Automotive Defrosting Module for Millimeter-Wave Radar
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing defrosting heating technologies for automobiles, particularly in wave-transparent areas like emblem signs, require additional parts to cover connectors on the exterior face, limiting their application and impacting millimeter-wave radar performance in severe weather conditions.
Innovation Solution
A defrosting heating module with a base plate, heating track, and L-shaped connector metal sheet is mounted to the interior face of an automobile exterior part, allowing for heat transfer and defrosting without additional exterior coverage, using a temperature control module to manage heating temperature and prevent overheating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a heating film is overmolded with the product on the exterior face, then heating function is achieved, but additional parts are needed to cover connectors on the exterior face
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional heating film installation approach by moving the heating element from the exterior face to the interior face of the automobile exterior part. The heating film is now overmolded with the base plate on the interior side, and heat is transferred through the base plate to the exterior surface, eliminating the need for additional exterior covering parts while maintaining the heating function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the dimensional arrangement of the heating system by transitioning from a surface-mounted exterior configuration to an interior-mounted configuration with heat transfer through the base plate thickness. This dimensional shift allows the heating element to be positioned in a different spatial dimension, avoiding interference with exterior connectors.
2Reliability
If traditional overmolding of heating film is used, then heating is achieved, but application is limited by styling requirements and wave-transparent areas
Solution Approach 1:
By inverting the heating film installation to the interior face, the patent enables application in wave-transparent areas where millimeter-wave radar signals must pass through, such as emblem signs and upper trim areas. This inversion removes the constraint that previously limited heating applications to non-wave-transparent regions.
3Power
If heating element is placed on exterior face, then direct heating is achieved, but millimeter-wave radar performance is affected in severe weather
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves the conflict between heating efficiency and radar performance by inverting the heating element position to the interior face. The heating film heats the base plate from the interior, and the base plate transfers heat to the exterior surface. This configuration keeps the heating element away from the radar signal path while maintaining effective heating of the exterior surface, preventing frost accumulation that would degrade radar performance.
4Ease of manufacture
If connector metal sheet is overmolded with base plate, then integration is improved, but positioning precision during manufacturing is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a positioning through hole as an intermediary feature in the connector metal sheet that engages with the base plate during overmolding. This intermediary positioning mechanism ensures precise alignment and positioning of the connector metal sheet relative to the base plate, maintaining manufacturing precision while achieving good integration through the overmolding process.
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
Effectively defrosts exterior parts transparent to millimeter-wave radar, enhancing radar performance in severe weather and overcoming limitations of traditional technologies, with good application prospects for future automatic driving systems.
Implementation Method 1
a heating track arranged on the base plate
Implementation Method 2
the base plate is fixed to an interior face of an automobile exterior part, thereby achieving the defrosting by heating of an area that is transparent to a millimeter-wave radar
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The invention provides a defrosting heating module for an automobile, comprising: a base plate; a heating track arranged on the base plate; and, a connector metal sheet connected with the heating track, the connector metal sheet having an L-shaped structure and formed with a first arm overmolded with the base plate and maintained parallel with the plane in which the base plate is located and a second arm perpendicularly protruding outwards from the base plate and forming a PIN connector. The base plate is fixed to an interior face of an automobile exterior part, thereby achieving the defrosting by heating of an area that is transparent to a millimeter-wave radar. By mounting the defrosting heating module to the interior face of the automobile exterior part at an area that is transparent to a millimeter-wave radar, the invention allows the defrosting by heating of an exterior area of the exterior part by means of heat transfer. The invention can eliminate the impact of a severe weather environment on the wave-transparent performance of a millimeter-wave radar in future automatic driving, and has good application prospects.