RADAR MODULE FOR A CAR LIGHT

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a radar module for a motor vehicle light, which radar module comprises the following: A radar device for emitting radar radiation in a direction of radiation, a housing with a cover plate which closes off the housing in the main direction of radiation, wherein the radar device is arranged inside the housing, wherein the cover plate is formed by a translucent light guide element and an opaque section which delimits the light guide element at an edge region of the light guide element, wherein the opaque section is directly adjacent to the light guide element, wherein the light guide element is downstream of the radar device in the main direction of radiation (X) so that radar radiation from the radar device can be emitted through the light guide element in front of the radar module, wherein the light guide element has a first side which faces the radar device and a second side opposite the first side, at least one light source for emitting visible light,wherein the light from at least one light source can be projected in front of the radar module via the light guide element.

[0002] The invention further relates to a motor vehicle headlight with at least one radar module according to the invention.

[0003] Prior art radar modules, such as millimeter wave radar for object detection, which allow illumination of the radar module by visible light, are designed such that a light guide element is arranged behind the cover lens, i.e., within the housing. This element is configured to project the light from at least one light source in front of the radar module. However, an unavoidable air gap between the light guide element and the cover lens negatively affects the radar radiation.

[0004] However, even with a form-fitting stack or a form-fitting arrangement of the light guide element and the cover plate, undesirable refraction can occur due to different refractive indices.

[0005] DE 10 2015 004204 A1 discloses a prior art radar module for vehicle lights. A vehicle light is known from EP 1 167 870 A2.

[0006] One objective of the invention is to provide an improved radar module.

[0007] This task is solved by having the edge area of ​​the light guiding element protrude section by section from the opaque section in the opposite direction to the main emission direction, so that a free area is formed on the light guiding element. wherein the light from the at least one light source can be coupled into the light guide element via the free surface, and wherein the first side of the light guide element is inclined to the main emission direction such that the light guide element has a taper in the direction of the main emission direction starting from the free surface along the light guide element in the direction of one edge region opposite the free surface, wherein coupling elements in the form of micro-optics are arranged on the first side of the light guide element, which are configured to deflect light which is coupled into the light guide element via the free surface to the second side of the light guide element for coupling the light out of the light guide element, so that light from the at least one light source is projected in front of the radar module via the light guide element.

[0008] It may be provided that the micro-optics have a diameter of less than 0.1 mm, so that radar radiation emitted by the radar device can pass through the first side of the light guide element and light is deflected to the second side of the light guide element.

[0009] It may be provided that the opaque section of the cover plate is opaque to visible light and transparent to radar radiation.

[0010] It may be intended that the cover plate is manufactured as a single-piece component.

[0011] It may be intended that the cover plate is manufactured in one piece using injection molding processes, for example two-component injection molding.

[0012] It can be provided that the free surface of the light guiding element is oriented such that a surface vector of the free surface is orthogonal to the main emission direction.

[0013] It may be provided that the free area is essentially arranged horizontally – as seen in a properly installed state of the radar module in a motor vehicle.

[0014] It can be provided that, starting from a Cartesian coordinate system whose x-axis is parallel to the main emission direction, the light guiding element has a taper in the z-direction in a cross-section, preferably in a vertical cross-section, starting from the free surface.

[0015] It may be provided that the radar module has at least one front optic which is assigned to the at least one light source, wherein the front optic is configured to parallelize the light of the light source.

[0016] According to the invention, the radar device is arranged at an angle to the light guide element such that the radiation direction of the radar device forms an angle with the main radiation direction. This counteracts any potential radar wave deflection caused by the prismatic geometry of the tapered section by the radar device being tilted relative to the main radiation direction.

[0017] The tapered shape creates a homogeneous luminous appearance across the entire second side of the light guide element because a constant luminance is achieved regardless of the distance to the light coupling point (a deviation in luminance is preferably less than 10%). Preferably, the at least one light source has an attachment optic such that it emits parallelized light, with the parallel light rays being emittable orthogonally to the main emission direction. The parallelized light rays enhance the homogeneous luminous appearance due to the uniform illumination of the coupling elements on the first side of the light guide element. Preferably, this attachment optic can be designed as a CPC (Compound Parabolic Concentrator) optical body. In one embodiment, the attachment optic can be integrally formed with the free surface or interlocked with it.

[0018] The problem is also solved by a motor vehicle light, in particular a motor vehicle headlight, with at least one radar module according to the invention.

[0019] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to exemplary drawings. These show Fig. 1 a schematic cross-section of an exemplary radar module, comprising a housing with a cover plate formed from a light guide element and an opaque section, wherein an edge region of the light guide element projects in front of the opaque section, so that light from a light source can be coupled into the light guide module through the free area thus formed, which light can be projected from the light guide element in front of the radar module by means of coupling elements, and Fig. 2 a schematic cross-section of a coupling element with a diameter. Fig. 3 a schematic cross-section of Fig. 1 , which shows a detailed view of the light source.

[0020] Fig. 1 shows an example radar module 10 for a motor vehicle headlight, which radar module 10 a radar device 100 for the emission of radar radiation 110 in the direction of radiation AR and a case 50 with a cover plate 200, which the case 50 in the main direction of radiation X concludes, exhibits.

[0021] The radar device 100 is inside the housing 50 arranged, wherein the cover plate 200 by a translucent light guiding element 210 and a light guiding element 210 at a peripheral area 211 of the light guiding element 210 limiting opaque section 220 is formed, with the opaque section 220 directly to the light guiding element 210 connects. The cover plate 200In the example shown, it is manufactured in one piece using an injection molding process.

[0022] The opaque section 220 the cover plate 200 It is opaque to visible light and to radar radiation 110 permeable.

[0023] Furthermore, the light guide element 210 is connected downstream in the main emission direction X of the radar device 100, so that radar radiation 110 of the radar device 100 can be emitted through the light guide element 210 in front of the radar module 10, wherein the light guide element 210 has a first side 210a, which faces radar device 100, and one of the first side 210a opposite second side 210b exhibits.

[0024] The radar module further comprises at least one light source 300, for example an LED, for emitting visible light, wherein the light of the at least one light source 300 can be projected in front of the radar module 10 via the light guide element 210.

[0025] The edge region 211 of the light guiding element 210 protrudes section by section from the opaque section 220 in the opposite direction of the main emission direction X, so that a free area 212 is formed on the light guiding element. 210 is formed, wherein the light from at least one light source 300 across the open space 212 into the light guiding element 210 It can be coupled in.

[0026] The open space 212 of the light guiding element 210 In the example shown, it is oriented such that an area vector of the free area 212 orthogonal to the main direction of radiation X is, where the free area 212 In the example shown, essentially - seen in a properly installed state of the radar module. 10 in a motor vehicle - arranged horizontally.

[0027] The first page 210a of the light guiding element 210 is thus in relation to the main direction of radiation Xinclined that the light guiding element 210 starting from the open area 212 along the light guiding element 210 towards one of the open areas 212 opposite edge area 211 a tapering in the direction of the main radiation direction X exhibits.

[0028] In other words, starting from a Cartesian coordinate system whose x-axis is parallel to the main direction of radiation X is, the light guiding element 210 In the example shown, in the vertical cross-section starting from the free surface 212 a taper in the negative z-direction.

[0029] On the first page 210a of the light guiding element 210 are decoupling elements 213 arranged in the form of micro-optics, which are set up to direct light across the free surface 212 into the light guiding element 210 is coupled, to the second side 210bof the light guiding element 210 for extracting the light from the light guide element 210 to redirect light so that it is diverted from at least one light source 300 via the light guiding element 210 in front of the radar module 10 is projected.

[0030] The micro-optics, as in Fig. 2 shown, each have a diameter D from less than 0.1 mm, so that from the radar device 100 emitted radar radiation 110 through the first page 210a of the light guiding element 210 is radiolucent.

[0031] Fig. 3 shows an advantageous attachment optic 215, which the light from the light source 300 due to its design as a CPC optical body (Compound Parabolic Concentrator), it is parallelized, whereby the light source is combined with the front optics. 215 Emittable parallel beams into the light guide element 210 across the open space212 couples in. The first page 210a is preferably applied over the entire spread of the coupling elements 213 Particularly homogeneously illuminated. The front-mounted lens 215 In an embodiment not shown, the free area can be used 212 It may be manufactured in one piece or in liquid form. LIST OF REFERENCE MARKS

[0032] radar module 10 Housing 50 radar device 100 Radar radiation 110 Cover plate 200 Light guiding element 210 First page 210a Second page 210b Edge area 211 Open space 212 Disconnection elements 213 front lens 215 Opaque section 220 light source 300 Main radiation direction X Direction of radiation AR diameter D

Claims

1. Radar module (10) for a motor vehicle light, which radar module (10) comprises the following: - a radar device (100) for emitting radar radiation (110) in the direction of a radiation direction (AR), - a housing (50) with a cover plate (200) which closes off the housing (50) in the main radiation direction (X), wherein the radar device (100) is arranged inside the housing (50), wherein the cover plate (200) is formed by a light-transmissive light guide element (210) and an opaque section (220) delimiting the light guide element (210) at an edge region (211) of the light guide element (210), wherein the opaque section (220) adjoins the light guide element (200), wherein the light-guiding element (210) is connected downstream in the main radiation direction (X) of the radar device (100), so that radar radiation (110) from the radar device (100) can be emitted through the light-guiding element (210) can be emitted in front of the radar module (10), wherein the light-guiding element (210) has a first side (210a) facing the radar device (100) and a second side (210b) opposite the first side (210a), - at least one light source (300) for emitting visible light, wherein the light from the at least one light source (300) can be projected in front of the radar module (10) via the light guide element (210), characterized in that the edge region (211) of the light guide element (210) protrudes in sections from the opaque section (220) in the opposite direction to the main radiation direction (X), so that a free surface (212) is formed on the light guide element (210), wherein the light from the at least one light source (300) can be coupled into the light guide element (210) via the free surface (212), wherein the first side (210a) of the light guide element (200) is inclined relative to the main radiation direction (X) in such a way that the light guide element (210) has a taper in the direction of the main radiation direction (X) starting from the free surface (212) along the light-guiding element (210) in the direction of an edge region (211) opposite the free surface (212), wherein decoupling elements (213) in the form of micro-optics are arranged on the first side (210a) of the light-guiding element (210) are arranged on the first side (210a) of the light-guiding element (210), which are designed to redirect light that is coupled into the light-guiding element (210) via the free surface (212) to the second side (210b) of the light-guiding element (210) for coupling the light out of the light-guiding element (210), so that light from the at least one light source (300) is projected via the light-guiding element (210) in front of the radar module (10), and wherein the radar device (100) is arranged at an angle to the light guide element (210) such that the radiation direction (AR) of the radar device (100) forms an angle with the main radiation direction (X).

2. Radar module according to claim 1, characterized in that the micro-optics (213) have a diameter (D) of less than 0.1 mm, so that radar radiation (110) emitted by the radar device (100) can pass through the first side (210a) of the light-guiding element (210) and so that light is deflected onto the second side (210b) of the light guide element (210) for coupling out the light.

3. Radar module according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the opaque section (220) of the cover plate (200) is opaque to visible light and transparent to radar radiation (110).

4. Radar module according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the radar module (10) has at least one attachment lens (215) which is assigned to the at least one light source (300), wherein the attachment lens is designed to parallelize the light from the light source (300), wherein the attachment lens (215) is preferably designed as a CPC attachment lens.

5. Radar module according to claim 4, characterized in that the attachment optics (215) are manufactured in one piece with the light guide element (210) or are arranged in a form-fitting manner on the free surface (212) of the light guide element (210).

6. Radar module according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the cover plate (200) is manufactured as a single-piece component.

7. Radar module according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the cover plate (200) is manufactured in one piece by means of an injection molding process.

8. Radar module according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the free surface (212) of the light guide element (210) is aligned such that a surface vector of the free surface (212) is orthogonal to the main radiation direction (X).

9. Radar module according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the free surface (212) is essentially arranged horizontally when viewed in a properly installed state of the radar module (10) in a motor vehicle.

10. Radar module according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that, starting from a Cartesian coordinate system whose x-axis is parallel to the main radiation direction (X), the light guide element (210) has a taper in the negative z-direction in a vertical cross-section starting from the free surface (212).

11. Motor vehicle lamp, in particular a motor vehicle headlamp, with at least one radar module according to one of claims 1 to 10.