Detector Testing System With Transparent Radome
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing testing procedures for automotive sensors require large enclosed spaces, limiting the distance and angular range of the sensor's field of view, and are hindered by unwanted reflections, making it difficult to simulate real-world conditions effectively.
Innovation Solution
A detector testing system with an environmental chamber and a partially transparent cover providing a 180° horizontal field of view, using a target simulator and robot arm to mimic radiation reflections from various distances, and airflow management to maintain controlled environmental conditions within a compact space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If a large enclosed testing area is used, then the distance-to-target range and field of view are improved, but the space requirements and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
A radome (transparent cover) is introduced as an intermediary structure that allows radiation to pass through while maintaining environmental control. This mediator enables the sensor to achieve an extended field of view beyond the physical chamber boundaries without requiring a proportionally larger testing area, thus resolving the contradiction between testing space and detection range
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a two-dimensional planar testing area to a three-dimensional configuration by positioning the sensor within an environmental chamber that extends in the depth dimension. The radome allows the field of view to extend horizontally beyond the chamber walls, effectively adding spatial dimensions without proportionally increasing the footprint area
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the enclosed testing area is lined with anti-reflective material, then unwanted reflections are reduced, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the anti-reflective function from the chamber walls and concentrates it on the radome surface. By placing absorbing material specifically on the radome rather than lining the entire chamber, the solution eliminates unwanted reflections while reducing the overall complexity and material requirements compared to full chamber lining
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of uniformly treating all chamber surfaces with anti-reflective material, the invention applies absorbing material locally only where necessary - on the radome surface facing the sensor. This localized approach reduces the quantity of special materials needed and simplifies the overall testing area configuration while still effectively eliminating harmful reflections
3Area of stationary object
If the field of view is limited by the chamber size, then the space requirements are reduced, but the adaptability for real-world testing conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The radome serves as a mediator that decouples the field of view from the chamber dimensions. It allows radiation to pass through its curved surface, enabling the sensor to detect targets at angles that would otherwise be blocked by flat chamber walls, thus achieving a field of view exceeding 180 degrees without requiring a proportionally larger chamber
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
Enables efficient testing of sensors like RADAR and LIDAR with a wide field of view and varied environmental conditions in a smaller space, simulating reflections from distant targets without the need for extensive anti-reflective materials, thus overcoming space and reflection limitations.
Implementation Method 1
A cover over the opening has at least one surface that is at least partially transparent to radiation that the detector is configured to receive
Implementation Method 2
the target comprises a simulator that generates the radiation and emits the radiation toward the at least one surface
Implementation Method 3
the simulator generates the radiation in a manner that the radiation appears to be reflected off an object that is further from the at least one surface than a distance between the simulator and the at least one surface
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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AI summary
An illustrative example embodiment of a detector testing system (20) includes an environmental chamber (22) configured to provide at least one selected environmental condition within the chamber. The environmental chamber (22) includes an opening (24) . A cover (30) over the opening (24) has at least one surface (32) that is at least partially transparent to radiation that the detector (34) is configured to receive. The cover (30) is configured to maintain the at least one selected environmental condition within the environmental chamber (22). A detector support (50) is configured to support a plurality of detectors (34) exposed to the at least one selected environmental condition in a location within a space defined by the cover (30) where the cover (30) provides a detector field of view through the at least one surface (32). The detector field of view for each of the detectors (34) has a horizontal range of at least 180°.