Refractive Transparent Area for Optical Sensor Packaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Window-mounted optical sensors for motor vehicles occupy significant area and volume, conflicting with the need for a clear windshield view and being susceptible to external contamination, especially when mounted outside the vehicle.
Innovation Solution
The method involves arranging an optical sensor on the inner side of the windowpane to condense light and using a refractive transparent area, either a thin film or a machined/casted area with Fresnel lenses or micro-prisms, at the inside surface of the windowpane to refract light, reducing the optical path distance and minimizing external contamination risks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If optical sensors are mounted on the outside of the vehicle, then they can detect vehicles in adjacent lanes, but they are susceptible to contamination by dirt, ice, and water droplets which reduces their functioning
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of mounting the optical sensor on the outside of the vehicle where it is exposed to contamination, the patent inverts the mounting location to the inside of the vehicle. The sensor is positioned behind the windshield, using the windshield itself as the optical interface. This inversion protects the sensor from direct exposure to dirt, ice, and water droplets while maintaining its detection capability through the windshield material.
2Reliability
If optical sensors occupy substantial area on the windshield, then they can provide sufficient detection coverage, but they reduce the clear view area for drivers and passengers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a specialized optical region on the windshield. A refractive transparent area (such as a Fresnel lens or prismatic structure) is integrated into the windshield at the specific location where the sensor needs to receive light. This localized optical structure has different refractive properties than the surrounding windshield material, allowing it to redirect light from external objects to the sensor while remaining visually transparent or minimally intrusive to drivers and passengers.
3Ease of operation
If the optical path distance is increased to accommodate sensor packaging, then sensors can be properly positioned, but the area and volume requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a refractive transparent area (Fresnel lens or prismatic structure) as an intermediary optical element between the external environment and the sensor. This intermediary structure manipulates the light paths to achieve the required optical positioning without requiring the sensor to be physically positioned far from the windshield. The refractive element bends and redirects light rays, effectively creating a compact optical path that reduces the space needed for sensor packaging while maintaining proper optical alignment.
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
This approach reduces the area and volume requirements of optical sensors, optimizes transmission, and minimizes the impact of contaminants, allowing for more space-effective packaging and improved performance by reducing reflections and increasing signal quality while maintaining a clear windshield view.
Implementation Method 1
providing a refractive transparent area at the inside surface of the windowpane between the windowpane and the optical sensor to refract the light from the object to be detected that has passed through the windowpane
Implementation Method 2
arranging an optical sensor on the inner side of a windowpane of the motor vehicle to condense light coming from an object to be detected
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The present invention relates a method and system (1) to reduce the area and volume requirements and optimize transmission for window (3) mounted optical sensors (2) for motor vehicles. An optical sensor (2) is arranged on the inner side of a windowpane (3) of the motor vehicle to condense light (4) coming from an object to be detected that is located outside the windowpane (3) of the motor vehicle and to obtain information from the light (4) that has been thus condensed. A refractive transparent area (5) is provided at the inside surface of the windowpane (3) between the windowpane (3) and the optical sensor (2) to refract the light (4) from the object to be detected that has passed through the windowpane (3). The refractive transparent area (5) may be provided by a refractive transparent film (5) or either of a machined or casted area (5) at the inside surface of the windowpane (3).