Vehicle Radar Vertical Alignment via Phase Difference Detection

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle radar systems require manual adjustments, which are costly and inefficient for mass production, to align the vertical direction of radar antennas, affecting the accuracy of adaptive cruise control systems.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus and method for automatically controlling the vertical alignment of vehicle radar antennas by using a substrate with transmitting and receiving antenna units, where the receiving antenna unit includes multiple antennas arranged in rows and columns to detect the vertical angle of a target based on signal phase values or strengths, allowing for automatic vertical alignment without manual intervention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If manual methods (motor operation or screw adjustment) are used to adjust vertical alignment, then alignment adjustment can be performed, but production cost increases and mass production efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevertical alignment accuracyVSAvoidmass production efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The radar system automatically detects target vertical angles and adjusts its own alignment without external manual intervention. The receiving antenna unit autonomously measures phase differences from multiple rows of antennas, calculates vertical angles, and controls antenna beam directional angles to achieve proper alignment, eliminating the need for manual motor operation or screw adjustment during production

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical adjustment methods (motor operation, screw mounting) with an automated electronic system that uses phase difference calculations from multiple receiving antennas to determine and adjust vertical alignment. This substitution of mechanical manual operations with electronic automation resolves the contradiction between alignment precision and production efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Manufacturing precision

If manual methods (motor operation or screw adjustment) are used to adjust vertical alignment, then alignment adjustment can be performed, but production cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevertical alignment accuracyVSAvoidproduction cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The radar system automatically detects target vertical angles and adjusts its own alignment without external manual intervention. The receiving antenna unit autonomously measures phase differences from multiple rows of antennas, calculates vertical angles, and controls antenna beam directional angles to achieve proper alignment, eliminating the need for manual motor operation or screw adjustment during production

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical adjustment methods (motor operation, screw mounting) with an automated electronic system that uses phase difference calculations from multiple receiving antennas to determine and adjust vertical alignment. This substitution of mechanical manual operations with electronic automation resolves the contradiction between alignment precision and production efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Device complexity

If single-row antenna arrangement is used, then device complexity is low, but vertical angle detection capability is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveantenna arrangement simplicityVSAvoidvertical angle detection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from a single-row horizontal antenna arrangement to a two-dimensional matrix arrangement with multiple rows of antennas. This dimensional expansion enables the system to detect phase differences across multiple rows, providing sufficient information for accurate vertical angle measurement while maintaining a regular, manufacturable geometric pattern

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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

Enables accurate and automatic vertical alignment of vehicle radar antennas, improving the accuracy of adaptive cruise control systems and reducing production costs by eliminating the need for manual adjustments.

Implementation Method 1

a vehicle radar... to detect a position and a distance of a preceding vehicle

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRadar: Radar

Implementation Method 2

receiving signals reflected from a target

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSignal reflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentUS9823337B2Apparatus and method for controlling alignment of vehicle radar

Publication Date: 2017.11.21 HL KLEMOVE CORP

AI summary

The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for controlling an alignment of a vehicle radar capable of automatically detecting a vertical angle of a target to perform an alignment in a vertical direction. The apparatus includes: a substrate; a transmitting antenna unit configured to be disposed at one side of the substrate; a receiving antenna unit configured to be disposed at the other side of the substrate; and a vertical angle detection unit configured to detect a vertical angle of a target based on a signal received from the receiving antenna unit, wherein the receiving antenna unit includes: a plurality of first antennas configured to be arranged in a row direction to a surface of the substrate; and a plurality of second antennas configured to be arranged in a column direction to the surface of the substrate.