System for backlighting a radome and radar device
A system is provided for backlighting a radome. The radome includes a translucent section and an opaque section. The translucent section is translucent to visible light and the opaque section is opaque to visible light. At least one light source of visible light is arranged on the rear side of the radome, and is configured for direct illumination of the translucent section.
1 . A system comprising:
a radome having a translucent section and an opaque section, wherein the translucent section is translucent to visible light and the opaque section is opaque to visible light;
a plurality of light sources of visible light, the plurality of light sources being arranged on a rear side of the radome, the plurality of light sources directly illuminating the translucent section; and
a plurality of optical projection elements arranged at and in front of the plurality of light sources, wherein each optical projection element of the plurality of optical projection elements is dedicated to a respective light source of the plurality of light sources, and wherein each optical projection element of the plurality of optical projection elements includes a lens system or a diffractive optical element.
2 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the radome includes a translucent radome body, wherein the opaque section includes light absorbing means which are applied on and/or integrated in the radome body.
3 . The system according to claim 2 , wherein the light absorbing means include colour pigments and/or a metallic coating.
4 . The system according to claim 2 , wherein the light absorbing means are applied on a carrier foil applied on and/or integrated in the radome body.
5 . The system according to claim 4 , wherein a rear surface of the radome body and/or the carrier foil include a diffusing effect on transmitted visible light.
6 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the radome is attached to a back cover such that the radome and the back cover enclose an interior, wherein the plurality of light sources and the plurality of optical projection elements are arranged in the interior.
7 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the translucent section and the opaque section form a defined pattern.
8 . A radar device comprising:
a system according to claim 1 ; and
a radar transceiver arranged on the rear side of the radome,
wherein the plurality of light sources is arranged outside a field-of-regard of the radar transceiver, and/or wherein the radar transceiver is arranged outside an illumination range of the plurality of light sources.
9 . The radar device according to claim 8 , wherein the plurality of light sources is arranged laterally around the radar transceiver.
10 . The radar device according to claim 8 , wherein the radome is attached to a back cover such that the radome and the back cover enclose an interior, wherein the plurality of light sources is arranged in the interior, and wherein the radar transceiver is arranged in the interior enclosed by the radome and the back cover.
11 . The radar device according to claim 8 , wherein the plurality of light sources and the radar transceiver are arranged on a joint printed circuit board.
12 . The radar device according to claim 11 , wherein the printed circuit board features separate electrical circuits for the plurality of light sources and the radar transceiver.
13 . The system according to claim 3 , wherein the colour pigments and/or a metallic coating are an indium or germanium coating.