Vehicle Cladding Equilibration Body for Radar Wave Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
The attenuation of radar waves by external cladding components made of plastics in vehicles limits the detection range and resolution accuracy of radar sensors, due to varying wall thickness and material properties, which affects the performance of assistance systems in monitoring surroundings for collision avoidance and autonomous driving.
Innovation Solution
A device with an equilibration body mounted on the wall section of the external cladding component, where the traveling distances of radar waves through the equilibration body and wall section are optimized to reduce attenuation, improving the transmission behavior of radar waves and enhancing sensor performance by minimizing differences in wall thickness and using a sinusoidal curve to reduce attenuation effects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the wall thickness of the external cladding component is reduced to improve radar wave transmission, then the detection range and resolution accuracy are improved, but the structural strength and protection capability are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a specific region (equilibration body) with optimized radar wave transmission properties. This region has a different wall thickness configuration compared to the rest of the cladding component, allowing improved radar transmission only where needed while maintaining normal structural thickness elsewhere for strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The equilibration body acts as an intermediary structure between the radar sensor and the external environment. It mediates the conflicting requirements by providing a controlled transmission path for radar waves while maintaining overall structural integrity through its integrated design with the mounting section and cladding component.
2Ease of manufacture
If the wall thickness varies to ensure liquid plastic reaches distant areas during injection molding, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the radar wave transmission behavior becomes inconsistent leading to poor detection performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces local quality by creating a specific equilibration body region with controlled wall thickness characteristics. This localized optimization allows the rest of the component to maintain variable thickness for manufacturing ease, while this specific region ensures consistent radar transmission for improved detection performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the wall thickness distribution in the equilibration body region. The wall thickness is specifically controlled in this region to fall within an optimal range that ensures consistent radar wave transmission, while other regions can maintain manufacturing-driven thickness variations.
3Measurement precision
If the external cladding component is made with uniform wall thickness to improve radar wave transmission consistency, then the detection performance is improved, but the ease of manufacture and adaptability to injection molding are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a specific equilibration body region with controlled wall thickness for consistent radar transmission, while allowing the rest of the cladding component to have variable thickness optimized for injection molding manufacturing processes.
4Strength
If the wall thickness is increased to improve structural protection, then the strength is improved, but the radar wave attenuation increases reducing detection capability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a localized equilibration body region with optimized wall thickness for radar transmission, distinguishing it from the rest of the cladding component which maintains greater thickness for structural strength. This local optimization allows both requirements to be satisfied in different regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the cladding component into functionally distinct regions: the equilibration body region optimized for radar wave transmission with controlled wall thickness, and the rest of the component optimized for structural strength with greater thickness. This segmentation allows each region to fulfill its specific function without compromise.
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 optimized transmission behavior of radar waves results in improved detection range and resolution accuracy for radar sensors, enhancing the performance of assistance systems and autonomous driving capabilities by reducing interference and misinterpretations.
Implementation Method 1
radar waves that are emitted by a radar sensor when fastened to a mounting section impinge on the first body surface, enter the equilibration body and subsequently the wall section and leave the wall section via the second surface
Implementation Method 2
the attenuation of the radar waves upon penetrating the external cladding component depends on the wall thickness
Data Source
AI summary
A device for improving the transmission behavior of radar waves (λ) is disclosed, which includes a wall section where in a first location a first and a second surface are located at a first wall thickness distance (dw1) and in a second location the first surface and the second surface are located at a second wall thickness distance (dw2) and differing relative to each other by a first value (Δ1). An equilibration body mounted on the first surface of the wall section, such that in the first location a first body surface and a second surface are located at a first distance (de1) relative to each other and in the second location the first body surface and the second surface are located at a second distance (de2). The first distance (de1) and the second distance (de2) differ from each other by a second value (Δ2) such that second value (Δ2) is smaller than the first difference (Δ1). An external cladding component of a vehicle and vehicle including the device is also disclosed.