Black Coating Pigments for Lidar-Detectable Infrared Reflection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Dark or black vehicle paints with conventional carbon-containing black pigments have low infrared reflection, particularly in the near-infrared range, making vehicles undetectable to Lidar systems, which is a concern for advanced driving assistance and autonomous driving systems that require reliable detection of all traffic obstacles.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating platelet-shaped effect pigments with Fe3O4 or FeTiOs layers on Al2O3 or SiO2 carriers into the coating of dark or black layer composites to enhance infrared reflection, specifically in the wavelength range of 850 nm to 1570 nm, without altering the color appearance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional carbon-containing black pigments are used in dark or black vehicle paints, then the color appearance is maintained, but the infrared reflection is very low or almost undetectable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining conventional carbon-containing black pigments with platelet-shaped effect pigments that have Fe3O4 or FeTiO3 layers on Al2O3 or SiO2 carriers. This composite pigment system maintains the dark color appearance while significantly increasing infrared reflection in the 850-1570 nm wavelength range, thereby resolving the contradiction between maintaining color and improving detectability.
Solution Approach 2:
The platelet-shaped effect pigments provide local quality enhancement by specifically targeting the infrared wavelength range (850-1570 nm) while leaving the visible color properties unchanged. The Fe3O4 or FeTiO3 layers on the platelet carriers create localized infrared reflection properties that complement the carbon black's visible coloration.
2Reliability
If platelet-shaped effect pigments with Fe3O4 or FeTiO3 layers are added to increase infrared reflection, then detectability by Lidar systems is improved, but the coating composition becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The platelet-shaped effect pigments serve multiple functions simultaneously: they provide infrared reflection for Lidar detectability, maintain color stability, and can be integrated into existing dark or black paint formulations. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate systems and simplifies overall coating design despite the added pigment type.
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 use of these pigments significantly increases infrared reflection in the specified wavelength range, enabling dark or black layer composites to be detectable by Lidar systems while maintaining a dark or black color appearance, thus improving the detection and assessment of vehicles and obstacles.
Implementation Method 1
the infrared reflection of the layer composite is increased at least in the wavelength range from 850 nm to 1570 nm
Implementation Method 2
platelet-shaped effect pigments which have at least one Fe3O4-containing layer or one FeTiO3-containing layer on a platelet-shaped Al2O3 or SiO2 carrier
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to the use of platelet-shaped effect pigments for increasing the infrared reflection of a dark or black layered composite, consisting of a substrate and a coating on the substrate, as well as to a dark or black layered composite of said type which, compared to conventional dark or black layered composites containing only carbon-containing black pigments, has an increased infrared reflection, in particular in the near infrared (NIR).