Radar device, specifically for a vehicle

Abstract

A radar device for a vehicle is provided, comprising a housing with a first housing part and a second housing part (2). The housing parts are connected to each other and form the boundaries of a closed recording space. The radar device also includes a circuit carrier accommodated within the recording space. The circuit carrier features at least one transmission antenna device for the transmission of radar beams, at least one receiving antenna device for receiving radar beams, and features high-frequency electronic circuit devices and low-frequency electronic circuit devices. At least one of the first of the two housing parts is a two-component plastic injection-molded parts, and one of the first of the two components has at least a three times higher thermal conductivity than a second one of the two components.

Claims

1. A radar device for a vehicle, the radar device comprising: a housing with a first housing part and a second housing part, where the first and second housing parts are connected to each other and form boundaries of a closed recording space, a circuit carrier accommodated within the recording space, where the circuit carrier includes at least one transmission antenna device for the transmission of radar beams and at least one receiving antenna device for receiving radar beams, wherein the circuit carrier includes high-frequency electronic circuit devices and low-frequency electronic circuit devices, wherein at least one of the first and second housing parts is a two-component plastic injection-molded part, where a first component of the two-component plastic injection molded part has at least a three times higher thermal conductivity than a second component of the two-component plastic injection molded part, wherein the first component of the two-component plastic injection molded part is surrounded by the second component of the two-component plastic injection molded part.

2. The radar device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first component of the two-component plastic injection molded part is coupled to the second component of the two-component plastic injection molded part.

3. The radar device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first component of the two-component plastic injection molded part is disk-like which, when viewed from a topside or a bottom is circular, elliptical or oval.

4. The radar device in accordance with claim 3, wherein one edge of the first component of the two-component plastic injection molded part is thicker than an inner section of the first component of the two-component plastic injection molded part separated off from the edge.

5. The radar device in accordance with claim 2, wherein the first component of the two-component plastic injection molded part features ribs on one outside surface of the housing.

6. The radar device in accordance with claim 2, wherein the second component of the two-component plastic injection molded part is laser transparent.

7. The radar device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the radar device includes, within the recording space, at least one shielding device, where the shielding device shields against electromagnetic radiation.

8. The radar device in accordance with claim 1, wherein a radar radiation absorption body is arranged within the recording space; and the absorber is formed of a radar-absorbing plastic.

9. The radar device in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one of the two housing parts comprises a plug device that is molded in one piece to the housing part.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Reference is now made more particularly to the drawings, which illustrate the best presently known mode of carrying out the invention and wherein similar reference characters indicate the same parts throughout the views.

(2) FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a first radar device in accordance with the invention.

(3) FIG. 2 is a cross-section through the first radar device.

(4) FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a second radar device in accordance with the invention.

(5) FIG. 4 is a cross-section through the second radar device.

(6) FIG. 5 is a perspective view from above onto a third radar device in accordance with the invention.

(7) FIG. 6 is a perspective view from below of the third radar device in accordance with the invention.

(8) FIG. 7 is a cross-section through the third radar device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(9) The radar devices in accordance with the invention shown in the Figures have a housing that is composed of one first housing part 1 and a second housing part 2. In the first radar device in accordance with the invention pursuant to FIGS. 1 and 2, the first housing part 1 takes the form of a cover and the second housing part 2 as a bowl. In the second and third radar devices in accordance with the invention pursuant to FIGS. 3 through 7, the first housing part 1 takes the form of a bowl and the second housing part 2 as a cover.

(10) On each of the bowls of the housing, there is to be a connector (identified by 21 in FIGS. 1 and 2) through which the radar device can be supplied with electrical current and through which information can be transmitted.

(11) The second housing parts of the first two radar devices take the form of radomes, which means that they are transparent for radar radiation and, where applicable, also for laser beams. The second housing part of the third radar device according to FIGS. 5 through 7 is a two-component injection molded part. It has two first areas 22 that are radar transparent and also laser transparent and a second area framing these two first areas 22 that absorbs radar radiation.

(12) A circuit carrier 4 populated on both sides is to be located in the housing. In principle, the circuit carrier 4 can also be populated on one side. The non-populated side of the circuit carrier can be used for transmitting and/or receiving antennas.

(13) An absorber 3 made of a plastic covered with aluminum foil is arranged in the housing between the second housing part 2 and the circuit carrier 4, which in itself is known from radar devices.

(14) A shielding body 6 made of aluminum is to be located between the circuit carrier 4 and the first housing part 1. Such shielding bodies 6 are also known from radar devices. The shielding body 6 also acts as a thermally conductive medium by means of which heat can be dissipated from component parts on the circuit carrier 4. In order to achieve a good level of heat transfer from the component parts to the shielding body 6, gap filler and gap pads 5 can be inserted between the component parts and the shielding body 6.

(15) The shielding body 6 is glued to a first area 11 of the first housing part 1 (bonding 7). This first area 11 of the first housing part 1 is elliptical and embedded in a second area 12 of the first housing part. The first housing part is a two-component injection-molded part. The first area has a thermal conductivity that is fivefold the thermal conductivity of the second area. Heat can be quickly dissipated from the housing through the first area. The second area 12 of the first housing part 1 may be laser transparent.

(16) The edge 112 of the first area 11 is designed to be thicker than the inner section of the first area 11 framed by the edge 112. This makes it possible to create the connection between the first area 11 and the second area 12 in such a way that not only a firmly bonded but also a form-locking connection to the enlarged contact faces of the two areas 11 and 12 come into being.

(17) The first housing part 1 may features domes 111, especially in the first area 11 that can serve to position and secure the area in the injection molding tool during over-molding with the second component.

(18) The circuit carrier 4 is screwed to the shielding body 6 by means of screws 9. Preferentially, housing parts 1, 2 are laser welded.

(19) A diaphragm 8 may be used hermetically seal off any opening in the housing. The diaphragm makes it possible to equalize pressure between the interior of the housing and the housing's environment.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

(20) 1 First housing part 11 First area of the first housing part 111 Domes in the first area 112 Edge of the first area 12 Second area of the first housing part 2 Second housing part 21 Connector 22 First area of the second housing part 23 Second area of the second housing part 3 Absorber 4 Circuit carrier 5 Gap filler or gap pad 6 Screening body 7 Bonding 8 Pressure equalizing diaphragm 9 Screws