Millimeter-Wave Radar Cover Plate With Hidden Heating Microstructure
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing millimeter-wave radar cover plates face issues with heating wires being exposed, affecting appearance and radar detection, and lack of light-transmissivity in embedded heating solutions.
Innovation Solution
A hidden heating and defrosting structure using a grid-like microstructure with conductive ink and flexible electrodes, forming a conductive network on a transparent polycarbonate film, ensuring good heating, radar penetrability, and light transmission without visible exposure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If heating wires are arranged at the outer side of the product to obtain high heating efficiency, then heating performance is improved, but the heating wires are exposed on the surface affecting product aesthetics
Solution Approach 1:
The heating wire is embedded within a transparent heating film that is integrated into the cover plate structure. The heating film contains the heating wire internally, similar to a nested doll structure, where the heating element is hidden within the transparent medium, achieving both effective heating and aesthetic appearance.
Solution Approach 2:
A transparent heating film serves as an intermediary medium between the heating wire and the external environment. This film allows the heating wire to function effectively while remaining visually concealed, as the transparent material does not obstruct light transmission but provides a smooth, aesthetic surface.
2Temperature
If multiple heating wires are arranged to improve heating coverage, then heating performance is improved, but structural shielding affects millimeter-wave radar detection
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple heating wires are merged into a single transparent heating film layer, allowing them to work together for comprehensive heating coverage while the transparent film maintains millimeter-wave transmission. The consolidation of heating elements within one transparent medium eliminates the shielding problem while preserving heating effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The transparent heating film acts as an intermediary that allows millimeter waves to pass through while containing the heating wires. This mediator enables both functions: providing heating coverage and maintaining radar detection accuracy by preventing direct interaction between the wires and the radar waves.
3Shape
If heating wires are embedded in non-transparent materials to hide them, then appearance is improved, but light-transmission function is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The heating film is designed with local transparency properties, being transparent in the areas where light transmission is needed while containing the heating wires. This localized quality allows different regions of the film to serve different functions: hiding the wires while maintaining light transmission capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating film is constructed as a composite material that combines transparency with heating functionality. This composite structure integrates the optical properties of transparent materials with the thermal properties of heating elements, achieving both aesthetic appearance and light transmission while providing effective heating.
4Temperature
If heating wires are arranged on PC diaphragm with IML compounding, then heating function is achieved, but the heating wires remain visible affecting appearance and lighting
Solution Approach 1:
The heating wires are extracted from the traditional IML compounding structure and repositioned within a transparent heating film. This extraction removes the visual obstruction caused by visible wires while maintaining the heating function, as the transparent film allows light to pass through unobstructed.
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 solution provides effective heating and defrosting while maintaining radar performance and aesthetics, with minimal visual impact and no obstruction to light transmission, enhancing product competitiveness.
Implementation Method 1
the interior of the groove is filled with solidified conductive ink to form a conductive network
Implementation Method 2
a cover plate is a covering on the surface of a radar sensor, which ensures that the radar beam emitted by the radar sensor can pass smoothly
Implementation Method 3
one side surface of the heating film is provided with a grid-like microstructure including a functional area and a pattern area; the microstructure of the functional area is a groove, the interior of the groove is filled with solidified conductive ink to form a conductive network
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The present invention relates to an automobile exterior panel, and in particular to a hidden heating and defrosting structure of a millimeter-wave radar cover plate and preparation method therefor, and a millimeter-wave radar cover plate. The hidden heating and defrosting structure comprises a panel body and a heating film formed on one side surface of the panel body; one side surface of the heating film is provided with a grid-like microstructure including a functional area and a pattern area; the microstructure of the functional area is a groove filled with solidified conductive ink to form a conductive network; a flexible electrode is also provided on the surface of the heating film and is electrically connected to the conductive network in the functional area. Compared with the prior art, the present invention solves the drawbacks in the prior art that it is difficult to balance the heating performance and the millimeter-wave penetration performance when heating and defrosting by means of heating wire, and that the appearance is affected when the cover is transparent. This solution forms a conductive network by forming a microstructure and filling it with conductive ink, thereby achieving good heating performance, millimeter-wave penetrability and light transmission, and the structure has a hidden effect.