Roof-Mounted Antenna Assembly with Integrated Solar Sensor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional photo radiation intensity sensors in automobiles, typically located on the dashboard or rearview mirror, fail to accurately measure solar radiation due to occlusion by the vehicle's body and require specific calibration based on the windshield type, leading to inaccurate climate control system operation and increased manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
An automobile antenna assembly with a translucent housing installed on the roof, featuring a radio antenna and a photo radiation intensity sensor with light detecting elements providing 360-degree horizontal and 180-degree vertical coverage, allowing accurate measurement of solar radiation entering the cabin without the need for windshield-specific calibration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If photo radiation intensity sensors are located on the dashboard or within rearview mirror housing, then the sensors can be easily integrated into the automobile interior, but the measurement accuracy deteriorates due to occlusion by the automobile body and limited space availability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent moves the photo radiation intensity sensor from the interior dashboard or rearview mirror area to the exterior roof of the automobile. This dimensional relocation allows the sensor to receive solar radiation from all directions (360-degree horizontal coverage) without being occluded by the automobile body, thereby improving measurement accuracy while eliminating the need for complex windshield-specific calibration procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The patent integrates the photo radiation intensity sensor with the existing roof-mounted radio antenna assembly, creating a multi-functional device. The sensor housing is incorporated into the antenna structure, allowing both radio reception and solar radiation measurement functions to coexist in a single location, thereby reducing overall device complexity and eliminating separate calibration requirements
2Ease of manufacture
If photo radiation intensity sensors are located on the dashboard or within rearview mirror housing, then the sensors can be easily integrated into the automobile interior, but the space availability deteriorates due to limited dashboard and mirror housing space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent relocates the sensor from the constrained interior dashboard or mirror housing space to the exterior roof surface. This dimensional change provides abundant space for sensor installation and eliminates the need to compete for limited interior space, while maintaining ease of manufacture through integration with the existing antenna assembly
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the photo radiation intensity sensor with the radio antenna assembly into a single integrated unit. This merging of functions eliminates the need for separate sensor housing and mounting structures, thereby saving interior space while maintaining ease of manufacture through a unified design approach
3Ease of manufacture
If photo radiation intensity sensors are located on the dashboard or within rearview mirror housing, then the sensors can be easily integrated into the automobile interior, but the climate control system calibration deteriorates due to different windshield types allowing different amounts of solar radiation to pass through
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the photo radiation intensity sensor from the interior location behind the windshield and relocates it to the exterior roof surface. This extraction removes the sensor from the path of windshields with varying radiation transmission properties, thereby eliminating the need for complex windshield-specific calibration procedures while maintaining ease of manufacture through standardization
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of placing the sensor behind the windshield and attempting to calibrate for different windshield types, the patent inverts the approach by placing the sensor on the exterior roof surface where it directly measures incident solar radiation before it interacts with the windshield. This inversion eliminates the calibration problem entirely while maintaining ease of manufacture
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
The solution enables precise measurement of solar radiation from all directions, improving the accuracy of climate control system operation and reducing manufacturing complexities and costs by eliminating the need for windshield-specific calibration.
Implementation Method 1
a photo radiation intensity sensor including a first light detecting element and a second light detecting element
Data Source
AI summary
An automobile antenna assembly including a housing adapted for installation on a roof of an automobile, the housing having a base portion and a fin portion extending from the base portion, a radio antenna disposed within the fin portion, and a photo radiation intensity sensor disposed within the base portion, the photo radiation intensity sensor including a first light detecting element located on a first side of the fin portion and a second light detecting element located on a second side of the fin portion opposite the first side, wherein at least a portion of the base portion is translucent for allowing light to be received by the first and second light detecting elements, the fin portion providing a light barrier between the first light detecting element and the second light detecting element.