Parking aid

• US 6,211,833 B1
• Filed: 12/23/1999
• Issued: 04/03/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Haupt, Gunter
• Primary Examiner(s): Wimer, Michael C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Alemu, Ephrem
• Application Number:
  US09/472,057
• Time in Patent Office: 467 Days
• Field of Search: 343/713, 343/700 MS, 343/894, 343/873, 343/878, 367/909, 340/435, 340/436, 340/552
• US Class Current: 343/713
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9314 Parking operations
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/03 Details of HF subsystems specially adapted therefor, e.g. common to transmitter and receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3233 particular used as part of a sensor or in a security system, e.g. for automotive radar, navigation systems
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3283 side-mounted antennas, e.g. bumper-mounted, door-mounted mounted on windscreens H01Q1/1271
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/525 between emitting and receiving antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0407 Substantially flat resonant element parallel to ground plane, e.g. patch antenna dipole H01Q9/285; monopole H01Q9/40

Abstract

The device has a transmitting and receiving device for electromagnetic radiation which is arranged in the region of a bumper and includes an RF circuit arranged on a support plate and at least two substantially planar antennas that interact with the RF circuit. The antennas are fixed on a plastic sheet. A printed circuit board has perforations for the passage of radiation from the RF circuit to the antennas. Spacers having a precise longitudinal extent are inserted into the perforations, and the plastic sheet is bonded onto the underside of the printed circuit board such that the antennas each bear on a spacer.

Claims

1. A device for detecting whether obstacles are being approached during parking or turning of a motor vehicle, comprising:

a support plate;

a transmitting and receiving device disposed adjacent at least one bumper and including an RF circuit disposed on said support plate and at least two substantially planar antennas for interacting with said RF circuit;

a plastic sheet fixed to said substantially planar antennas;

a printed circuit board having perforations allowing for passage of radiation from said RF circuit to said substantially planar antennas; and

spacers having a precise length, each one of said spacers being inserted into a respective one of said perforations;

said plastic sheet bonded to said printed circuit board such that each one of said substantially planar antennas bear on a respective one of said spacers.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said spacers are bonded to said support plate.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein said plastic sheet is self-adhesive.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein said spacers consist of a material that is pervious to radiation and is undamaged from heat caused by soldering.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein said printed circuit board has a surface that is opposite said substantially planar antennas and said support plate is bonded to said surface of said printed circuit board.