Radar system for a vehicle, and vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a radar system (12) for a vehicle (10), comprising a main support (18) for securing to the vehicle (10), at least one radar (20) connected to the main support (18), at least one optical element (22) connected to the main support (18) and spaced apart from the radar (20), and at least one absorber element (24) arranged between the radar (20) and the optical element (22), wherein the optical element (22) comprises at least two securing means (30) designed to cover sections of the absorber element (24) and to fix the absorber element (24) to the main support (18). Furthermore, the invention relates to a vehicle (10) comprising at least one such radar system (12).

Description

[0001] Radar system for a vehicle and vehicle

[0002] The present invention relates to a radar system for a vehicle. Furthermore, the invention relates to a vehicle having at least one such radar system.

[0003] In automotive engineering, radar systems are used to detect objects, such as other vehicles and / or pedestrians, and measure their distance from the vehicle and their relative speed. To do this, a radar element in the radar system emits electromagnetic waves that are reflected by the objects to be detected. These waves are then received by the radar and evaluated in a control unit. To reduce the scattering of misdirected electromagnetic waves, it is known to surround the radar with an absorber device, for example, an absorber element in the form of absorber foam, thus preventing false images.

[0004] To attach an absorber element in the form of absorber foam, it is common practice to clip the absorber foam to a supporting component. However, clips have the disadvantage that the absorber foam can be damaged during installation. Furthermore, a clip always carries the risk of accidental unclipping. Separate fastening methods, such as screws or rivets, incur additional costs.

[0005] An alternative possibility for attaching an absorber foam is disclosed in DE 10 2020 133 970 A1. This discloses a radar arrangement for a motor vehicle, comprising at least one printed circuit board having an antenna arrangement and a control unit that operates the antenna arrangement for transmitting and receiving radar beams, a housing having a housing base body and a housing opening formed by side walls of the housing base body. The printed circuit board is held in the housing base body by an absorber that partially covers the surface of the printed circuit board facing the housing opening, leaving the antenna arrangement exposed. The absorber is resiliently preloaded against the printed circuit board by a positive fit between the absorber and the housing base body.The present invention is based on the object of creating a radar system and a vehicle which ensure a simple and cost-effective attachment of an absorber element compared to the prior art.

[0006] To solve the problem, a radar system having the features of claim 1 and a vehicle having the features of claim 10 are proposed.

[0007] Advantageous embodiments of the radar system are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0008] According to a first aspect of the invention, a radar system for a vehicle is proposed. The radar system comprises a base support for attachment to the vehicle, at least one radar connected to the base support, at least one optical element connected to the base support and spaced apart from the radar, and at least one absorber element arranged between the radar and the optical element. The optical element comprises at least two fastening means configured to cover portions of the absorber element and to secure the absorber element to the base support.

[0009] The radar system is characterized by the fact that the optical element, which is used for optical reasons anyway, is used to secure the absorber element to the base support, preventing accidental detachment of the absorber element from the base support. To this end, the optical element covers or overlaps sections of the absorber element, so that the absorber element is secured to the base support in a sandwich construction. As a result, a radar system is created in a simple and cost-effective manner that prevents accidental detachment of the absorber element, for example, unintentional unclipping.

[0010] The base support can be designed as a holder by means of which the radar system is attached to a vehicle. The radar, the optical element, and the absorber element are attached to the base support itself. The base support can be made of a plastic, in particular a fiber-reinforced plastic. The optical element can be designed as a diaphragm and / or as a light guide. The optical element can completely surround the radar, maintaining a certain distance, by enclosing the radar, or the optical element can only partially surround the radar, for example, one, two, or three sides of the radar.

[0011] In an advantageous embodiment, the fastening means secure the sections of the absorber element to the base support in a form-fitting and / or force-fitting manner. The fastening means thus act as a counter-bearing for the absorber element, preventing it from accidentally coming loose. In particular, the absorber element, in particular the sections, are pressed between the fastening means and the base support. This pre-tensions the absorber element against the base support via a form-fitting connection between the sections and the fastening means.

[0012] In an advantageous embodiment, the fastening means cover edge sections of the absorber element. This ensures secure fastening of the absorber element.

[0013] In an advantageous embodiment, the fastening means are screwed to the base support. Consequently, the absorber element, in particular the edge sections, are pressed between the fastening means and the base support. Each fastening means can have at least one opening through which a screw element can be passed and screwed into a threaded opening in the base support.

[0014] In an advantageous embodiment, the at least two fastening means are arranged on two opposite sides of the optical element.

[0015] This ensures that the absorber element is securely fastened to prevent it from becoming detached from the base support.

[0016] In an advantageous embodiment, the fastening element is designed as a tab that covers the section of the absorber element. The tabs are advantageously screwed to the base support. For this purpose, the tab can have at least one opening through which a screw element can be passed and screwed into a threaded opening in the base support.

[0017] In an advantageous embodiment, the base support has at least one locking element that is secured to a recess in the absorber element. Thus, the absorber element is additionally secured or clipped to the base support. The fastening means, in particular the tabs, ensure that the absorber element remains attached to the base support in the event of an unintentional release of the clip connection.

[0018] In an advantageous embodiment, the optical element is a light-guiding element and / or a diaphragm.

[0019] In an advantageous embodiment, the absorber element is made of expanded polypropylene (EPP foam). An absorber element made of expanded polypropylene is cost-effective to manufacture and reliably shields against multiple reflections.

[0020] According to a further aspect of the invention, a vehicle is proposed which has at least one radar system according to the invention.

[0021] A vehicle, a radar system, and other features and advantages are described in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment, which is schematically illustrated in the figures. Here:

[0022] Fig. 1 a vehicle with a radar system;

[0023] Fig. 2 is an enlarged front view of the radar system;

[0024] Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the radar system with a section along the line III-III in Fig. 2; and

[0025] Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan view of the section of Fig. 3.

[0026] Fig. 1 shows a vehicle 10 having a drive unit configured as an internal combustion engine and / or an electric motor. The vehicle 10 includes a radar system 12 arranged on a vehicle front 14 in the region of a kidney grille 16.

[0027] As can be seen in Fig. 2, the radar system 12 has a base support 18, a radar 20, an optical element 22 and an absorber element 24.

[0028] The base support 18 is made of a plastic, in particular a fiber-reinforced plastic, and serves to connect the radar system 12 to the vehicle. The radar 20, the optical element 22, and the absorber element 24 are attached to the base support 18.

[0029] The radar 20 is connected to the base support 18, for example, screwed and / or clipped, and serves to detect an object, for example, another vehicle or a person, in order to measure their distance from the vehicle 10 and their relative speed. For this purpose, the radar 20 emits electromagnetic waves (not shown), which are reflected by the object to be detected, received by the radar 20, and evaluated by a control unit (not shown).

[0030] The optical element 22 surrounds the radar 20 and is also spaced apart from the radar 20, as can be seen in Fig. 2. The optical element 22 is in this case a diaphragm or a light guide and is connected to the base support 18, as will be explained in more detail below.

[0031] The absorber element 24 serves to absorb radar beams. The absorber element 24 shields the radar 20 from multiple reflections in the direction of the vehicle 10, i.e., to the rear, thus preventing erroneous images. For this purpose, the absorber element 24 is arranged between the radar 20 and the optical element 22 and is made of expanded polypropylene (EPP foam).

[0032] To attach the absorber element 24 to the base support 18, the absorber element 24 is clipped to the base support 18. For this purpose, the base support 18 has projecting clips 26, which are connected to recesses 28 formed in the absorber element 24. To prevent the absorber element 24 from accidentally detaching from the clip connection, the optical element 22 has fastening means 30 designed to cover edge sections 32 of the absorber element 24 and to secure the absorber element 24 to the base support 18.

[0033] As can be seen in particular in Figures 2 to 4, the fastening means 30 are arranged on two opposite sides of the optical element 22, wherein the fastening means 30 are designed as tabs 34 which cover the edge sections 32 of the absorber element 24.

[0034] Openings 36 are provided in the tabs, through each of which a screw 38 is passed and screwed into a threaded opening 40 of the base support 18, as can be seen particularly in Figures 3 and 4. Since the tabs 34 cover the edge sections 32 of the absorber element 24, when the screws 38 are screwed into the threaded opening 40, the absorber element 24 is pressed and secured to the base support 18.

[0035] The radar system 10 is characterized by the use of the optical element 22, which is used anyway for optical reasons, to cover or encompass the absorber element 24 in order to secure the absorber element 24 to the base support 18 in a sandwich construction. This prevents the absorber element 24 from being unclipped from the base support 18. Thus, the radar system 10 prevents the absorber element 24 from becoming detached from the base support 18 in a simple and cost-effective manner.

[0036] List of reference symbols

[0037] Vehicle radar system vehicle front kidney base support radar optical element absorber element clips

[0038] Recess Fastener Edge section Tab Opening Screw Threaded opening

Claims

Claims 1. Radar system (12) for a vehicle (10), comprising a base support (18) for fastening to the vehicle (10), at least one radar (20) which is connected to the base support (18), at least one optical element (22) which is connected to the base support (18) and which is spaced from the radar (20), and at least one absorber element (24) which is arranged between the radar (20) and the optical element (22), wherein the optical element (22) has at least two fastening means (30) which are designed to cover sections of the absorber element (24) and to fix the absorber element (24) to the base support (18).

2. Radar system (12) according to claim 1, characterized in that the fastening means (30) fix the sections to the base support (18) in a form-fitting and / or force-fitting manner.

3. Radar system (12) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the fastening means cover edge sections (32) of the absorber element (24).

4. Radar system (12) according to one of the preceding sections, characterized in that the fastening means (30) are screwed to the base support (18).

5. Radar system (12) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least two fastening means (30) are arranged on two opposite sides of the optical element (22).

6. Radar system (12) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fastening means (30) is designed as a tab (34) which covers the section of the absorber element (24).

7. Radar system (12) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base support (18) has at least one locking element which is provided with a recess (28) made in the absorber element (24).

8. Radar system (12) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the optical element (22) is a light-guiding element and / or a diaphragm.

9. Radar system (12) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the absorber element (24) is made of an expanded polypropylene (EPP foam).

10. Vehicle (10) comprising at least one radar system (12) according to one of claims 1 to 9.

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