A sensor device for use in vehicles is provided, having at least one sensor unit, which is configured to cover a detection area outside the sensor device, and at least one cover, which is arranged in front of the sensor unit or is formed as part of the sensor unit, and at least one heating element, which is arranged and configured to heat at least subregions of the cover, and also a control or regulating unit, which is configured to control or regulate the heating element in order to heat the cover. The sensor device is characterized by at least one wall thickness sensor that is formed, and arranged at a predefined distance from and/or in direct contact with and/or inside the cover, in such a way that it is able to determine the wall thickness of the cover, wherein it transmits the determined wall thickness to the control or regulating unit, which actuates the heating element in order to heat the cover if a predefined wall thickness is exceeded.

The invention relates to a vehicle part intended to be placed facing an emission cone of a radar sensor, the radar sensor being configured to emit an electromagnetic wave the electric field of which includes a component oscillating in a direction of interest. The vehicle part includes a system for deicing the part. According to the invention, the deicing system includes a set of slender heatable elements, at least one sub-set of the set of slender heatable elements being located in the emission cone of the radar sensor and being configured so that each slender heatable element of the sub-set is placed on the part so as to extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the main polarization direction of the radar sensor when the part is placed facing the radar sensor.

Example embodiments relate to techniques for using vehicle image radar to estimate rain rate and other weather conditions. A computing device may receive radar data from a radar unit coupled to a vehicle. The radar data can represent the vehicle's environment. The computing device may use the radar data to determine a radar representation that indicates backscatter power and estimate, using a rain rate model, a rain rate for the environment based on the radar representation. The computing device may then control the vehicle based on the rain rate. In some examples, the computing device may provide the rain rate estimation and an indication of its current location to other vehicles to enable the vehicles to adjust routes based on the rain rate estimation.

Example embodiments relate to techniques for using vehicle image radar to estimate rain rate and other weather conditions. A computing device may receive radar data from a radar unit coupled to a vehicle. The radar data can represent the vehicle's environment. The computing device may use the radar data to determine a radar representation that indicates backscatter power and estimate, using a rain rate model, a rain rate for the environment based on the radar representation. The computing device may then control the vehicle based on the rain rate. In some examples, the computing device may provide the rain rate estimation and an indication of its current location to other vehicles to enable the vehicles to adjust routes based on the rain rate estimation.

A sensor device includes at least one sensor unit, which is configured to detect a detection area; at least one through element, wherein the at least one sensor unit is configured to detect the detection area through the at least one through element; at least one temperature sensor on or in at least one through element, the at least one temperature sensor being configured to detect a temperature of the at least one through element; at least one heating unit, which is configured to heat the at least one through element; and a controller, which is connected to the at least one temperature sensor and the at least one heating unit and which is configured to control the at least one heating unit based on the temperature detected by the at least one temperature sensor.

For example, an apparatus may include a radome; and a stack series fed antenna including a plurality of antenna layers, the plurality of antenna layers including a first antenna layer on an inner surface of the radome, the first antenna layer including a first plurality of serially connected antenna elements, and a first trace configured to drive an electrical current from a power source to the first plurality of serially connected antenna elements; and a second antenna layer covered by the inner surface of the radome, the second antenna layer including a second plurality of serially connected antenna elements, and a second trace configured to serially connect the second plurality of serially connected antenna elements to a Radio Frequency (RF) chain.

A vehicle sensor device (1) includes an outer cover (12), a sensor unit (20) that transmits and receives an electromagnetic wave through the outer cover (12) and outputs a signal related to the electromagnetic wave incident on an inner side of the outer cover (12), a heater (30) that is provided in the outer cover (12) and heats a transmission region (AR) of the outer cover (12) through which the electromagnetic wave emitted from the sensor unit (20) passes, and a control unit (CO). The control unit (CO) outputs a detection signal of an object located outside the outer cover (12) based on the signal from the sensor unit (20) in at least a part of a period in which the heater (30) is OFF, and stops outputting of the detection signal in at least a part of a period in which the heater (30) is ON.

Trim components, such as automotive radomes and automotive grille assemblies, and their methods of manufacture include a polycarbonate (PC) member defining a radar-transmissive radar zone and a multi-layer stack arranged on both a front or A-side of the PC member and a back or B-side of the PC member such that the PC member is therebetween, the multi-layer stack including a plurality of layers configured to provide protection of the front or A-side of the PC member, provide a visible decoration on the back or B-side of the PC member, provide a heater assembly configured to selectively heat the radar zone, and provide leveling in the radar zone. At least some of the plurality of layers, such as the PC member or a heating assembly layer, could be light diffusive.

A pseudo sheet structure is usable for a sensor configured to emit an electromagnetic wave in a band ranging from 20 GHz to 100 GHz. The pseudo sheet structure includes a plurality of conductive linear bodies arranged at an interval L satisfying a formula (1) below, 0.034.sub.SL20 mm (1). In the formula (1), L is the interval between the plurality of conductive linear bodies, .sub.S is a wavelength of the electromagnetic wave emitted by the sensor, and a unit for each of L and .sub.S is mm.

In one aspect, a method for manufacturing a pre-molding and/or a radome for radar devices for vehicles includes forming a pre-molding having at least one contact element for electrically contacting a heating unit for heating the radome. When forming the pre-molding, the at least one contact element is at least partially overmolded with plastic.