Radar system for a vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12265153-B2
Application number	US-202217817930-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 5, 2022
Priority date	Aug 6, 2021
Publication date	Apr 1, 2025
Grant date	Apr 1, 2025

Abstract

Disclosed are aspects of a radar system for a vehicle that includes a radar circuit for generating and processing radar signals, wherein the radar circuit includes a ground plane connector for an electrical connection with an antenna ground plane. The radar system also includes a radar antenna assembly for transmitting radar signals into a traffic space and for receiving radar signals reflected by objects present in the traffic space. The radar system further includes a component of the vehicle. The ground plane connector is electrically connected to the component of the vehicle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A radar system, the radar system comprising:
a radar circuit configured to generate and process radar signals, the radar circuit comprising a ground plane connector for an electrical connection with an antenna ground plane;
a radar antenna assembly including at least one antenna element configured to transmit radar signals into a traffic space and to receive radar signals reflected by objects present in the traffic space; and
a component of a vehicle,
the ground plane connector electrically connected to the component of the vehicle, wherein:
the component of the vehicle includes a front surface, a rear surface that opposes the front surface, and includes at least one duct that extends between the front surface and the rear surface,
the radar circuit is arranged at the rear surface of the component, and
the at least one antenna element of the radar antenna assembly is arranged at the front surface of the component and connected to the radar circuit via a waveguide member guided through the at least one duct.

2. The radar system of claim 1 , wherein:
in a mounted state of the component of the vehicle, the front surface faces away from a center of the vehicle.

3. The radar system of claim 1 , wherein:
the ground plane connector is electrically connected to the component in or at the at least one duct.

4. The radar system of claim 1 , wherein:
the component of the vehicle comprises a plate-like or sheet-like portion.

5. The radar system of claim 1 , wherein:
the component of the vehicle forms at least a part of a crash beam, a bumper, a pillar, or a door of the vehicle.

6. The radar system of claim 1 , wherein:
the component of the vehicle comprises a recess and an insert member insertable into the recess; and
the ground plane connector is electrically connected to the insert member.

7. The radar system of claim 6 , wherein:
the insert member is configured to operate as the antenna ground plane.

8. The radar system of claim 1 , wherein:
the radar circuit is formed on a printed circuit board.

9. The radar system of claim 8 , wherein:
the printed circuit board is configured without any ground plane layer.

10. The radar system of claim 8 , wherein:
at least one antenna element of the radar antenna assembly is spaced apart from the printed circuit board.

11. The radar system of claim 1 , wherein:
the component of the vehicle has a surface area of at least 400 square centimeters (cm 2 ).

12. The radar system of claim 11 , wherein:
the component of the vehicle has a surface area of at least 1000 square centimeters (cm 2 ).

13. The radar system of claim 1 , wherein:
the component of the vehicle is configured to operate as the antenna ground plane.

14. A method for fabricating a radar system according to claim 1 for a vehicle, the method comprising:
attaching the radar circuit to the component of the vehicle;
attaching the radar antenna assembly to the component of the vehicle; and
electrically connecting the ground plane connector to the component of the vehicle.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
attaching the radar circuit to a metallic plate member;
attaching the radar antenna assembly to the metallic plate member;
electrically connecting the ground plane connector to the metallic plate member; and
attaching the metallic plate member to the component of the vehicle.

16. A vehicle comprising:
a chassis;
a body; and
a radar system comprising:
a radar circuit configured to generate and process radar signals, the radar circuit comprising a ground plane connector for an electrical connection with an antenna ground plane;
a radar antenna assembly including at least one antenna element configured to transmit radar signals into a traffic space and to receive radar signals reflected by objects present in the traffic space; and
a component of the vehicle, the component of the vehicle forming a portion of at least one of the chassis or the body,

the ground plane connector electrically connected to the component of the vehicle, wherein:
the component of the vehicle includes a front surface, a rear surface that opposes the front surface, and includes at least one duct that extends between the front surface and the rear surface,
the radar circuit is arranged at the rear surface of the component, and
the at least one antenna element of the radar antenna assembly is arranged at the front surface of the component and connected to the radar circuit via a waveguide member guided through the at least one duct.

17. The vehicle of claim 16 , wherein:
the radar circuit is formed on a printed circuit board;
the printed circuit board omits a ground plane layer; and
at least one antenna element of the radar antenna assembly is spaced outside of an area defined by the printed circuit board.

18. The radar system of claim 17 , wherein:
the component of the vehicle is configured to operate as the antenna ground plane.

Assignees

• Aptiv Technologies AG

Inventors

• Vollbracht Dennis
• Busch Mathias

Classifications

• B60W2420/408

  Radar; Laser, e.g. lidar · CPC title

• B60W40/04

  Traffic conditions · CPC title

• G01S2013/9327

  Sensor installation details · CPC title

• H01Q21/064

  using horn or slot aerials (slotted waveguides arrays H01Q21/005) · CPC title

• H01Q1/3233

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