Dielectric Waveguide Radar Transceiver for Weight Reduction

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional radar systems in autonomous vehicles face high costs and weight issues due to metal conductors for sensor connections, and electromagnetic noise immunity is low, while optical solutions are expensive and prone to energy transfer inaccuracies from vehicle vibrations.

Innovation Solution

A radio wave transceiver system using dielectric waveguides with a core and peripheral sheath of different dielectric materials, coupled with transceiver circuits and antennas, to transmit and receive radio waves, reducing weight and electromagnetic interference, and employing an initialization device for distance measurement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If metal conductors are used to connect radar sensors to the central processing unit, then the system is simple to implement, but the weight and cost increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of implementationVSAvoidweight of connection cables

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces metal conductors (mechanical/electrical system) with dielectric waveguides that guide radio waves. This substitution eliminates the need for heavy metal cables while maintaining signal transmission capability, directly resolving the contradiction between ease of implementation and weight reduction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of manufacture

If metal conductors are used to connect radar sensors to the central processing unit, then the system is simple to implement, but the immunity to electromagnetic noise decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of implementationVSAvoidimmunity to electromagnetic noise

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces metal conductors with dielectric waveguides that confine and guide radio waves through dielectric materials. This substitution provides inherent electromagnetic noise immunity by containing the radio wave energy within the waveguide structure, preventing interference from external electromagnetic sources while maintaining implementation simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Weight of moving object

If optical fibers are used to transmit signals from radar sensors, then the weight of connection cables is reduced and electromagnetic noise immunity is improved, but the cost increases due to double electronic-to-optical-to-electronic transformation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveweight of connection cablesVSAvoidcost

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the unnecessary electronic-to-optical-to-electronic conversion stages from the signal transmission path. By using dielectric waveguides to directly guide radio waves from the antenna to the processing unit, the system removes the optical conversion components entirely, thereby reducing cost while maintaining the weight benefits of lightweight waveguide materials.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Weight of moving object

If optical fibers are used to transmit signals from radar sensors, then the weight of connection cables is reduced and electromagnetic noise immunity is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements become extremely high due to vibration sensitivity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveweight of connection cablesVSAvoidalignment precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the optical fiber transmission system with dielectric waveguides that guide radio waves. This substitution eliminates the precise alignment requirements between optical components because the waveguide structure naturally confines and guides the radio waves along its path without requiring precise end-to-end alignment, thereby reducing manufacturing precision requirements while maintaining weight reduction benefits.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 system achieves low weight and immunity to electromagnetic noise while maintaining cost-effectiveness and accuracy in radio wave transmission, enabling efficient distance estimation and radiographic imaging with reduced complexity.

Implementation Method 1

at least one waveguide made of a dielectric material; a transceiver circuit coupled to a first end of each of said at least one waveguide, capable of transmitting and/or of receiving radio waves propagating in said at least one waveguide

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDielectric waveguide propagation: Waveguide

Data Source

PatentUS11614512B2Radio transceiver precise time delay measurement system

Publication Date: 2023.03.28 COMMISSARIAT A LENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES

AI summary

A radio wave transceiver system, including: at least one waveguide made of a dielectric material; a transceiver circuit coupled to a first end of each of said at least one waveguide, capable of transmitting and/or of receiving radio waves respectively propagating in said at least one waveguide; and at least one antenna coupled to a second end of said at least one waveguide, capable of transmitting and/or of receiving said waves to/from a non-guided external medium.