Deformable Radar Sensor Substrate for Vehicle Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional radar sensor arrangements for motor vehicles require multiple sensors to achieve 360° coverage, leading to increased size and complexity, with overlapping coverage areas from planar substrates necessitating more arrays than necessary.
Innovation Solution
A deformable substrate with integrated antenna modules and a control device using an electric motor actuator allows for angular adjustment of the substrate, reducing the number of sensors needed by overlapping coverage areas and enhancing directional alignment for improved radar detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If multiple radar sensors are arranged on a planar substrate to achieve 360° coverage, then the coverage area is improved, but the number of sensors increases and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The substrate is made deformable and can be dynamically adjusted between planar and three-dimensional configurations. This allows the radar sensor arrangement to adapt its geometry to achieve 360° coverage with fewer sensors when in 3D configuration, while maintaining ease of manufacture and installation when in planar configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a two-dimensional planar substrate to a three-dimensional deformable substrate. By adding the vertical dimension through deformation, the radar sensors can be positioned at different heights and angles, enabling 360° coverage with fewer sensors and reducing the need for multiple planar arrays.
2Area of stationary object
If multiple radar sensors are arranged on a planar substrate to achieve 360° coverage, then the coverage area is improved, but the number of sensors increases
Solution Approach 1:
The deformable substrate allows the same physical sensor array to dynamically reconfigure its geometry, enabling a single array of four sensors to achieve 360° coverage by deforming into a three-dimensional arrangement, eliminating the need for eight separate planar sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
By utilizing the third dimension through substrate deformation, the radar sensors can cover areas that would otherwise require multiple planar sensors, reducing the total quantity of sensors needed while maintaining comprehensive coverage.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the substrate is made deformable with actuators, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The substrate is designed as a flexible, thin, deformable structure that can be easily actuated and reconfigured. This flexibility reduces the complexity of the actuation mechanism compared to rigid structures, as the substrate itself can deform to achieve the desired three-dimensional configuration for 360° coverage.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the substrate is made deformable with actuators, then adaptability is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible substrate can be manufactured using standard flexible circuit board or thin-film fabrication techniques, making the deformable structure compatible with existing manufacturing processes and not significantly increasing manufacturing complexity.
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 reduces the number of radar sensors required for 360° coverage, enhances radar coverage area, and allows adaptive adjustment for varying applications and environments, improving detection capabilities and reducing sensor array count from eight to four.
Implementation Method 1
the actuator is designed as a piezoelectric actuator
Data Source
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Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
Disclosed is a radar sensor arrangement (1) for a motor vehicle (2, 16), comprising at least two antenna modules (3, 4), each of which includes a transmit unit for transmitting radar signals as well as a receive unit for receiving radar signals; the antenna modules (3, 4) are arranged on a common elastic or ductile substrate (5) which is provided with at least one circuit component that can be or is connected to each of the antenna modules (3, 4) on the substrate (5); the at least one circuit component is integrated into a chip or module.