Radome-Integrated Wave Suppression for Vehicle Millimeter-Wave Radar
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Solution Overview
Problem
Millimeter-wave radar performance degrades when mounted in vehicles due to unwanted waves that cause interference and errors in orientation detection, and existing solutions involving absorbing elements increase manufacturing costs and setup accuracy errors.
Innovation Solution
A radar apparatus with a radio-wave suppression portion integrated into the radome, using a conductive and non-conductive portion arrangement outside the detection range, which suppresses unwanted waves without requiring additional absorbing elements, thereby reducing manufacturing costs and orientation detection errors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If absorbing elements are added to suppress unwanted waves, then radar performance improves, but manufacturing cost increases and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the radio-wave suppression portion directly into the radome structure, merging two previously separate components (radome and suppression elements) into a single integrated unit. This eliminates the need for additional absorbing elements while maintaining unwanted wave suppression functionality, thereby reducing device complexity and manufacturing cost without compromising radar performance
Solution Approach 2:
The radome is designed to serve multiple functions: it protects the antenna unit while simultaneously acting as a radio-wave suppression portion through its integrated conductive and non-conductive pattern. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate absorbing elements, reducing both device complexity and manufacturing cost while maintaining reliable unwanted wave suppression
2Reliability
If absorbing elements are added to suppress unwanted waves, then radar performance improves, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The radio-wave suppression portion is merged with the radome into a single integrated component, eliminating the need for separate absorbing elements. This integration reduces the number of parts that need to be manufactured and assembled, thereby reducing manufacturing cost while maintaining effective unwanted wave suppression for improved radar performance
Solution Approach 2:
The radome incorporates a composite structure with conductive and non-conductive portions in a specific pattern, creating a multi-material integrated component that provides both structural protection and radio-wave suppression functionality. This composite design eliminates the need for additional absorbing elements, reducing manufacturing cost while maintaining radar performance
3Device complexity
If radio-wave suppression portion is integrated into radome, then device complexity reduces and manufacturing cost decreases, but unwanted wave suppression effectiveness may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The radome incorporates a spatially varying pattern of conductive and non-conductive portions, where different regions have different electromagnetic properties tailored to suppress unwanted waves from specific directions. This local quality variation ensures effective unwanted wave suppression while maintaining the integrated simple structure, preventing degradation of suppression effectiveness despite reduced device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated radome uses a composite structure with strategically arranged conductive and non-conductive materials in specific patterns. This composite design enables the single integrated component to effectively suppress unwanted waves while maintaining structural simplicity, ensuring that unwanted wave suppression effectiveness is maintained despite reduced device complexity
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 effectively suppresses unwanted waves, reducing errors in orientation detection and allowing for cost reduction and weight/thinning of the radar apparatus without the need for additional components.
Implementation Method 1
the radio-wave suppression portion... includes a conductive portion that has conductivity... and suppresses unwanted waves
Implementation Method 2
the radio-wave suppression portion... includes a conductive portion that has conductivity and a non-conductive portion that does not have conductivity
Data Source
AI summary
A radar apparatus includes an antenna unit, a cover portion, and a radio-wave suppression portion. The antenna unit includes an antenna surface in which one or more antennas that radiate radio waves are provided and is configured to emit a target radio wave of a predetermined frequency band. The cover portion is configured to be provided in a position through which the target radio wave passes. The radio-wave suppression portion is integrated with the cover portion in an out-of-detection-range area, of an outer surface of the cover portion, that is an area outside a range of a detection angle of the antenna portion, and includes a conductive portion that has conductivity and a non-conductive portion that does not have conductivity.