EP4489221A1 - Antenne und antennenanordnung für ein kraftfahrzeug, kraftfahrzeug und verfahren zur herstellung einer antenne - Google Patents

Antenne und antennenanordnung für ein kraftfahrzeug, kraftfahrzeug und verfahren zur herstellung einer antenne Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP4489221A1
EP4489221A1 EP23183432.6A EP23183432A EP4489221A1 EP 4489221 A1 EP4489221 A1 EP 4489221A1 EP 23183432 A EP23183432 A EP 23183432A EP 4489221 A1 EP4489221 A1 EP 4489221A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
antenna
motor vehicle
metal layer
plastic part
target region
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
EP23183432.6A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Heiko Kurz
Marc-Michael Meinecke
Luca Pozzessere
Josef Linhart
Nuri Kundak
Sana Othmanova
Petr CERNÝ
Jan ZELENÝ
Thomas GISDER
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Dr Ing HCF Porsche AG
Volkswagen AG
Original Assignee
Dr Ing HCF Porsche AG
Volkswagen AG
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Dr Ing HCF Porsche AG, Volkswagen AG filed Critical Dr Ing HCF Porsche AG
Priority to EP23183432.6A priority Critical patent/EP4489221A1/de
Publication of EP4489221A1 publication Critical patent/EP4489221A1/de
Pending legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q1/00—Details of, or arrangements associated with, antennas
    • H01Q1/27—Adaptation for use in or on movable bodies
    • H01Q1/32—Adaptation for use in or on road or rail vehicles
    • H01Q1/325—Adaptation for use in or on road or rail vehicles characterised by the location of the antenna on the vehicle
    • H01Q1/3283—Adaptation for use in or on road or rail vehicles characterised by the location of the antenna on the vehicle side-mounted antennas, e.g. bumper-mounted, door-mounted
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q1/00—Details of, or arrangements associated with, antennas
    • H01Q1/27—Adaptation for use in or on movable bodies
    • H01Q1/32—Adaptation for use in or on road or rail vehicles
    • H01Q1/3208—Adaptation for use in or on road or rail vehicles characterised by the application wherein the antenna is used
    • H01Q1/3233—Adaptation for use in or on road or rail vehicles characterised by the application wherein the antenna is used particular used as part of a sensor or in a security system, e.g. for automotive radar, navigation systems
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q13/00—Waveguide horns or mouths; Slot antennas; Leaky-waveguide antennas; Equivalent structures causing radiation along the transmission path of a guided wave
    • H01Q13/02—Waveguide horns
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q21/00—Antenna arrays or systems
    • H01Q21/0006—Particular feeding systems
    • H01Q21/0037—Particular feeding systems linear waveguide fed arrays
    • H01Q21/0043—Slotted waveguides

Definitions

  • the present invention is directed to an antenna for a motor vehicle, the antenna comprising a waveguide component with a target region for positioning a receiver and/or transmitter device.
  • the invention is further directed to an antenna arrangement for a motor vehicle comprising such an antenna, to a motor vehicle comprising such an antenna arrangement and to a method for manufacturing an antenna.
  • Antennas are used in motor vehicles for transmitting and/or receiving electromagnetic waves, for example for communication purposes or for environmental perception, for example by means of radar systems.
  • Radar systems are used for various applications in motor vehicles, in particular for realizing driver assistance functions or other functions for guiding a vehicle automatically or in part automatically.
  • Corresponding radar systems may, for example, comprise waveguide antennas, for example, slotted waveguide antennas or aperture antennas, such as horn antennas.
  • the invention is based on the idea to use a waveguide component, which comprises a plastic part, whose inner surface for guiding electromagnetic waves is galvanized or metallized to form a metal layer.
  • an antenna for a motor vehicle comprises a waveguide component and a target region for positioning a receiver and/or transmitter device.
  • the waveguide component comprises a plastic part, and an inner surface of the plastic part comprises a galvanized metal layer or a metallized metal layer, which is a metal layer made by metallization.
  • the inner surface, which comprises the galvanized metal layer is for guiding electromagnetic waves from the target region into an outer environment of the antenna and/or from the outer environment to the target region.
  • the antenna is designed as a waveguide antenna, also denoted as waveguide fed antenna.
  • the antenna may, for example, be designed as an aperture antenna or as a slotted waveguide antenna or as another antenna with a metal structure.
  • the antenna may be a communication antenna and/or a radar antenna, for example.
  • That the plastic part comprises the galvanized metal layer may be understood such that the plastic part is partially galvanized at its inner surface.
  • the plastic part is a galvanized or partially galvanized plastic part.
  • That the plastic part comprises the metallized metal layer may be understood such that the plastic part is partially metallized at its inner surface.
  • the plastic part is a metallized or partially metallized plastic part.
  • the plastic part is designed to form an enclosure for guiding the electromagnetic waves, wherein the enclosure is open to the environment.
  • the inner surface can be understood to face an interior of the enclosure.
  • the receiver and/or transmitter device may, for example, comprise a wave source for the electromagnetic waves, in particular for emitting the electromagnetic waves in a predefined frequency band, for example, in the range of several GHz or several tens of GHz, for example, between 10 GHz and 100 GHz or between 20 GHz and 85 GHz.
  • the frequency band may be a frequency band as commonly used for automotive radar systems, for example, an automotive long range radar band, also denoted as LRR band, or an automotive short range radar band, also denoted as SRR band.
  • LRR band ranges from 76 GHz to 77 GHz
  • the SRR band ranges from 77 GHz to 81 GHz, for example.
  • the receiver and/or transmitter device may comprise electronic circuitry for detecting and/or processing the electromagnetic waves reaching the receiver and/or transmitter device from the environment of the antenna.
  • the antenna can, however, be used with other frequencies as well.
  • the waves can be guided properly from the target direction to the environment or vice versa. Since the electromagnetic waves penetrate the surface of the waveguide component only up to the respective penetration depth, which can, for example, be in the order of few micrometers or below one micrometer for the relevant frequency bands, there is no need for providing a waveguide component which is completely or predominantly made of metal. Rather, the plastic part, which provides sufficient mechanical stability of the waveguide component, may be made of various materials, for example by means of injection molding or extrusion, without significantly affecting the guidance of the electromagnetic waves. Consequently, providing the galvanized or metallized plastic part combines the beneficial electromagnetic properties for guiding the electromagnetic waves of the metal layer with low weight and high mechanical stability of the plastic material. In particular, also costs of the antenna may be reduced by using a galvanized or metallized metal layer instead of, for example, a solid metallic part as the waveguide component.
  • the thickness of the metal layer is equal to or greater than a penetration depth of a material of the metal layer for a predefined frequency of the electromagnetic waves.
  • the thickness of the metal layer may, for example, be less than 100 times the penetration depth or less than 50 times the penetration depth or less than 20 times the penetration depth or less than 10 times the penetration depth.
  • the predefined frequency of the electromagnetic waves lies within the range of [10 GHz, 100 GHz].
  • the frequency may lie within the range from 21 GHz to 26 GHz corresponding the so-called ultrawide band, UWB, range, within the range from 24 GHz to 24.25 GHz corresponding to the so-called narrow band ISM range, NB-ISM, within the range from 76 GHz to 77 GHz, which corresponds to the automotive LRR band or within the range from 77 GHz to 81 GHz, which corresponds to the automotive SRR band.
  • UWB ultrawide band
  • NB-ISM narrow band ISM range
  • the metal layer is made of silver or a silver alloy or is made of copper or a copper alloy.
  • Silver and copper as well as the corresponding alloys are well suitable materials for guiding the electromagnetic waves in the respective relevant frequency ranges.
  • it is very beneficia to use a metal with a high electric conductivity.
  • the higher the electric conductivity of the used metal the thinner the metal layer can be made, in particular in view of the penetration depth.
  • the antenna is an aperture antenna or a travelling wave antenna or a slotted waveguide antenna.
  • the antenna comprises the receiver and/or transmitter device, and the receiver and/or transmitter device is arranged and fastened to the target region.
  • an antenna arrangement for a motor vehicle comprises an antenna according to the invention and a body part for the motor vehicle.
  • the antenna is fastened to the body part.
  • the antenna arrangement may for example be a communication antenna arrangement and/or a radar antenna arrangement.
  • the antenna of the antenna arrangement is then designed as communication antenna and/or a radar antenna, accordingly.
  • the antenna is fastened to the body part by means of a clip connection.
  • the plastic part may, for example, comprise features, such as latching lugs, which engage with corresponding features of the body part in order to realize the clip connection.
  • the antenna may be fastened to the body part securely in a particularly simple way.
  • the body part is a bumper for the motor vehicle or a grille for the motor vehicle.
  • a motor vehicle comprises an antenna according to the invention or an antenna arrangement according to the invention.
  • a method for manufacturing an antenna according to the invention is provided.
  • the waveguide component is provided, and the metal layer is generated by galvanizing or metallizing the inner surface of the plastic part.
  • the receiver and/or transmitter device is provided and fastened to the target region.
  • the plastic part is produced by injection molding or by an extrusion process.
  • the invention also includes further embodiments of the method according to the invention which have features as already described in connection with the further embodiments of the antenna, the antenna arrangement and the motor vehicle according to the invention. Thus, the corresponding further embodiments of the method according to the invention are not described again here.
  • the invention also comprises combinations of the features of the described implementations.
  • an error message and/or a prompt for user feedback is output and/or a default setting and/or a predetermined initial state is set.
  • Fig. 1 shows schematically a motor vehicle 1 with an exemplary implementation of a antenna 4 according to the invention.
  • the antenna 4 may, for example, be integrated into a body part 9 of the motor vehicle 1, for example a bumper or grille.
  • the motor vehicle 1 may, for example, comprise an electronic control unit 3 or another computing unit for controlling the antenna 4 and/or for receiving data from the antenna 4.
  • the antenna 4 is for example a radar antenna.
  • the antenna 4 is implemented as a waveguide antenna, for example an aperture antenna, as the horn type aperture antenna shown schematically in Fig. 2 , or a slotted waveguide antenna, as shown in the exemplary implementation schematically in Fig. 8 .
  • the antenna 4 comprises a waveguide component 5, which may constitute a housing part of the antenna.
  • the waveguide component 5 comprises a plastic part 6, which is partly galvanized or metallized such that a metal layer is formed on an inner surface 7 of the plastic part 6, which guides electromagnetic waves 11 (see Fig. 3 ) from a target region 8 into an outer environment of the antenna 4 and/or from the outer environment to the target region 8.
  • a receiver and/or transmitter device 10, in particular a wave source for electromagnetic waves 11 and/or a receiver chip for receiving the electromagnetic waves 11, may be arranged at the target region 8.
  • the thickness of the metal layer is, for example, equal to or greater than a penetration depth of the material of the metal layer, for example silver, for a predefined frequency of the electromagnetic waves.
  • the penetration depth may in an exemplary use case, for example, be 0.23 micrometers. In general, the penetration depth depends on the frequency of the electromagnetic waves 11.
  • the thickness of the metal layer is consequently chosen such that for a predefined reference frequency, which may, for example, lie within the range 10 gigahertz to 100 gigahertz, the thickness is greater than or equal to the penetration depth.
  • Fig. 3 shows a top view of an exemplary implementation of the antenna 4 with a wave source chip 10 mounted at the target region 8.
  • the waveguide component 5 comprises the plastic part 6 providing mechanical support and the possibility for a simple mounting to the body part 9.
  • the electrically relevant part for guiding the electromagnetic waves 11 is constituted by the metal layer on the inner surface 7. Due to the mechanical support by the plastic part 6, the metal layer can be designed very thin.
  • Fig. 4 shows the antenna 4 in a front view and Fig. 5 shows the antenna 4 in a side view.
  • the plastic part 6 comprises latching lugs 12 on an outer side for mounting the antenna 4 to the body part.
  • An exemplary implementation of an antenna arrangement 13 according to the invention with such a antenna 4 is shown in a schematic side view in Fig. 6 and in a corresponding schematic top view in Fig. 7 , where the body part 9 is a grille of the motor vehicle 1.
  • a radome (not shown) can be applied to tune the dielectric constant.
  • a horn antenna for example 7x1.5x5 mm in a specific non-limiting use case
  • a slotted waveguide antenna for example 50x12x20 mm in a specific non-limiting use case
  • the invention provides a galvanized or metallized antenna, which may for example be integrated into body parts, in particular plastic body parts, of a motor vehicle.
  • the antenna may be used in different frequency bands including radar bands such as LRR and SRR.
  • the plastic body parts of the motor vehicle such as grille or bumper, may be manufactured by means of an injection molded process, which allows for very precise dimensions.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Remote Sensing (AREA)
  • Computer Security & Cryptography (AREA)
  • Radar, Positioning & Navigation (AREA)
  • Radar Systems Or Details Thereof (AREA)
EP23183432.6A 2023-07-04 2023-07-04 Antenne und antennenanordnung für ein kraftfahrzeug, kraftfahrzeug und verfahren zur herstellung einer antenne Pending EP4489221A1 (de)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP23183432.6A EP4489221A1 (de) 2023-07-04 2023-07-04 Antenne und antennenanordnung für ein kraftfahrzeug, kraftfahrzeug und verfahren zur herstellung einer antenne

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP23183432.6A EP4489221A1 (de) 2023-07-04 2023-07-04 Antenne und antennenanordnung für ein kraftfahrzeug, kraftfahrzeug und verfahren zur herstellung einer antenne

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP4489221A1 true EP4489221A1 (de) 2025-01-08

Family

ID=87136227

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP23183432.6A Pending EP4489221A1 (de) 2023-07-04 2023-07-04 Antenne und antennenanordnung für ein kraftfahrzeug, kraftfahrzeug und verfahren zur herstellung einer antenne

Country Status (1)

Country Link
EP (1) EP4489221A1 (de)

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0957371B1 (de) * 1998-05-11 2004-01-28 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Radarsensor
US20180290612A1 (en) * 2017-04-06 2018-10-11 Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha Vehicle front portion structure
DE102017210291A1 (de) * 2017-06-20 2018-12-20 Continental Automotive Gmbh Halterung zur Befestigung eines Sensors, insbesondere Radarsensors, an einem Fahrzeug und ein System aus einer Halterung und dem Sensor
US20190198985A1 (en) * 2017-12-26 2019-06-27 Nxp Usa, Inc. Unmanned vehicle radar system
US10454158B2 (en) * 2016-07-26 2019-10-22 Waymo Llc Plated, injection molded, automotive radar waveguide antenna

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0957371B1 (de) * 1998-05-11 2004-01-28 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Radarsensor
US10454158B2 (en) * 2016-07-26 2019-10-22 Waymo Llc Plated, injection molded, automotive radar waveguide antenna
US20180290612A1 (en) * 2017-04-06 2018-10-11 Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha Vehicle front portion structure
DE102017210291A1 (de) * 2017-06-20 2018-12-20 Continental Automotive Gmbh Halterung zur Befestigung eines Sensors, insbesondere Radarsensors, an einem Fahrzeug und ein System aus einer Halterung und dem Sensor
US20190198985A1 (en) * 2017-12-26 2019-06-27 Nxp Usa, Inc. Unmanned vehicle radar system

Non-Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
GREGORY PETER LE SAGE: "3D Printed Waveguide Slot Array Antennas", IEEE ACCESS, vol. 4, 21 March 2016 (2016-03-21), pages 1258 - 1265, XP055532428, DOI: 10.1109/ACCESS.2016.2544278 *
HUANG GUAN-LONG ET AL: "Lightweight Perforated Waveguide Structure Realized by 3-D Printing for RF Applications", IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON ANTENNAS AND PROPAGATION, IEEE, USA, vol. 65, no. 8, 1 August 2017 (2017-08-01), pages 3897 - 3904, XP011658152, ISSN: 0018-926X, [retrieved on 20170803], DOI: 10.1109/TAP.2017.2715360 *

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US9450281B2 (en) Transit structure of waveguide and SIW
KR101659138B1 (ko) 전자기기용 커버, 안테나 어셈블리, 전자기기 및 그 제조방법
US9525206B2 (en) Antenna unit, radar device, and composite sensor device
EP2826099B1 (de) Antenne mit Stegwellenleiter und sich ausweitendem Strahler
US11881615B2 (en) Antenna device for vehicle
CN107453028B (zh) 薄膜天线至fakra的连接器
US9466886B2 (en) Antenna device
JP2002539600A (ja) マイクロ波技術における電子機器用のケーシング
EP1247311A1 (de) Antennenanordnungund verffahrenzur befestigung einer derartigen antennenanordnung
US7675472B2 (en) Vehicle-mounted antenna system
CN111213284B (zh) 天线设备
WO2009004449A2 (en) Antenna system for remote control automotive application
US7671806B2 (en) Antenna system for a radar transceiver
EP4489221A1 (de) Antenne und antennenanordnung für ein kraftfahrzeug, kraftfahrzeug und verfahren zur herstellung einer antenne
US11962076B2 (en) Antenna device
CN215896664U (zh) 一种介质谐振器天线及通信设备
KR20170006701A (ko) 차량용 통합 안테나 장치
EP2683029A1 (de) Geformte leitfähige Kunststoffantenne
JP2001177312A (ja) 高周波接続モジュール
US20220140488A1 (en) High-frequency circuit including a circuit board and a waveguide structure
JP2006528473A (ja) 電磁的なｈｆ信号を送受信するための装置と方法
US20230133627A1 (en) Antenna for a hearing assistance device
Garcia-Tejero et al. Integrated waveguide-in-radome antenna for V-band in-cabin automotive radar applications
GB2332099A (en) Hand-held transmitter housing an open-loop radiating element
US20250192440A1 (en) Monopole antenna

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION HAS BEEN PUBLISHED

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC ME MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: REQUEST FOR EXAMINATION WAS MADE

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20250707