Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
  • H01Q15/00—Devices for reflection, refraction, diffraction or polarisation of waves radiated from an antenna, e.g. quasi-optical devices
  • H01Q15/02—Refracting or diffracting devices, e.g. lens, prism
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
  • H01Q1/00—Details of, or arrangements associated with, antennas
  • H01Q1/42—Housings not intimately mechanically associated with radiating elements, e.g. radome
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
  • H01Q19/00—Combinations of primary active antenna elements and units with secondary devices, e.g. with quasi-optical devices, for giving the antenna a desired directional characteristic
  • H01Q19/06—Combinations of primary active antenna elements and units with secondary devices, e.g. with quasi-optical devices, for giving the antenna a desired directional characteristic using refracting or diffracting devices, e.g. lens
  • H01Q19/062—Combinations of primary active antenna elements and units with secondary devices, e.g. with quasi-optical devices, for giving the antenna a desired directional characteristic using refracting or diffracting devices, e.g. lens for focusing
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
  • H01Q25/00—Antennas or antenna systems providing at least two radiating patterns
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
  • H01Q3/00—Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system
  • H01Q3/26—Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system varying the relative phase or relative amplitude of energisation between two or more active radiating elements; varying the distribution of energy across a radiating aperture
  • H01Q3/2658—Phased-array fed focussing structure
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01S—RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
  • G01S13/00—Systems using the reflection or reradiation of radio waves, e.g. radar systems; Analogous systems using reflection or reradiation of waves whose nature or wavelength is irrelevant or unspecified
  • G01S13/88—Radar or analogous systems specially adapted for specific applications
  • G01S13/93—Radar or analogous systems specially adapted for specific applications for anti-collision purposes
  • G01S13/931—Radar or analogous systems specially adapted for specific applications for anti-collision purposes of land vehicles
  • G01S2013/9327—Sensor installation details

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a housing or a housing part for a distance sensor for motor vehicles.
• a distance sensor can be used, for example, in the context of a pre-crash detection device or an adaptive one
• Vehicle speed control (Adaptive Cruise Control, ACC) can be used.
• the housing consists of an upper housing part, which forms a lid, and a lower housing part.
• the upper housing part has a U-shaped circumferential groove and a U-shaped circumferential edge.
• a flange of a stepped antenna lens engages in the U-shaped circumferential groove on one side and is fixed on the other side by a snap element on the U-shaped circumferential edge.
• Electronic circuits can be accommodated in the lower housing part.
• the two housing parts (upper housing part and lower housing part) are connected to one another by a known construction, a seal ensures that the housing as a whole is protected against the ingress of moisture and dirt.
• a housing for a radar sensor which can be integrated into body parts of the motor vehicle.
• the possibility of integration into the bumper of a motor vehicle is described by way of example, the bumper being produced from a plastic which is permeable to microwaves.
• the lenticular antenna for focusing the radar beams and the bumper are made of the same material and completely in one piece.
• the pot-shaped lower housing part is hermetically sealed in the beam direction with a dielectric lens which is designed both for transmitting and for receiving a corresponding echo signal.
• a pressure compensation element is arranged at a suitable point on the wall, on the circumference or on the bottom of the housing.
• a base plate with an evaluation circuit which evaluates the transmit and receive signals is arranged near the bottom of the lower housing part.
• a connection level is provided below the evaluation circuit, via which the corresponding signals are led out to connectors or lines (not shown).
• Lens antenna arrangement for a motor vehicle distance warning radar.
• the cup-shaped housing disclosed is closed in the beam direction with a stepped dielectric lens and / or a low-loss radome window.
• An example of a design with an integrated one Lens antenna arrangement provides a cuboid metal housing that is covered on its front (in the beam direction) by a lens.
• the lens can be put on as a lid, for example, by means of snap locks.
• On one side wall are in one
• Cast in connector pins to which the power supply for the electronic switching elements in the housing and lines for forwarding information from the housing can be connected to an external computer in the motor vehicle.
• a motor vehicle radar system is known from DE 196 44 164 AI, in which a dielectric body is located in the beam path of the electromagnetic waves for protection against weather influences and preferably also for focusing.
• the dielectric body has an arrangement of electrically conductive tracks with which the dielectric body can be heated in order, for example, to free it from deposits of ice, snow or moisture. Furthermore, the electrically conductive
• Paths can be used to measure the attenuation of a possible coating on the dielectric body and to check the function of the radar system by means of a target simulation.
• the housing contains a transmitter and receiver of radar radiation and has a passage opening provided with a lens for the radar radiation.
• the box-shaped cover part of the housing and the lens are formed in one piece and made of one and the same material, which is transparent to the radar radiation and influences its beam path. In contrast, the material is opaque to electromagnetic radiation in the visible range.
• the cover part is pushed onto a lower housing part and tightly connected to it with a circumferential seal lying in one plane.
• the power supply and the signal exchange with the motor vehicle of the circuit arrangement arranged in the housing takes place via a plug in the lower housing part.
• the patent also shows the possibility that a pressure equalization with the surrounding atmosphere can take place with a sealing pill.
• a housing or housing part for a distance sensor in particular for motor vehicles, with at least a first housing part, in which at least one body which is transparent to sensor radiation for focusing the sensor radiation and / or at least one radome is integrated without intentional focusing in the main beam direction of the distance sensor and with at least one second housing part in the orthogonal to the main beam direction of the distance sensor with at least one base plate
• Antenna elements can be installed, the connection line between the first housing part and the second housing part running in an area between the base plate and the sensor radiation-permeable body and / or the radome, at least one connector being provided with which the electrical connection of the distance sensor to the motor vehicle can be established , wherein the connecting line is in the region of a connector of the distance sensor and the connector is coaxial with the main beam direction of the distance sensor is aligned.
• this solution offers the advantage that a sensor radiation-permeable body for focusing the sensor radiation and / or at least one radome without intentional focusing is integrated in the first housing part and thus the housing of the distance sensor consists essentially of only two housing parts. This small number of housing parts also offers the advantage that simple assembly is possible.
• the alignment of the connector plug coaxially to the main beam direction of the distance sensor is of particular advantage, since this means that the height of the housing only depends to a significant extent on the antenna elements and the quasi-optical properties of the antenna lens and the sensor radiation-permeable body. It is particularly advantageous if the connector is arranged against the main direction of travel of the motor vehicle or against the main beam direction of the distance sensor, since the connector and thus also the connector contacts are protected from contamination.
• At least the side of the connector plug inside the housing is enclosed by the first housing part. This offers the advantage that the side of the connector inside the housing is freely accessible in a particularly suitable manner as long as the first housing part has not yet been installed.
• An advantageous embodiment of the housing or the housing part provides that there is at least one device for pressure equalization between the interior of the housing and the environment in the first housing part in the region of the connector.
• the rest of the housing can be hermetically sealed in an advantageous manner, since a possible pressure compensation, the z. B. due to warming of components within the housing may be necessary, can be compensated by the pressure compensation element. This prevents a positive or negative pressure from occurring in the interior of the housing in relation to the surroundings.
• first housing part with the second housing part is fixed to the connecting line by a tongue and groove connection and by latching brackets.
• Spring connection and snap-in brackets are shown on the one hand a hermetically sealed and on the other hand a permanently durable solution.
• the first housing part and a cover layer of the body which is permeable to sensor radiation advantageously consist of one piece and are made of the same material.
• This special solution offers the advantage that the first housing part has a completely homogeneous surface on the outside and can therefore withstand weather influences in a particularly suitable manner.
• a material from at least one of the following product groups is advantageously used as the material: polyetherimide, polyphenylene oxide or polyamide.
• the first housing part, the cover layer and the sensor radiation-permeable body are produced in a multi-stage injection molding process. This has a particularly advantageous effect on the production costs and on the production outlay.
• At least one internal assembly is arranged on the base plate in addition to the antenna elements.
• the height of the second housing part is dimensioned such that it corresponds at least to the height of the internal assembly on the base plate.
• the internal assembly and the antenna elements are enclosed in a pot shape by the second housing part.
• the overriding physical criterion is that the focus distance between the antenna elements and the sensor radiation-permeable body and / or the radome must be taken into account.
• care must also be taken that the beam path of the sensor radiation is not influenced.
• a particularly advantageous embodiment of the housing according to the invention provides that the connector is detachably inserted in the second housing part and that a seal is present between the connector and the second housing part. This ensures, on the one hand, a hermetically sealed seal between the second housing part and the connector and, on the other hand, the special flexibility of the housing is preserved, since a differently configured connector can be used, as is necessary, for example, when applying it to different types of vehicles.
• a particularly advantageous embodiment provides that the body which is permeable to sensor radiation has a dielectric lens is. Such a dielectric lens focuses the sensor radiation emitted by the antenna elements in a particularly advantageous manner. It is also advantageous that electrically conductive tracks are inserted into the body which is permeable to sensor radiation. With the aid of the electrically conductive tracks, the distance sensor can be protected from the weather in a particularly advantageous manner. For this purpose, an electrical power can be used which leads to the heating of the electrically conductive tracks and thus indirectly to the surface of the first housing part. This leads to the fact that possible snow or ice contamination melts on the surface of the first housing part and the surface dries when it is heated further.
• Figure 1 shows a housing according to the invention in cross section
• Figure 2 shows a first housing part according to the invention in another sectional view.
• FIG. 1 shows a housing according to the invention, as is preferably the case for a distance sensor in the context of an adaptive vehicle speed control
• FIG. 1 shows a first housing part 1 and a second housing part 2.
• a dielectric lens 3 is integrated in the first housing part 1, on the surface of which electrically conductive tracks 4 are in turn inserted.
• In the first housing part 1 is still a
• Pressure compensation element 5 is used, which serves for pressure compensation between the interior of the housing and the environment.
• the second housing part 2 there is a base plate 6 orthogonal to the main beam direction of the distance sensor, which base plate 6 is fixed to the second housing part 2 with fasteners 7.
• Antenna elements 8 and internal assemblies 9 are located on the base plate 6.
• the number of antenna elements has been assumed to be three, but this is not a limitation in the sense of FIG.
• the first housing part 1 and the second housing part 2 are connected to one another with a tongue and groove connection 10.
• latchable brackets 11 are provided, which are designed as clips 11 in this exemplary embodiment.
• a possible embodiment of such clips 11 is explained in more detail in the context of the following FIG. 2.
• a connector plug 12 is inserted into the second housing part 2.
• This connector 12 has contacts to the inside of the housing 13 and contacts 14 which are led out on the outside of the housing.
• the connection of the connector plug 12 to the second housing part 2 can be done, for example, by means of a snap-in not shown here.
• a seal 15 is provided between the connector 12 and the second housing part 2. The appropriate design of the seal is left to the specialist.
• FIG. 1 It can be clearly seen in FIG. 1 that the inside of the connector 12 or the contacts to the inside of the housing 13 are enclosed by the first housing part 1.
• the external contacts 14 of the Connector 12 are arranged in the region of the second housing part 2.
• a virtual connection line between the first housing part 1 and the second housing part 2 is designated.
• the connector plug 12 is used for the electrical connection of the distance sensor to the motor vehicle and is aligned at the level of the connecting line 16 coaxially with the main beam direction of the distance sensor.
• the main beam direction of the distance sensor is the sensor radiation emanating from the antenna elements 8 perpendicular to the base plate 6 and passing through the dielectric lens 3.
• Connector 12 is located in the first housing part 1, can be carried out in a form known to those skilled in the art, for example as a pressure pill.
• the first housing part 1 and the cover layer of the dielectric lens 3 are made from one piece and from the same material. Materials from the product group polyetherimide, polyphenylene oxide or polyamide are primarily suitable for this. Of course, it is left to the person skilled in the art to use other suitable materials for producing the first housing part 1 and the cover layer.
• the first housing part 1, the cover layer and the dielectric lens 3 with the inserted electrically conductive tracks 4 can be produced particularly advantageously in a multi-stage injection molding process.
• the production of the first housing part 1 with the integrated dielectric lens 3 and the electrically conductive tracks 4 in a multi-stage injection molding process can be done in such a way that first a basic body of the dielectric Lens 3 is manufactured as a molded plastic part.
• This base body is equipped with grooves in which the electrically conductive tracks 4 can be inserted.
• This ready-made base body can now be overmolded in a further injection molding process in such a way that both the layer covering the electrically conductive tracks and the cover layer are formed, as well as the rest of the first housing part 1.
• plastics such as plastics, are particularly advantageous for example polyetherimide, which have the mechanical and electrical properties desired for later use.
• This multi-stage injection molding process also has the advantage that uniform wall thicknesses can be produced, which are relevant for the microwave-specific geometry.
• the second housing part 2 is dimensioned such that the height corresponds at least to the height of the internal assembly 9 on the base plate 8.
• the base plate 6 with the components located thereon is completely enclosed by the pot-like second housing part 2.
• the volumes of the first housing part 1 and the second housing part 2 are in this embodiment, for example, in a ratio of 1 to 1.5 to 1.5 to 1.
• the housing dimensions must, however, always be taken into account that the focus distance between the antenna elements and the sensor radiation-permeable body and / or the radome is selected in accordance with the physical requirements. When designing the internal assembly, care must also be taken to ensure that the beam path of the sensor radiation is not affected.
• FIG. 2 shows a first housing part 1 in a view that is mirrored in relation to the illustration in FIG. 1.
• a dielectric lens 3 with electrically conductive tracks 4 is integrated in the first housing part 1.
• no pressure compensation element is inserted into the first housing part 1 in this illustration according to FIG. At the point where a possible
• a pressure compensation element 17 could be used in this illustration.
• the lower end of the first housing part 1 shown in FIG. 2 is formed by the virtual connecting line 16, which symbolizes the transition to the second housing part 2.
• the illustration according to FIG. 2 serves primarily to show the mechanical connection between the first housing part 1 and the second housing part 2.
• the tongue and groove connection 10 and the latchable brackets 11 can be clearly seen in the illustration according to FIG.
• the latchable brackets 11 are designed as clip elements in this exemplary embodiment. It is up to the person skilled in the art to find other fastening options which are space-saving, inexpensive, simple to manufacture and particularly reliable in the same advantageous manner.
• the dielectric lens 3 shown in both FIGS. 1 and 2 can of course be replaced by a radome without intentional focusing or another type of sensor radiation-permeable body for focusing the sensor radiation.
• a radome can also be used for adaptation.
• the layer of the first housing part 1, which is located in the region of the dielectric lens 3, can also serve for adaptation if the material is selected accordingly.
• further components or internal assemblies can be arranged within the housing, which have not been shown in this embodiment. Mounts can also be provided, which are the mechanical connection between the distance sensor and the Serve motor vehicle.
• Also not shown in the exemplary embodiments is an electrical contact between the electrically conductive tracks 4 and the internal assemblies 9 or any other control / energy supply that is required for the function of the electrically conductive tracks 4.
• the second housing part 2 can consist, for example, of the same material as the first housing part 1 or, preferably, of a material that is opaque to sensor radiation, such as aluminum or die-cast aluminum. If necessary, the pressure compensation element 5 can be integrated in the second housing
• the preferred embodiment of the distance sensor shown is an FMCW radar with three antenna elements 8 and a dielectric lens 3.

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• Radar Systems Or Details Thereof (AREA)
• Details Of Aerials (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

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ID=7920606

Family Applications (1)

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• 1999
  • 1999-09-03 DE DE19941931A patent/DE19941931A1/de not_active Withdrawn
• 2000
  • 2000-08-30 JP JP2001522619A patent/JP2003509660A/ja not_active Withdrawn
  • 2000-08-30 EP EP00963936A patent/EP1216494A2/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2000-08-30 US US10/070,880 patent/US6674412B1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2000-08-30 WO PCT/DE2000/002952 patent/WO2001018902A2/de active Search and Examination

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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