in the diagram, the metal lines can be either broken lines or curves, and different metal lines can have different line types. Their relative positions can also be dynamically configured according to the performance requirements of the millimeter-wave radar. The density of the mesh can also be uneven and can be dynamically configured as needed. The structure of the metal structure 320 can be adjusted according to different external radio frequency signals. This adjustment can be static or dynamic to form electromagnetic characteristics that respond to specific external radio frequency signals, such as suppression of specific external radio frequency signals.

[0044] In one embodiment of this disclosure, if the metal structure is a grid pattern, the angle between its meridians and parallels may not be 90 degrees but can be dynamically adjusted as needed. Furthermore, the number of meridians and parallels can be in any ratio, and they can be added in other directions, for example, one set at 0 degrees to the horizontal axis, one set at 30 degrees to the horizontal axis, one set at 85 degrees to the horizontal axis, and so on. These angles can also be dynamically adjusted. A suitable metal structure configuration can be used to suppress external radio frequency interference, thereby maintaining optimal transparency to millimeter-wave radar frequencies.

[0045] In one embodiment of this disclosure, such as Figure 3 As shown, structural adjustments to the metal frame 320 are made by mechanical means or by applying electrical or thermal input to the component 310 to cause the component to respond.

[0046] In one embodiment of this disclosure, such as Figure 3 As shown, dynamic adjustment of the metal structure 320 can be achieved through devices 330 and / or 340. For example, devices 330 and 340 can apply mechanical pressure to the radome main body component 310, compressing its dimensions and changing the distance between different metal wires in the metal structure 320, thereby altering the electromagnetic properties of the entire radome, such as shifting the wavelength of shielded radio frequency interference.

[0047] In another embodiment of this disclosure, such as Figure 3 As shown, dynamic adjustment of the metal structure 320 can be achieved through devices 330 and / or 340. For example, devices 330 and 340 can heat the radome main body component 310. The radome main body component 310 changes in size due to temperature, which alters the distance between different metal wires in the metal structure 320, thereby changing the electromagnetic properties of the entire radome, such as shifting the wavelength of shielded radio frequency interference.

[0048] In yet another embodiment of this disclosure, such as Figure 3 As shown, dynamic adjustment of the metal structure 320 can be achieved through devices 330 and / or 340. For example, devices 330 and 340 can apply a voltage to the radome body. As a smart material, the radome body changes size under the influence of the voltage, which alters the distance between different metal wires in the metal structure 320, thereby changing the electromagnetic properties of the entire radome, such as shifting the wavelength of shielded radio frequency interference.

[0049] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the metal structure in the radome (e.g. Figure 3 The 320-type metal structure reduces interference from external radio frequency signals by forming a Faraday shield for specific radio frequency signals. In other words, only electromagnetic waves at the millimeter-wave radar operating frequency are minimally affected by the radome after passing through it.

[0050] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the metal structure in the radome (e.g. Figure 3 Medium Metal Structure 320)

[0051] The structure reduces interference from specific external radio frequency signals by adjusting the size, spacing, and geometry of the metal elements that make it up.

[0052] For example, the metal lines constituting the metal structure 320 can be straight lines (such as...). Figure 3 As shown in the figure, it can also be a broken line or a curve, and different metal lines can have different line types. Their relative positions can also be configured according to the performance requirements of the millimeter-wave radar. The density of its mesh can also be uneven and can be configured as needed. In addition, the width of the metal lines can also be configured, and different metal lines can have different widths to suppress external radio frequency interference, thereby maintaining the best transparency to the millimeter-wave radar frequency.

[0053] In another embodiment of this disclosure, if the metal structure is a grid pattern, the angle between its meridians and parallels may not be 90 degrees but can be adjusted as needed. Furthermore, the number of meridians and parallels can be in any ratio and can be added in other directions, for example, one set at 0 degrees to the horizontal axis, one set at 30 degrees to the horizontal axis, one set at 85 degrees to the horizontal axis, and so on. A suitable metal structure 220 configuration can be used to suppress external radio frequency interference, thereby maintaining optimal transparency to millimeter-wave radar frequencies.

[0054] In another embodiment of this disclosure, the metal structure can also be other geometric shapes, such as concentric circles of different sizes, ellipses of different sizes, or irregular shapes, different wavy lines. These shapes can be closed or open, and can be electrically connected or not connected. They can be appropriately designed to suppress external radio frequency interference, thereby maintaining the best transparency to millimeter-wave radar frequencies.

[0055] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a millimeter-wave radome according to another exemplary embodiment.

[0056] like Figure 4 As shown, in one embodiment of the radome according to this disclosure, a feedback system 450 connected to the radar system is also included to monitor the interference state of external specific radio frequency signals on the radar, so as to adjust the structure of the metal structure 420 accordingly for the external specific radio frequency signals to reduce the interference of the external specific radio frequency signals.

[0057] In another embodiment of this disclosure, the feedback system 450 is connected to the millimeter-wave radar. If the millimeter-wave radar is operating normally, no adjustment is made. If the performance of the millimeter-wave radar deteriorates, the feedback system 450 sends an operation signal to the device 430 and / or the device 440 to dynamically adjust the metal mesh structure 420, thereby improving the performance of the millimeter-wave radar. For example, if the millimeter-wave radar detects severe radio frequency interference in the 40 GHz band, the feedback system 450 sends an operation signal to the device 430 and / or the device 440 to dynamically adjust the metal mesh structure 420 to suppress the 40 GHz band radio frequency interference.

[0058] In one embodiment of this disclosure, such as Figure 4 As shown, the dynamic adjustment of the metal structure 420 in response to the operation signal of the feedback system 450 can be achieved by means of device 430 and / or device 440. For example, devices 430 and 440 can apply mechanical pressure to the radome body. As a smart material, the radome body is compressed under pressure, which changes the distance between different metal wires in the metal structure 420, thereby changing the electromagnetic properties of the entire radome, such as shifting the wavelength of shielded radio frequency interference.

[0059] In another embodiment of this disclosure, such as Figure 4 As shown, the dynamic adjustment of the metal structure 420 in response to the operation signal of the feedback system 450 can be achieved by means of device 430 and / or device 440. For example, devices 430 and 440 can heat the radome body, causing the radome body to change in size due to temperature, which in turn changes the distance between different metal wires in the metal structure 420, thereby changing the electromagnetic properties of the entire radome, such as shifting the wavelength of shielded radio frequency interference.

[0060] In yet another embodiment of this disclosure, such as Figure 4 As shown, the dynamic adjustment of the metal structure 420 in response to the operation signal of the feedback system 450 can be achieved by means of device 430 and / or device 440. For example, devices 430 and 440 can apply a voltage to the radome body. As a smart material, the radome body changes its size under the influence of the voltage, which alters the distance between different metal wires in the metal structure 420, thereby changing the electromagnetic properties of the entire radome, such as shifting the wavelength of shielded radio frequency interference.

[0061] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the geometry of component 410 is designed to have a less impact on the transmission and reception of millimeter-wave radar signals. For example... Figure 4 As shown, component 410 can be appropriately designed, such as by changing its geometry and thickness, so as to minimize its impact on the signal of the millimeter-wave radar operating frequency.

[0062] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a millimeter-wave radar system according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0063] like Figure 5 As shown, a millimeter-wave radar system 500 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes an antenna radome 590 of the present disclosure.

[0064] Although Figure 5 The mid-millimeter-wave radar 560 is shown as a solid-lined circle. It should be understood that this illustration is exemplary, as the radar 560 is covered by an radome 590 and may be invisible to the outside world under visible light conditions. Moreover, the radar 560 can be any shape, not just the circle shown in the illustration.

[0065] Those skilled in the art will understand that the above modules can be distributed in the device as described in the embodiments, or they can be modified accordingly and placed in one or more devices that are unique to this embodiment. The modules in the above embodiments can be combined into one module, or they can be further divided into multiple sub-modules.

[0066] Through the description of the above embodiments, those skilled in the art will readily understand that the exemplary embodiments described herein can be implemented by software or by combining software with necessary hardware. Therefore, the operation process of the technical solution according to the embodiments of this disclosure can be embodied in the form of a software product. This software product can be stored in a non-volatile storage medium (such as a CD-ROM, USB flash drive, external hard drive, etc.) or on a network, and includes several instructions to cause a computing device (such as a personal computer, server, mobile terminal, or network device, etc.) to execute the method according to the embodiments of this disclosure.

[0067] Exemplary embodiments of this disclosure have been specifically shown and described above. It should be understood that this disclosure is not limited to the detailed structures, arrangements, or implementations described herein; rather, this disclosure is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements contained within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A radome for a millimeter-wave radar system, characterized in that, include: The radome main body component includes a component that is transparent to millimeter waves and non-conductive, and a metal structure embedded in the component. The non-conductive component is made of polyethylene terephthalate, polyetherimide, or a combination of both. The metal structure is a concentric circle or an ellipse of different sizes. The metal architecture is transparent to millimeter-wave frequency signals and is structurally adjusted to suppress interference from specific external radio frequency signals. The structure of the metal architecture is adjusted according to different external radio frequency signals to form electromagnetic characteristics that can cope with specific external radio frequency signals. A device is provided on the main component of the antenna radome, and the structural adjustment of the metal structure includes: Mechanical means are used to apply mechanical pressure to the main component of the radome through the device, causing a change in the distance between different metal wires in the metal structure; or Applying heat input heats the radome main body component through the device, causing a change in the distance between different metal wires in the metal structure; or A voltage is applied to the antenna radome body through the device, causing a change in the distance between different metal wires in the metal structure.

2. The radome as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The metal structure mentioned above reduces interference from external radio frequency signals by forming a Faraday shield for specific radio frequency signals.

3. The radome as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The structure of the metal architecture reduces interference from specific external radio frequency signals by adjusting the size, spacing, and geometric pattern of the metal elements that make it up.

4. The radome of claim 1, further comprising a feedback system connected to the radar system to monitor the interference state of a specific external radio frequency signal on the radar, so as to adjust the structure of the metal structure accordingly to reduce the interference of the specific external radio frequency signal.

5. The radome as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The geometry of the components is designed to have a smaller impact on the transmission and reception of millimeter-wave radar signals.

6. A millimeter-wave radar system comprising the radome as described in any one of claims 1 to 5.

Images