Automotive microwave lens device for generation of heart-shaped radiation pattern in interior car sensing applications

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11894611-B2
Application number	US-201917311336-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 5, 2019
Priority date	Dec 6, 2018
Publication date	Feb 6, 2024
Grant date	Feb 6, 2024

Abstract

A dielectric lens device for shaping a radar beam includes a first and a second plano-convex cylindrical dielectric lens member and a plane-parallel dielectric substrate. The two plano-convex cylindrical dielectric lens members are arranged with their plane surfaces towards a same surface of the plane-parallel dielectric substrate. The plano-convex cylindrical dielectric lens members are interconnected to the plane-parallel dielectric substrate in a material fit.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A radar device for interior automotive radar sensing applications, comprising:
a dielectric lens device for shaping a radar beam, comprising:
a first plano-convex cylindrical dielectric lens member and a second plano-convex cylindrical dielectric lens member,
a plane-parallel dielectric substrate,

wherein
the two plano-convex cylindrical dielectric lens members are arranged with their plane surfaces towards a same surface of the plane-parallel dielectric substrate, and
the plano-convex cylindrical dielectric lens members are interconnected to the plane-parallel dielectric substrate in a material fit, and

at least one radar antenna member,
wherein
the at least one radar antenna member is arranged in a spaced manner to face a surface of the plane-parallel dielectric substrate opposite of the two plano-convex cylindrical dielectric lens members, and
the at least one radar antenna member is arranged such that a direction of its strongest power emission runs perpendicular to the surface of the plane-parallel dielectric substrate.

2. The radar device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a first height of the first plano-convex cylindrical dielectric lens member and a second height of the second plano-convex cylindrical dielectric lens member, measured in a direction that is perpendicular to the surface of the plane-parallel dielectric substrate, are substantially equal.

3. The radar device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first and the second plano-convex cylindrical dielectric lens member are arranged in a spaced manner.

4. The radar device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein at least one out of the convex surface of the first plano-convex cylindrical dielectric lens member and the convex surface of the second plano-convex cylindrical dielectric lens member is shaped as a portion of an elliptical cylinder surface.

5. The radar device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein at least one of the convex surface of the first plano-convex cylindrical dielectric lens member and the convex surface of the second plano-convex cylindrical dielectric lens member is shaped as a portion of a parabolic cylinder surface.

6. The radar device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein at least one of the convex surface of the first plano-convex cylindrical dielectric lens member and the convex surface of the second plano-convex cylindrical dielectric lens member is shaped as a portion of a cylinder having a direction of extension that is curved.

7. The radar device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein at least one out of a first width of the first plano-convex cylindrical dielectric lens member and a second width of the second plano-convex cylindrical dielectric lens member is at least twice as large as the respective height of the plano-convex cylindrical dielectric lens member, wherein the widths are measured in a direction parallel to the surface of the plane-parallel dielectric substrate and perpendicular to a direction of extension of the respective plano-convex cylindrical dielectric lens member.

8. The radar device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the plano-convex cylindrical dielectric lens member and the plane-parallel dielectric substrate are for the most part made from a thermoplastic polymer and are formed as a single unitary piece.

9. The radar device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one radar antenna member is arranged on a center line of the dielectric lens device that is arranged perpendicular to the surface of the plane-parallel dielectric substrate and that is equally spaced to the two plano-convex cylindrical dielectric lens members.

10. The radar device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a size of a spacing between the two plano-convex cylindrical dielectric lens members on the plane-parallel dielectric substrate and sizes of their heights are selected such that a ratio of a radar power magnitude of a local minimum that is located between two maxima of a radar power magnitude in a transmitted radiation pattern to one of the maxima of radar power magnitude in the transmitted radiation pattern lies between 2.0 and 4.0.

11. The radar device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one radar antenna member has a Gaussian-type main lobe, and wherein the dielectric lens device is configured for being arranged behind a vehicle headliner as an operating location.

Assignees

• Iee Sa

Inventors

• Karahasanovic Una
• Fox Andreas
• Watgen Claude
• Lemoine Franck
• Stifter Thomas
• Tatarinov Dimitri

Classifications

• H01Q15/08 Primary

  formed of solid dielectric material · CPC title

• G01S13/931

  of land vehicles · CPC title

• H01Q1/3233 Primary

  particular used as part of a sensor or in a security system, e.g. for automotive radar, navigation systems · CPC title

• H01Q19/062

  for focusing · CPC title