Sensing apparatus for a vehicle
AssigneeGentex Corporation
InventorsGuy Raz, Robert Steel
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A sensing apparatus for a vehicle includes a window, a wireless sensing circuit, and a controller. The wireless sensing circuit includes a conductive coating coupled to the window. The conductive coating includes an antenna array that is configured to communicate a radio frequency at a phase angle. Further, a controller is in communication with the antenna array and configured to communicate a first signal to the antenna array to control the phase angle.
Claims19
A sensing apparatus for a vehicle, the sensing apparatus comprising:
- a window including an outer perimeter and an electro-optic element, the electro-optic element including:
- a first substrate including a first surface configured to face an interior of the vehicle and a second surface configured to face an exterior of the vehicle;
- a second substrate including a third surface and a fourth surface;
- a first electrode disposed on the third surface;
- and
- an electro-optic medium disposed between the first electrode and the second surface;
- a wireless sensing circuit includes a conductive coating coupled to the window and disposed adjacent to and across a perimeter of the first or second surface of the first substrate;
- the conductive coating includes an antenna array that is configured to communicate a radio frequency at a phase angle, the antenna array covering an area between 80% and 99% of the area defined by the outer perimeter;
- and
- a controller in communication with the antenna array and configured to communicate a first signal to the antenna array to control the phase angle.
A window for a vehicle comprising:
- a first substrate including a first surface configured to face an interior of the vehicle and a second surface configured to face an exterior of the vehicle;
- a second substrate including a third surface and a fourth surface;
- a first electrode disposed on the third surface;
- an electro-optic medium disposed between the first electrode and the second surface;
- and
- a plurality of patch antennas disposed adjacent to and across a perimeter of the second surface, wherein the plurality of patch antennas are transparent in a visible light spectral range.
A sensing apparatus for a vehicle, the sensing apparatus comprising:
- a window including an electro-optic element, the electro-optic element including:
- a first substrate including a first surface configured to face an interior of the vehicle and a second surface configured to face an exterior of the vehicle;
- a second substrate including a third surface and a fourth surface;
- a first electrode disposed on the third surface;
- and
- an electro-optic medium disposed between the first electrode and the second surface;
- a wireless sensing circuit includes a conductive coating coupled to the window and disposed adjacent to and across a perimeter of the first or second surface of the first substrate;
- the conductive coating includes an antenna array operable between two RADAR frequency bands between 27 GHz and 80 GHz, the antenna array includes a plurality of antennas and more than one electrical conductor, each electrical conductor in contact with some but not all of the plurality of antennas;
- and
- a controller in communication with the more than one electrical conductor and configured to communicate a first signal to some of the plurality of antennas to provide a first phase angle and a second signal to some of the plurality of antennas to provide a second phase angle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.