Stray Light Baffle with Fabric Covering for Compact Sensor Integration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for combining radar and optical sensors require large installation spaces, especially with wide-angle cameras, making them unsuitable for front windshields due to design and obscured view concerns.
Innovation Solution
A compact sensor assembly with a stray light baffle where the radar sensor is positioned behind a fabric-covered side wall, allowing both sensors to function without significant radar wave attenuation, thus reducing installation space requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a large stray light baffle is used for wide-angle cameras, then stray light blocking performance is improved, but installation space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a fabric covering (flexible material) on the second side wall of the stray light baffle. This flexible covering provides effective stray light blocking while being thin and lightweight, allowing the baffle to maintain a compact form factor that fits within limited installation spaces on the windshield without requiring large dimensions.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the second side wall is made of solid material, then structural stability is improved, but radar wave attenuation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a composite structure for the second side wall, combining a frame (solid material) with a fabric covering (flexible material). The frame provides structural stability and rigidity, while the fabric covering provides stray light blocking. This composite construction ensures that the wall remains stable structurally while allowing radar waves to pass through with minimal attenuation, as the fabric material is transparent to radar frequencies.
3Area of stationary object
If sensors are arranged vertically, then space utilization is improved, but driver vision field obstruction increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the sensor assembly horizontally across the windshield rather than vertically, utilizing the horizontal dimension of the windshield surface. This horizontal arrangement allows the sensors and stray light baffle to be distributed across the width of the windshield, maximizing space utilization while keeping the vertical profile low and out of the driver's direct line of sight, thus avoiding vision field obstruction.
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 a compact and functional integration of radar and optical sensors on a windshield without enlarging the installation space, maintaining sensor performance and design feasibility.
Implementation Method 1
the second side wall is a frame with a fabric covering, and wherein the second side wall is arranged in front of the second sensor... only a negligibly small attenuation of radar waves, if any, occurs as a result of the fabric
Implementation Method 2
stray light baffle is arranged substantially in front of the first sensor in the capture direction of the sensors at the sensor assembly
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus includes a sensor assembly and a stray light baffle, and is to be mounted behind a pane, e.g. a windshield, inside a vehicle. The sensor assembly includes a first sensor and a second sensor. The stray light baffle is arranged substantially in front of the first sensor, in the capture direction of the sensors. The stray light baffle includes first and second side walls. The second side wall is a frame with a fabric covering, and is arranged in front of the second sensor with the sensing axis of the second sensor passing through the fabric.