Motor vehicle with a radar device

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle with a radar device (13) for emitting and receiving radar beams; an absorber funnel (10) having a funnel body (11) which frames the radar device (13) and widens in a direction away from the radar device (13), wherein a cladding component (16) of the motor vehicle is arranged on an outer edge (14) of the funnel body (11) remote from the radar device (13), wherein the outer edge (14) is provided with a sealing foam (15).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a motor vehicle with a radar device and an absorber funnel surrounding it.

[0002] Fig. 1a shows an absorber funnel 1 of a motor vehicle from the prior art. Fig. Figure 1b shows its installation position, where it can be seen that the absorber funnel 1 frames a radar device 2 and is arranged on the side of the radar device 2 that is designed to transmit and receive radar beams. On the opposite side of the absorber funnel 1, a cladding component 3 is arranged, which has an opening 4 that corresponds to an outer contour of the absorber funnel 1. The absorber funnel 1 is thus arranged between the radar device 2 and the cladding component 3.

[0003] A gap 5 is provided at the transition between the outer contour of the absorber cone 1 and the trim component 3. This facilitates the installation of the trim component 3, particularly a bumper cover, by overpressing it during installation so that the associated fastening elements (clips) snap into place. Without this gap 5, installation of the trim component 3 would be more difficult. However, a gap 5 is not always desirable.

[0004] It is therefore an object of the present invention to at least partially eliminate the aforementioned disadvantages. This object is achieved by a motor vehicle according to claim 1. Advantageous developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0005] According to one embodiment of the invention, a motor vehicle is provided with a radar device for emitting and receiving radar beams; an absorber funnel having a funnel body that frames the radar device and widens in a direction away from the radar device, wherein a trim component of the motor vehicle is arranged on an outer edge of the funnel body remote from the radar device, wherein the outer edge is provided with a sealing foam. This embodiment has the advantage that, on the one hand, assembly is still easily possible thanks to the sealing foam, since the sealing foam yields somewhat and thus still allows the trim component to be pressed over and the associated fastening elements to snap into place. In addition, the sealing foam closes the gap explained above, so that no radar beams can pass through the gap.Such stray particles could otherwise potentially negatively impact the analysis of the received radar beams. Furthermore, the sealing foam provided according to the invention can prevent or at least reduce dirt deposits, which in turn improves the functionality of the radar system.

[0006] According to a further embodiment of the invention, an inner edge of the funnel body, which is arranged adjacent to the radar device, is provided with sealing foam. In this way, the gap at the inner edge, which is less likely to become contaminated, can also be closed, thus further improving the reliability of the radar device.

[0007] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the sealing foam comprises carbon in order to absorb radar beams.

[0008] A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. These drawings show the following: Fig. 1a shows a prior art absorber funnel; Fig. 1b shows an installation position of the absorber funnel from Fig. 1a; Fig. 2a shows an absorber funnel according to an embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2b shows an installation of the absorber funnel according to Fig. 2a, and Fig. Figure 3 shows a schematic cross-sectional view through the absorber funnel.

[0009] Fig. 2a shows an absorber funnel 10 according to the invention and Fig. 2a shows its installation. The absorber funnel 10 is designed as a two-component component. A funnel-shaped funnel body 11 made of plastic has an inner edge 12 that frames a radar device 13. Starting from the inner edge 12, the absorber funnel 10 widens in a direction away from the radar device 13 and toward an outer edge 14. According to the invention, a sealing foam 15 is attached to the outer edge 14. In particular, the sealing foam 15 surrounds the outer edge 14 as a closed frame. The sealing foam 15 contacts an inner side of a trim component 16, which has an opening 17 that essentially corresponds to the outer edge 14. In this way, an otherwise existing gap is closed by the sealing foam 15. The trim component 16 is, in particular, a front or rear bumper cover.

[0010] The sealing foam 15 has radar beam absorbing properties, which are achieved by a carbon content in the sealing foam 15. The funnel body 11 is made of plastic, such as expanded polypropylene (EPP).

[0011] Additionally, additional sealing foam can be provided on the inner edge 12, so that a gap 18 between the radar device 13 and the inner edge 12 is also closed. The sealing foam can also be applied to the inner edge 12 in the form of a completely closed frame.

[0012] Fig. Figure 3 shows a schematic sectional view through the absorber funnel 10, which is intended to further illustrate the advantages of the absorber funnel 10 according to the invention. The solid-line arrows are intended to illustrate the radiation of radar beams from the radar device 13. The sealing foam 15 closes a gap, thus reliably channeling the radiation and reception of the radar beams. The sealing foam 15 reliably prevents radar beams from entering the vehicle's installation space through the gap that would otherwise exist. Such a radar beam is Fig. 3 as a dashed arrow. Such a "stray" signal could potentially negatively impact the radar system's reception and potentially create a so-called ghost image. Furthermore, the sealing foam 15 completely encapsulates the radar system 13 and protects it from contamination.

[0013] While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and the foregoing description, this illustration and description is to be understood as illustrative and not restrictive, and it is not intended to limit the invention to the disclosed embodiment. The mere fact that certain features are recited in various dependent claims is not intended to suggest that a combination of these features could not also be used to advantage.

Claims

[1] Motor vehicle with a radar device (13) for emitting and receiving radar beams; an absorber funnel (10) having a funnel body (11) which surrounds the radar device (13) and widens in a direction away from the radar device (13), wherein a cladding component (16) of the motor vehicle is arranged on an outer edge (14) of the funnel body (11) remote from the radar device (13), characterized by , that the outer edge (14) is provided with a sealing foam (15). [2] Motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein an inner edge (12) of the funnel body (11) arranged adjacent to the radar device (13) is further provided with a sealing foam. [3] Motor vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sealing foam (15) comprises carbon in order to absorb radar beams.

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