Multi-Segment Radiation Guidance Element for Vehicle Window Sensor Signal Strength
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sensor apparatuses for detecting water deposits and ice on vehicle windows face challenges in achieving sufficient signal strength across various installation scenarios, particularly due to different setting angles and distances from the windscreen.
Innovation Solution
The sensor apparatus incorporates optical bodies with radiation guidance elements having at least two segments with refractive surfaces, arranged to face the radiation emitter and/or receiver. These elements are designed to optimize radiation yield by directing radiation at fixed angles and guiding reflected or scattered radiation back to the receiver, ensuring maximum signal strength across varying installation conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the sensor apparatus is positioned at different distances and setting angles from the windscreen to accommodate various vehicle types, then the adaptability of the sensor apparatus is improved, but the signal strength and detection reliability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The radiation guidance element is divided into multiple segments (first segment, second segment, etc.), each with different refractive surfaces oriented at different angles. This segmentation allows the single optical body to handle multiple setting angles and distances simultaneously, maintaining high signal strength across various installation scenarios without requiring multiple separate sensors for different vehicle types.
Solution Approach 2:
Different segments of the radiation guidance element have locally optimized refractive surfaces with specific orientations and curvatures tailored to particular angular and distance ranges. For example, the first segment may be optimized for smaller setting angles while the second segment handles larger angles, ensuring that each local region of the optical body contributes to maximizing signal strength for its designated operational zone.
2Ease of manufacture
If a single sensor apparatus design is used across various vehicle types, then the ease of manufacture and deployment is improved, but the signal strength varies and may become insufficient for certain installation situations
Solution Approach 1:
The radiation guidance element with its multi-segment structure serves multiple functions within a single component: it guides radiation at various angles, compensates for different distances to the windscreen, and maintains optimal signal strength across diverse installation scenarios. This universal design allows the same sensor apparatus to be manufactured once and deployed in various vehicle types without modification, while still ensuring reliable detection performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical body incorporates varying refractive parameters across its segments, including different curvature radii, orientation angles, and surface geometries. These parameter variations within a single standardized component enable the sensor to adapt to different installation conditions (distances and angles) while maintaining consistent signal strength, thus achieving both ease of manufacture and reliable performance across vehicle types.
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
This design ensures early detection of water deposits and ice on vehicle windows, maintaining signal quality and strength regardless of the sensor's position relative to the windscreen, thus enhancing the reliability of the detection system.
Implementation Method 1
The radiation guidance element has at least two segments, that each has at least one refractive surface
Implementation Method 2
the radiation receiver is designed to detect the scattered radiation intensity of the radiation scattered on the windowpane
Data Source
AI summary
In a sensor apparatus for detecting deposits, in particular water deposits such as moisture deposits and/or ice deposits on a windowpane, in particular on the inside of a motor vehicle window, with a radiation emitter for irradiating the windowpane and with a radiation receiver for detecting the radiation intensity of the radiation reflected back from the windowpane, and wherein at least one optical body with at least one radiation guidance element is assigned to the radiation emitter and/or the radiation receiver, it is provided as essential to the invention that the radiation guidance element has at least two segments, that each segment has at least one refractive surface, and that the refractive surfaces are arranged facing the radiation emitter and/or the radiation receiver.