Automotive Radar Antenna Layout for Object and Road Surface Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current radar systems for automotive applications are inadequate in simultaneously detecting and locating objects and monitoring street conditions, particularly in autonomous driving scenarios, as they require separate systems and additional components, increasing complexity and cost.
Innovation Solution
A combined radar system with main and street condition monitoring (SCM) antennas, configured to transmit and receive radar waves at different polarizations, allowing for object detection and street condition monitoring using a single system, with SCM antennas having high dynamic range and polarization purity to accurately classify road conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single radar system is used for both object detection and street condition monitoring, then device complexity and cost are reduced, but measurement precision for street condition monitoring deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The radar system is segmented into distinct functional modules: main transmit antennas for object detection, SCM transmit antennas for street condition monitoring, main receive antennas, and SCM receive antennas. Each module is optimized for its specific function, allowing the system to maintain high measurement precision for street condition monitoring while managing overall system complexity through modular architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The radar system achieves multi-functionality by integrating both object detection and street condition monitoring capabilities within a single system. The transmit antennas can operate in different modes (object detection mode and SCM mode), and the receive antennas can process different types of reflections, allowing one system to perform multiple functions without requiring separate dedicated systems.
2Measurement precision
If separate radar systems are used for object detection and street condition monitoring, then measurement precision for each function is improved, but device complexity and integration difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges object detection radar functionality and street condition monitoring radar functionality into a single integrated radar system. The transmit antennas and receive antennas are combined, sharing common signal processing resources and control mechanisms, which reduces integration complexity compared to using completely separate systems while maintaining the measurement precision of dedicated functions through proper antenna design and signal separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The radar system is designed with universal antennas that can perform both object detection and street condition monitoring functions. The transmit antennas are configured to emit radar waves for both purposes, and the receive antennas are designed to capture reflections from both objects and street surfaces, enabling a single system to replace multiple specialized systems.
3Measurement precision
If SCM antennas with high polarization purity are used, then street condition monitoring precision is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The SCM antennas are designed with specific local quality characteristics optimized for polarization purity in the regions where they are most needed for street condition monitoring. The antenna structures incorporate features such as specific geometric shapes, material selections, and configurations that enhance polarization purity locally at the antenna level, allowing the rest of the system to be manufactured with standard processes.
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 integrated system provides reliable and detailed information about vehicle surroundings, simplifying integration and reducing costs by using a single radar system for both object detection and street condition monitoring, while maintaining performance in object detection and location tasks.
Implementation Method 1
The radar sensor emits an electromagnetic signal, usually as a directed beam, with a specific frequency such as for example 77 GHz. The signal is reflected off an object and the reflected signal (sometimes called 'echo') is received and detected by the radar sensor
Implementation Method 2
The signal is reflected off an object and the reflected signal (sometimes called 'echo') is received and detected by the radar sensor
Implementation Method 3
a first SCM transmit antenna being configured to transmit first polarized radar waves essentially directed to the road at a first polarization; a second SCM transmit antenna being configured to transmit second polarized radar waves essentially directed to the road at a second polarization different from the first polarization
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention relates to a radar system (1) configured to be installed at a vehicle, the radar system (1) comprising: at least one main transmit antenna (TX11, TX12, TX13, TX21, TX22, TX23) being configured to transmit main radar waves essentially parallel to a road on which the vehicle is standing or driving; at least one main receive antenna (RX11, RX12, RX13, RX14, RX21, RX22, RX23, RX24) being configured to receive reflections of the main radar waves off objects on the road; a first street condition monitoring, SCM, transmit antenna (2) being configured to transmit first polarized radar waves essentially directed to the road at a first polarization; a second SCM transmit antenna (5) being configured to transmit second polarized radar waves essentially directed to the road at a second polarization different from the first polarization; and a first SCM receive antenna (4) being configured to receive, at the first polarization, reflections of the polarized radar waves off the road; and a second SCM receive antenna (3) being configured to receive, at the second polarization, reflections of the polarized radar waves off the road.