DE-102024210896-A1 - radar sensor

Abstract

A radar sensor (10), particularly for use in a vehicle, is proposed, comprising at least one printed circuit board (6) and at least one antenna (7), which is particularly designed as a waveguide antenna, wherein the antenna (7) is connected to the printed circuit board (6), and the connection between the printed circuit board (6) and the antenna (7) is made by means of a frame (1) which is attached to the printed circuit board (6) and which presses the antenna (7) flat against the printed circuit board (6).

Inventors

• Ronny Ludwig
• Gustav Klett
• Martin Schuerer

Assignees

• Robert Bosch Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung

Dates

Publication Date

20260513

Application Date

20241113

Claims (15)

1. Radar sensor (10), in particular for use in a vehicle, comprising - at least one circuit board (6), - at least one antenna (7), which is in particular designed as a waveguide antenna, wherein the antenna (7) is connected to the circuit board (6), characterized in that the connection between the circuit board (6) and the antenna (7) is made by means of a frame (1) which is attached to the circuit board (6) and which presses the antenna (7) onto the circuit board (6).
2. radar sensor (10) after Claim 1 characterized in that the antenna (7) rests on the circuit board (6).
3. radar sensor (10) after Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the antenna (7) rests flat on the circuit board (6) or is pressed flat onto it.
4. Radar sensor (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the frame (1) rests on the antenna (7) mainly at the outer edges (12) of the antenna (7).
5. Radar sensor (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the antenna (7) is permanently fixed to the circuit board (6) only by the force-fit of the frame (1).
6. Radar sensor (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the frame (1) was made of sheet metal, in particular as a metallic stamped part and/or bent part.
7. Radar sensor (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the frame (1) has several press-fit pins (3) on the side facing the circuit board (6) which are pressed into bores in the circuit board (6), in particular that the press-fit pins (3) are integrally formed with the frame (1).
8. Radar sensor (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the frame (1) has mechanical stops (4) on the side facing the circuit board (6) which prevent the press-in pins (3) from being pressed too deeply into the circuit board (6).
9. Radar sensor (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the frame (1) has recesses on the side facing away from the circuit board (6) (transmitting and receiving side of the sensor (10)) at the locations where the antenna has transmitting and receiving openings (8).
10. Radar sensor (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the frame (1) has spring tongues (5) on the side facing away from the circuit board (6) which rest on the side of the antenna (7) facing away from the circuit board (6) and press the antenna (7) onto the circuit board.
11. Radar sensor (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the antenna (7) has contact surfaces (12) at its edge regions on which the spring tongues (12) of the frame (1) rest and via which the contact force is exerted on the antenna (7).
12. Radar sensor (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the holding force of all press-in pins (3) is significantly greater than the pressing force of all spring tongues (5), in particular that the holding force of the press-in pins (3) is 2 times to 10 times, in particular 3 times to 5 times greater than the spring force of the spring tongues (5).
13. Radar sensor (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the antenna (7) has centering bodies (9) on the side facing the circuit board (6) which are formed on the contact surface to the circuit board (6) so that these centering bodies (9) engage in holes (11) of the circuit board (6) and ensure the relative positioning of the antenna (7) to the circuit board (6).
14. Radar sensor (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the antenna (7) is coated on its outside with an electrically conductive metallization and the metallization of the antenna (7) is connected to the electrical ground of the circuit board (6) via the conductive frame 1.
15. Radar sensor (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one electronic component (17) is mounted on the circuit board (6).

Description

The present invention relates to a radar sensor, particularly for use in a vehicle, comprising at least one printed circuit board and at least one antenna, which is preferably designed as a waveguide antenna. The antenna is connected to the printed circuit board, and the connection between the printed circuit board and the antenna is made by means of a frame that is attached to the printed circuit board and that presses the antenna onto the printed circuit board. State of the art Radar sensors available on the market have for many years consisted of printed circuit boards with planar antennas, whereby the planar antennas were structured on the top copper layer and thus automatically firmly connected to the printed circuit board. Currently, radar sensors are being developed where the circuit board is not connected to a separate antenna, particularly a waveguide antenna. This connection must be permanent, conductive, and robust to ensure the radar sensor's operation throughout its product lifespan. Core and advantages of the invention The core of the present invention is to specify a radar sensor consisting of at least one circuit board and at least one antenna, and to specify particularly advantageous connection options or mounting options for the at least one circuit board and the at least one antenna. According to the invention, this is solved by the features of the independent claim. Advantageous further developments and embodiments result from the dependent claims. Furthermore, it is advantageous that the radar sensor, which may be intended for use in a vehicle, comprises at least one circuit board and at least one antenna. The antenna can be particularly advantageously designed as a waveguide antenna. The antenna is connected to the circuit board, and the connection between the circuit board and the antenna is made by means of a frame. The frame is advantageously attached to the at least one circuit board and presses the antenna onto the circuit board. Advantageously, the antenna rests on the circuit board. It can be particularly advantageous if the antenna lies flat on the circuit board and/or is pressed flat onto it by applying force to the antenna and the circuit board. Furthermore, it is advantageous if the frame rests on the antenna at its outer edges. This ensures that the holding force is applied evenly to the antenna at the outer edge, resulting in a very uniform distribution of the holding force and a secure, long-lasting position with minimal mechanical stress. Advantageously, the antenna is permanently fixed to the circuit board solely by the force-fit of the frame. This eliminates the need for additional fastening using soldering, gluing, screws, rivets, or similar joining techniques, thus preventing mechanical stress and consequently dimensional deviations. The frame is particularly advantageous when made of sheet metal. Sheet metal is inexpensive and possesses elasticity without permanently deforming. This allows for a clamping force that can be maintained over time. Furthermore, it is beneficial that the sheet metal frame is manufactured as a stamped and/or bent metal part. This is simple and inexpensive to produce. Advantageously, the frame has several press-fit pins (3) on the side facing the printed circuit board. These press-fit pins can be manufactured integrally during the frame's production or attached after the frame is completed using a joining process, such as welding or soldering. Press-fit pins are well-known in the manufacture of electronic products and are frequently used to contact electrical conductors. A hole is provided in the printed circuit board in the area of the conductor, into which the needle-shaped press-fit pin is pressed and which anchors itself in the hole due to its spring elasticity. It is advantageous if the frame has mechanical stops on the side facing the circuit board (PCB) to prevent the press-fit pins from being pressed too deeply into the PCB. These mechanical stops ensure that the distance between the frame and the PCB, and thus the pressing force with which the antenna is pressed onto the PCB, is neither too high nor too low. Another function of the mechanical stops is to ensure that the press-fit pins are only pressed into the PCB to the point where their clamping area reaches the ideal depth. These mechanical stops can be provided all around the edge of the frame or only at specific points on the frame. It is advantageous to have at least three mechanical stops to prevent the frame from tilting after reaching a mechanical stop. Due to the rectangular shape of the frame, it is particularly advantageous to provide four mechanical stops, especially at the corners. According to another embodiment, the mechanical stops can be located in the area of the press-fit pins. Furthermore, it is advantageous that the frame, on the side facing away from the circuit board (i.e., the transmitting and receiving side of the sensor), has cutouts at the locations wher