Radar Module Curved Lens Antenna Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing radar modules for speed measurement devices face issues with dispersion of electromagnetic wave intensity distribution due to inaccurately determined lead frame positions and impedance mismatching, leading to deviations in emission direction and measurement errors.

Innovation Solution

A radar module design featuring a substrate with precisely adjusted lens and antenna positions, utilizing a curved lens with flanges and positioning bosses to ensure accurate alignment and minimize gap between the antenna and lens, thereby reducing intensity distribution dispersion and allowing for a smaller lens size.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a lens is mounted with a gap above the antenna to allow electromagnetic wave propagation, then the device complexity is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but the intensity distribution dispersion increases and measurement precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidmeasurement precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a curved lens surface (spheroidal or aspherical) instead of a flat surface to focus electromagnetic waves more effectively. This curvature enables the lens to converge waves from different parts of the antenna aperture, reducing intensity distribution dispersion and improving measurement precision while maintaining manufacturability through molding processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent optimizes the gap distance between the antenna and lens, as well as the lens curvature radius and thickness parameters. By carefully selecting these parameters, the system achieves reduced wave dispersion and improved focusing without requiring complex mechanical adjustments or tight tolerances, thus maintaining ease of manufacture while improving measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If the lens is positioned closer to the antenna to reduce gap distance, then the intensity distribution dispersion is reduced and measurement precision is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases and alignment difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement precisionVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates the lens and antenna into a single molded assembly or uses a bonding structure that combines both components with fixed relative positioning. This merging eliminates the need for separate mounting operations and complex alignment procedures, reducing device complexity while maintaining the small gap distance required for high measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The lens and antenna are pre-positioned and fixed relative to each other during the manufacturing process (e.g., through co-molding or pre-bonding) before final assembly. This preliminary action ensures accurate alignment and minimizes the gap distance without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms during installation, thereby reducing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If a larger lens is used to improve electromagnetic wave focusing, then the directivity is improved and measurement precision is improved, but the lens size and material usage increase leading to higher cost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement precisionVSAvoidlens material
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The curved lens surface provides superior focusing capability compared to a flat lens of the same size. This allows the use of a smaller lens diameter while achieving the same or better directivity and measurement precision, thereby reducing material usage and cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent optimizes the lens thickness, curvature radius, and dielectric constant parameters to maximize focusing efficiency. By adjusting these parameters, the system achieves high directivity with a smaller lens size, reducing material consumption and manufacturing cost while maintaining measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 achieves a more focused and stable electromagnetic wave emission with reduced dispersion, enhancing measurement accuracy and cost-effectiveness by minimizing lens size and material usage.

Implementation Method 1

the directivity has to be sharpened by a lens

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFocusing: Focusing

Implementation Method 2

A radar module design featuring a substrate with precisely adjusted lens and antenna positions, utilizing a curved lens

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Data Source

PatentEP2905632B1Radar module and speed measuring device using same
Publication Date: 2022.04.06 ASTEMO LTD
  • EP2905632B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2905632B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2905632B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

To provide a radar module used for a speed measuring device or the like, in which dispersion of intensity distribution of electromagnetic waves emitted from the radar module via a lens is small, the radar module using a substrate with a plane antenna formed on a surface of the substrate includes: a lens having one end face that is plane and another end face that is spherical. In the radar module, a plane side of the lens is disposed to contact the plane antenna, and a spherical side of the lens is disposed in a remote field of the plane antenna.