Plastic Waveguide Antenna Layout for Low-Loss Vehicle Radar
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current radar systems for driver assistance in vehicles face challenges with high costs and reduced performance due to the use of planar high-frequency antennas, which incur signal losses and require expensive special substrates for processing.
Innovation Solution
A radar system utilizing a plastic-based waveguide antenna arranged opposite a high-frequency component on a circuit board, with direct radiation or reception through a transparent point in the circuit board, reducing signal losses and costs by eliminating the need for complex metallization and special substrates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If planar high-frequency antennas are used on the circuit board, then the radar system can be implemented with conventional technology, but signal losses increase and costs rise due to feed line losses and expensive special substrates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from planar 2D antenna elements on the circuit board to a three-dimensional waveguide structure. The waveguide extends perpendicular to the circuit board surface, allowing the antenna aperture to be positioned in a different spatial dimension away from the losses of the feed lines and substrate, thereby reducing signal losses while maintaining detection range.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the antenna function from the circuit board substrate by using a separate waveguide structure. The waveguide is coupled to the circuit board through a coupling element rather than being directly printed on the substrate, separating the antenna radiation function from the feed line and substrate losses.
2Ease of manufacture
If planar high-frequency antennas are used on the circuit board, then the radar system can be assembled using standard PCB technology, but costs increase due to expensive special high-frequency substrates and complex processing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a composite structure combining the circuit board substrate with a separate waveguide component. The waveguide may be made from different materials optimized for high-frequency operation, while the circuit board uses standard PCB materials. This composite approach allows each component to be manufactured using appropriate techniques without requiring the entire assembly to use expensive special substrates.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the antenna system into separate functional segments: the circuit board with feed lines, the coupling element, and the waveguide antenna structure. This segmentation allows the waveguide to be manufactured separately using techniques better suited for high-frequency operation, while the circuit board can use standard PCB manufacturing processes.
3Volume of moving object
If the antenna is integrated directly on the circuit board, then the overall size can be reduced, but signal losses increase due to feed line losses in the substrate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a coupling element as an intermediary between the circuit board feed line and the waveguide antenna. This coupling element efficiently transfers energy from the substrate feed line to the waveguide with minimal losses, enabling compact integration while avoiding the excessive feed line losses that would occur if the antenna were directly printed on the substrate.
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 configuration enables improved performance and reduced costs while allowing for size reduction and efficient thermal management, enhancing the detection range and reliability of radar systems.
Implementation Method 1
the at least one radiating or receiving element is designed such that it radiates towards the circuit board or receives from the direction of the circuit board
Implementation Method 2
the plastic antenna is preferably designed as a waveguide antenna
Implementation Method 3
can directly measure not only the distance of objects but also their radial relative velocity via the Doppler effect
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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Figure 4
AI summary
The invention relates to a radar system for detecting the environment of a motor vehicle, having: - an antenna made of plastic, wherein the plastic antenna has one or more individual antennas for transmitting and/or receiving radar signals, and - a circuit board having at least one high-frequency component having at least one element for direct emission or receipt, characterized in that - the plastic antenna is arranged on the side of the circuit board opposite the at least one high-frequency component, - the at least one emitting or receiving element is designed such that it emits in the direction of the circuit board or receives from the direction of the circuit board, - the circuit board is permeable by radar waves in the region of the at least one emitting or receiving element, and - a coupling or decoupling point on the plastic antenna is located on the at least one permeable location of the circuit board.