Angled Radar Cover Preventing Saturation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Radar apparatuses mounted on vehicle bumpers face damage from vibrations and impacts, and when mounted internally, they experience saturation of received radar waves due to strong reflections from the bumper, making obstacle detection difficult.

Innovation Solution

A radar apparatus with a cover member positioned out of contact with the radar device, allowing the radar wave to pass through, with a transmission portion angled non-perpendicularly to the transmission direction and a distance between the transmission portion and receiving antenna shorter than 6 times the wavelength, preventing saturation of the received radar wave in the receiver circuit.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the radar apparatus is mounted on the inner surface of the bumper, then the radar apparatus is protected from external damage, but the radar apparatus may be damaged by bumper vibrations or impacts

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection from external damageVSAvoiddamage from bumper vibrations or impacts

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting structure separates the radar apparatus from the bumper by introducing an intermediate frame member and positioning the radar on the inner surface at a distance, dividing the mounting system into distinct functional zones that isolate the radar from harmful vibrations and impacts

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The frame member acts as an intermediary element between the bumper and the radar apparatus, providing mechanical support while isolating the radar from direct contact with the bumper, thereby protecting it from vibrations and impacts

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the radar apparatus is mounted internally with distance from the bumper, then the radar apparatus is protected from bumper damage, but the receiver circuit becomes saturated due to strong reflected radar waves

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection from bumper damageVSAvoidreceiver circuit saturation

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The harmful reflected radar waves from the bumper are extracted and directed away from the receiving antenna by the angled transmission portion, separating the useful reflected waves from obstacles from the harmful direct reflections

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The transmission portion is designed with an asymmetric angled surface rather than a perpendicular orientation, creating directional control of radar wave transmission that allows the receiving antenna to distinguish between useful and harmful reflections

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

3Use of energy by moving object

If the transmission portion surface is perpendicular to the transmission direction, then the radar wave transmission is maximized, but the received radar wave level becomes saturated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveradar wave transmission efficiencyVSAvoidreceiver circuit saturation

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The transmission portion surface is intentionally designed at an angle rather than perpendicular to the transmission direction, creating asymmetric wave propagation that directs reflected energy away from the receiving antenna while maintaining adequate transmission of useful signals

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This configuration effectively prevents the input level of the received radar wave from becoming saturated, allowing accurate detection of obstacles while protecting the radar apparatus from bumper impacts and vibrations.

Implementation Method 1

the cover member having a transmission portion allowing the radar wave to pass therethrough

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRadar wave transmission: Radar

Implementation Method 2

the radar apparatus undergoes significantly large effect of the radar wave reflected from the bumper

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRadar wave reflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentUS7705771B2Radar apparatus and mounting structure for radar apparatus

Publication Date: 2010.04.27 DENSO CORP

AI summary

The radar apparatus includes an antenna device including a transmitting antenna and a receiving antenna, and a main body which generates an FMCW-modulated radar wave, transmits the radar wave from the transmitting antenna at a transmit timing, and receives the radar wave reflected from an obstacle by the receiving antenna at a receive timing, the transmit timing and the receive timing temporally overlap each other at least partially. The radar apparatus further includes a cover member covering the main body and the antenna device on a side of a transmission direction of the radar wave and located out of contact with the main body and the antenna device, the cover member having a transmission portion allowing the radar wave to pass therethrough, a surface of the transmission portion facing the antenna device being out of perpendicular alignment with the transmission direction.