License Plate Bracket Edge Heating to Prevent Radar Ice Columns
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Solution Overview
Problem
Radar performance is reduced due to the formation of ice columns from wet snow adhering to the license plate and entering the radar's irradiation area, which affects the recognition performance.
Innovation Solution
A heater is integrated into the edge of the license plate bracket to melt wet snow before it forms ice columns, and a control system adjusts the heater's operation based on radar performance degradation indicators.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the entire license plate is heated to prevent ice column formation, then ice column suppression is effective, but power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The heating function is segmented from the entire license plate to only the edge portion, where ice columns form. The heating element is embedded only in the edge portion of the license plate bracket, dividing the heating area into a minimal necessary zone that prevents ice column formation while avoiding unnecessary energy consumption from heating the entire plate.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating element is localized to the edge portion of the license plate bracket where ice columns actually form. This local heating approach provides different thermal treatment to different parts of the license plate structure - the edge portion receives heating to prevent ice formation, while the rest of the plate remains unheated, optimizing energy efficiency.
2Ease of manufacture
If the radar is mounted on a lower grille offset from the vehicle body, then radar installation is simplified and cost-effective, but wet snow flows down to form ice columns that interfere with radar performance
Solution Approach 1:
The heating element embedded in the edge portion of the license plate bracket applies preliminary heating action to prevent wet snow from freezing into ice columns before they can reach the radar. This preventive heating counteracts the harmful effect of ice column formation, allowing the radar to maintain its offset installation position without performance degradation.
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 prevents ice column formation, maintaining radar performance by efficiently melting wet snow and reducing power consumption compared to heating the entire license plate.
Implementation Method 1
a heating element embedded in the edge portion of the license plate bracket, positioned below the radar's irradiation area, melts wet snow before it forms ice columns
Data Source
AI summary
To effectively suppress deterioration in performance of the radar caused by the ice column, provided is a structure for prevent the performance degradation of a radar, the radar is provided below a plate member disposed on an outer surface of a vehicle and irradiating a radio wave toward an outside of the vehicle. The structure is comprising an ice column suppressing part configured to suppressing the formation of the ice column depending from the lower end of the plate member toward an irradiation area of the radio wave.