Vehicle Lamp Radar Integration Using Nested Reflectors
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle lamps with integrated radar systems face challenges in compactly arranging the radar within the lamp chamber while maintaining aesthetics, as the radar is often exposed and difficult to conceal within the limited space.
Innovation Solution
The vehicle lamp design incorporates a radar unit with a second reflector that reflects electromagnetic waves, allowing the radar to be positioned behind the light reflector, thus utilizing space efficiently and concealing it from view, while ensuring the radar and light beams are transmitted in the same direction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the radar is arranged inside the lamp chamber together with the lamp unit, then the space utilization is improved, but the lamp chamber size reduction becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the depth dimension of the lamp chamber by positioning the radar at the rear end, allowing three-dimensional space optimization. The radar is arranged in the depth direction rather than occupying lateral space, enabling effective use of available volume without increasing overall lamp chamber dimensions
Solution Approach 2:
The radar unit is nested within the lamp chamber structure, with the radar housing integrated into the lamp body at the rear end. This nesting approach allows the radar to be accommodated within the existing lamp chamber volume, achieving compact integration without requiring additional space
2Ease of operation
If the radar is fully exposed to view, then the radar can be easily accessed, but the aesthetics of the vehicle is deteriorated
Solution Approach 1:
The radar detection function is extracted and positioned at the rear end of the lamp chamber where it is less visually prominent, while the front cover maintains its aesthetic design. The radar is effectively 'taken out' from the main visual area but remains functional within the lamp chamber structure
Solution Approach 2:
The front cover is designed with differentiated local qualities: it is transparent or translucent in regions corresponding to the radar to allow electromagnetic wave transmission, while maintaining opaque or colored regions for aesthetic purposes. This local differentiation allows simultaneous achievement of aesthetic appearance and radar functionality
3Shape
If the radar is positioned at the rear end of the lamp chamber, then the aesthetics is improved, but the detection range may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The front cover acts as an intermediary element that transmits electromagnetic waves from the rear-positioned radar to the external environment. The front cover's transparent or translucent properties in the radar correspondence region allow millimeter waves to pass through, enabling the rear-positioned radar to maintain its detection range despite the aesthetic positioning requirement
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 configuration allows for a more compact lamp chamber, improved aesthetics by hiding the radar, and enhanced detection range of objects using millimeter waves, while maintaining effective use of space and reducing the lamp chamber's size.
Implementation Method 1
a first reflector which reflects a light beam emitted from the light source
Implementation Method 2
a second reflector which reflects an electromagnetic wave transmitted from the radar
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
A vehicle lamp is provided. The vehicle lamp includes a lamp unit and a radar unit. The lamp unit includes a light source and a first reflector which reflects a light beam emitted from the light source. The radar unit includes a radar and a second reflector which reflects an electromagnetic wave transmitted from the radar. The second reflector is arranged such that the electromagnetic wave reflected by the second reflector is further reflected by the first reflector.