US-12618938-B2 - Sensing apparatus for a vehicle

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.

Inventors

• Guy Raz
• Robert Steel

Assignees

• GENTEX CORPORATION

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20230307

Claims (19)

1. 1 . 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.
2. 2 . The sensing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the window is configured as a sunroof.
3. 3 . The sensing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the antenna array is transparent in a visible light spectral range.
4. 4 . The sensing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the electro-optic element includes a second electrode at least partially formed by the antenna array.
5. 5 . The sensing apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the antenna array is configured to conduct an electrical current across an electro-optic medium of the electro-optic element.
6. 6 . The sensing apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the electro-optic element is configured to selectively dim the window.
7. 7 . The sensing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the antenna array is disposed adjacent to the first surface and a second electrode of the electro-optic element is disposed adjacent to the second surface.
8. 8 . The sensing apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the antenna array is configured to operate with a first electrical frequency, and wherein the second electrode is configured to operate with a second electrical frequency different than the first electrical frequency.
9. 9 . The sensing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the phase angle has an angular accuracy of less than 1 degree.
10. 10 . The sensing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to: determine a phase angle range corresponding to a region of an interior cabin of the vehicle; modify the phase angle to the region of the interior cabin; and control the antenna array based on the phase angle range.
11. 11 . The sensing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to: receive a second signal from the antenna array; and determine, based on the second signal, a presence of an occupant of said vehicle.
12. 12 . The sensing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to: receive a second signal from the antenna array; and determine, based on the second signal, a vital sign of an occupant of said vehicle.
13. 13 . 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.
14. 14 . The window of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of patch antennas are in contact with the electro-optic medium and configured to conduct an electrical current across the electro-optic medium.
15. 15 . The window of claim 13 , wherein the first electrode is configured as a ground plane conductor for the plurality of patch antennas.
16. 16 . 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.
17. 17 . The sensing apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the first phase angle is directed towards a first region on an interior cabin in the vehicle and the second phase angle is directed to a second region on the interior cabin.
18. 18 . The sensing apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the first phase angle is different than the second phase angle.
19. 19 . The sensing apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the antenna array covers an area between 0.9 m 2 and 1.9 m 2 .

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application claims priority to and the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/318,066, filed on Mar. 9, 2022, entitled “SENSING APPARATUS FOR A VEHICLE,” the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to a sensing apparatus for a vehicle, and more particularly to an antenna array of a sensing apparatus incorporated with a window of a vehicle. SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE According to one aspect of the present disclosure, 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. According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a window for a vehicle includes a first substrate including a first surface and a second surface, 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 the second surface. Further, the plurality of patch antennas is substantially transparent in a visible light spectral range. According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, 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 a plurality of antennas and more than one electrical conductor. Each electrical conductor is in contact with some but not all of the plurality of antennas. Further, a controller is 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. These and other features, advantages, and objects of the present device will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art upon studying the following specification, claims, and appended drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings: FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a vehicle including one or more windows that incorporate a sensing apparatus according to one aspect of the disclosure; FIG. 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a sensing apparatus taken along the line II of FIG. 3; FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of a sensing apparatus according to one aspect of the present disclosure; FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view of a sensing apparatus incorporating an antenna array into an electro-optic element according to one aspect of the present disclosure; FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view of a sensing apparatus incorporating an antenna array into an electro-optic element according to another aspect of the present disclosure; FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a vehicle illustrating an exemplary phase beam of the antenna array; and FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a wireless sensing circuit in accordance with the present disclosure. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles described herein. DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present illustrated embodiments reside primarily in a combination of apparatus components related to an improved sensing apparatus for a vehicle. Accordingly, the apparatus components and method steps have been represented, where appropriate, by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present disclosure so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein. Further, like numerals in the description and drawings represent like elements. For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof, shall relate to the disclosure as oriented in FIG. 1. Unless stated otherwise, the term “front” shall refer to a surface of the device closest to an intended viewer, and the term “rear” shall refer to a surface of the device furthest from the intended viewer. However, it is to be understood that the disclosure may assume various alternative orientations, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification, are simp