Radar Absorber Scattering Structure for Ghost Target Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Radar sensors are susceptible to internal scattering of radar waves, which can lead to false detections and ghosting due to the radome's contribution to wave scattering, causing safety risks and calibration difficulties, especially in safety-critical systems like vehicles.

Innovation Solution

A radar sensor design featuring an RF absorber with a top surface comprising scattering structures such as recesses and protrusions to redirect radar waves out of the field of view, increasing interactions with the radome and absorber, thereby reducing scattered energy and backwards radiation, and optimizing the radome's thickness and material distribution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the radome is made thicker to improve protection and reduce scattering, then the protection capability is improved, but the cost and weight increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection capabilityVSAvoidradome weight
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The radome employs variable thickness design where the thickness is optimized locally in different regions rather than being uniformly thick. The thickness distribution is tailored to achieve adequate protection and scattering reduction in critical areas while minimizing weight in less critical areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The radome utilizes composite material construction that combines different materials with complementary properties to achieve both protection and scattering reduction functions with optimized weight, avoiding the need for uniformly thick single-material construction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Object-generated harmful factors

If the RF absorber material is increased to reduce scattered energy, then the scattering reduction is improved, but the amount of material and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescattered energyVSAvoidRF absorber material
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The RF absorber is strategically placed only in specific regions where scattering problems occur most severely, rather than using uniform coverage. The absorber thickness and material properties are optimized locally to achieve maximum scattering reduction with minimum material quantity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent optimizes the RF absorber material parameters including thickness, permittivity, and loss tangent to achieve effective scattering reduction. By carefully selecting and tuning these parameters, the absorber achieves maximum performance with reduced material quantity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-generated harmful factors

If complex scattering scenarios are addressed by increasing radome and absorber complexity, then the scattering control is improved, but the manufacturing difficulty and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescattering controlVSAvoidmanufacturing difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The radome and RF absorber are designed as separate, modular components that can be manufactured independently using standard processes. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized and manufactured separately, reducing overall manufacturing complexity while achieving the required scattering control when assembled.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs curved and rounded geometric features in the radome and absorber designs rather than sharp edges and complex angular structures. These curved geometries are easier to manufacture using conventional molding and fabrication processes while effectively controlling scattering patterns.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

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 reduces the energy of scattered waves and backwards radiation, improving azimuth and elevation angle accuracy, minimizing distortion within the field of view, and preventing ghost target detection, while also reducing the amount of RF absorber material and radar cross-section.

Implementation Method 1

a top surface comprising at least one scattering structure configured to redirect radar waves out of the field of view and to increase radar wave scattering interactions with the radome and the at least one RF absorber

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectScattering: Scattering

Implementation Method 2

These so called 'absorbers' or 'RF absorbers' are provided for several reasons. For one, they can minimize ripples on the antenna's gain and phase pattern. Also, they can minimize the amount of energy radiated outside the antenna's FOV.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAbsorption (EM radiation): Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 3

Radomes usually are injection molded plastic parts and located in front of the antennas to protect them from the environment (e.g. dust, moisture, etc.).

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhysical barrier protection:

Implementation Method 4

the shape of the recess and/or protrusion is a non-specular reflection shape

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectNon-specular reflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentUS20230393238A1Radar with scattering optimized absorber
Publication Date: 2023.12.07 APTIV TECHNOLOGIES AG
  • US20230393238A1 patent drawing
  • US20230393238A1 patent drawing
  • US20230393238A1 patent drawing

AI summary

Provided is a radar sensor comprising at least one antenna 1 having a FOV 2, at least one RF absorber 9, and a radome 3 covering the at least one antenna 1 and the at least one RF absorber 9, wherein the at least one RF absorber 9 is provided with a top surface 10 comprising at least one scattering structure configured to redirect radar waves out of the FOV 2 and to increase radar wave scattering interactions with the radome 3 and the at least one RF absorber 9. As a result, energy of scattered waves and of backwards radiation is reduced. Further, the amount of RF absorber material is reduced and the RCS of the radar sensor is reduced.