Radar Cover Refractive Surface for Undesired Wave Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Millimeter-wave radars used for automatic driving and collision avoidance face erroneous detection due to undesired waves being reflected and detected, which is not effectively addressed by existing technologies that require complex radio-wave absorbing layers.
Innovation Solution
A radar apparatus design that includes a cover member with an inner refractive surface that refracts undesired waves towards the antenna rear, preventing them from entering the detection area, thereby reducing erroneous detection without the need for a radio-wave absorbing layer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a radio-wave absorbing layer is provided to suppress undesired waves, then erroneous detection is reduced, but device complexity and manufacturing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the radio-wave absorbing layer from the radar apparatus structure. Instead of adding a complex absorbing layer, the patent uses the natural refraction properties of the cover member material to redirect undesired waves, thereby simplifying the overall device structure while maintaining detection accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the refractive index parameter of the cover member material to achieve effective wave refraction. By selecting a material with appropriate refractive index (higher than air), the cover member naturally refracts undesired waves toward the antenna rear, eliminating the need for additional absorbing layers and reducing device complexity.
2Reliability
If a radio-wave absorbing layer is provided to suppress undesired waves, then erroneous detection is reduced, but manufacturing process becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the radio-wave absorbing layer from the manufacturing process. The cover member alone, with its specific refractive properties, is sufficient to suppress undesired waves, thereby simplifying the manufacturing process to a single component fabrication rather than multi-layer assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the material parameter (refractive index) of the cover member to achieve the desired wave suppression function. This parameter change allows a single material to perform both protective and wave-suppression functions, greatly simplifying the manufacturing process.
3Reliability
If the cover member is designed with an inner refractive surface, then undesired waves are refracted outside the detection area, but the cover member shape becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces asymmetry in the cover member geometry by creating a refractive surface with different angles on different sides. The inner refractive surface has a specific angle (α) relative to the antenna front surface, while the outer refractive surface has a different angle (β), allowing effective refraction of undesired waves in specific directions while maintaining overall structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses curved or angled surfaces instead of flat planes to achieve wave refraction. The inner refractive surface and outer refractive surface are designed with specific curvatures or angles to redirect undesired waves toward the antenna rear, transforming the cover member from a simple protective shell to an active wave-management component.
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 refractive design effectively suppresses multipath interference and erroneous detection by directing undesired waves outside the detection area, improving the radar's directional gain and reducing false object detection.
Implementation Method 1
an inner refractive surface that is an inner side surface of the cover member on which undesired waves are incident and is formed into a shape that refracts undesired waves incident on the inner refractive surface so as to direct them towards antenna rear
Data Source
AI summary
A radar apparatus that detects an object using radiated waves includes: an antenna surface that includes an element unit that emits a radiated wave for a radar; and a cover member that covers the antenna surface to protect the element unit. The cover member includes an inner refractive surface that is an inner side surface of the cover member on which an undesired wave is incident and is formed into a shape that refracts the undesired wave incident on the inner refractive surface so as to advance towards antenna rear. The antenna rear is a side opposite an antenna front that is a side on which the radiated wave is emitted, with the antenna surface as a boundary. Undesired waves are radiated waves that are emitted outside a range of a predetermined solid angle relative to a normal direction of the antenna surface from a center of the antenna surface from which the radiated waves are emitted.