Vehicle Radome with Reflective Regions for Visibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Radomes for motor vehicle radar sensors face challenges in maintaining visibility of optical structures, especially in dark or poor visibility conditions, due to the need for transparency in the longwave wavelength range and opacity in the optically visible range, while also protecting against weather and damage.
Innovation Solution
A radome design featuring a transmissive front plate with a non-transmitting rear-side layer, incorporating light guides and diffuser elements to ensure uniform lighting of cutouts and reflective regions, which are strategically positioned to enhance visibility, particularly in corners, using reflective regions oriented approximately normal to the angle bisector for even illumination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the front plate is made opaque in the optically visible wavelength range to protect the radar sensor, then protection from weather and damage is improved, but visibility of optical structures in the dark or poor visibility conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The front plate features local quality variations through reflective regions with different orientations. Specifically, the front plate has a first reflective region oriented at a first angle and a second reflective region oriented at a second angle, creating locally differentiated optical properties that enhance visibility while maintaining overall protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies reflective coatings or lacquers to create visible optical structures on the front plate. These reflective regions change the optical appearance by reflecting light in specific directions, making the radome visible in dark or poor visibility conditions while maintaining the protective function.
2Illumination intensity
If the front plate is made transparent in the optically visible wavelength range to improve visibility of optical structures, then visibility is improved, but protection from weather and damage deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The front plate combines transparent and opaque/reflective regions locally. The transparent base material allows visibility, while strategically placed reflective regions provide enhanced visibility in dark conditions and maintain protective functionality where needed.
3Illumination intensity
If reflective regions are oriented at various angles to the normal on the front side of the radome, then visibility from multiple directions is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention specifies angular parameters for reflective regions (first angle and second angle relative to the normal) to optimize visibility. These parameter definitions provide clear manufacturing guidelines while achieving multi-directional visibility enhancement.
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 design ensures clear and uniform optical effects on the radome, particularly in corners, improving visibility in low-light conditions without compromising protection from weather and damage, while maintaining the required electromagnetic transparency and visual aesthetics.
Implementation Method 1
light propagates through the at least one light guide
Implementation Method 2
light is reflected at the reflective region such that it exits the front plate on the front side
Implementation Method 3
at least one diffuser element is arranged at the at least one light guide, which diffuser element is arranged such that the light propagating through the at least one light guide enters the diffuser element, propagates through the diffuser element
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a radome having an essentially planar front panel which is of transparent design at the front and which is provided with a non-transparent layer on the rear, in particular for a radar sensor for a motor vehicle.