LiDAR Reflecting Dark Pigment for Automotive Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Dark colored automotive paints absorb near-IR electromagnetic radiation, making it difficult for LiDAR systems to detect vehicles, as they absorb both visible and near-IR radiation with wavelengths of 905 nanometers.
Innovation Solution
A multilayer pigment structure is developed, comprising a core layer and multiple absorber or dielectric layers that reflect over 60% of near-IR radiation between 850 nm and 950 nm while absorbing less than 10% of visible radiation, maintaining a dark color with lightness in the CIELAB color space of 40 or less.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If dark colored pigments are used in automotive paint, then the vehicle appearance is dark colored, but the pigment absorbs near-IR electromagnetic radiation making LiDAR detection difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The pigment is divided into multiple functional layers: a first layer with first absorber material for visible light absorption, a second layer with second absorber material for near-IR absorption control, and a third layer with third absorber material for additional wavelength-specific absorption. This segmentation allows each layer to target specific wavelength ranges, achieving dark color appearance while controlling near-IR reflection for LiDAR detection.
Solution Approach 2:
Different layers of the pigment are assigned different optical properties tailored to specific wavelength ranges. The first layer optimizes for visible light absorption to create dark appearance, while the second and third layers are engineered with specific absorber materials to control near-IR radiation interaction. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction between dark appearance and LiDAR detectability.
2Reliability
If a multilayer structure with multiple absorber materials is used, then near-IR radiation reflection is improved for LiDAR detection, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pigment employs a composite multilayer structure where each layer contains different absorber materials selected from specific groups (first, second, and third absorber materials). This composite approach combines the optical properties of multiple materials to achieve selective wavelength absorption and reflection, improving near-IR reflection for LiDAR while maintaining dark color appearance.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention optimizes specific parameters including the thickness of each layer, the selection of absorber materials from defined groups, and the arrangement sequence of layers. By carefully controlling these parameters, the pigment achieves the desired optical performance for both dark appearance and LiDAR detection without excessive manufacturing complexity.
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 pigment allows for effective detection by LiDAR systems by reflecting a significant portion of near-IR radiation while maintaining a dark appearance, ensuring vehicles coated with this paint can be detected accurately across various angles.
Implementation Method 1
The pigment reflects less than 10% of incident visible electromagnetic radiation and more than 60% of incident near-IR electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths between and including 850 nm and 950 nm
Implementation Method 2
dark colored (e.g., black) pigments used in automotive paint to provide a dark colored vehicle absorb not only visible electromagnetic radiation but also near-IR electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength of 905 nanometers
Data Source
AI summary
A LiDAR reflecting dark colored pigment includes a core layer formed from a reflecting material and a first layer formed from a first absorber material or a first dielectric material extending across the core layer. A second layer formed from a second absorber material different than the third absorber material extends across the first layer and a third layer formed from a third absorber material or a second dielectric material extends across the second layer. The third absorber material is different than the second absorber material. The LiDAR reflecting dark colored pigment reflects less than 10% of incident visible electromagnetic radiation and more than 60% of incident near-IR electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths between and including 850 nm and 950 nm for all incident angles of the visible and near-IR electromagnetic radiation between and including 0° and 45°. A color reflected by the multilayer stack has a lightness in CIELAB color space less than or equal to 40.