Manufacturing of conformal RF antenna modules using compression molding

With autonomous driving being the future of the automotive industry, there is a need for a reliable and cost efficient solution for object detection and tracking. Radar sensors deliver reliable feedback in all conditions, but current technologies are planar and have restricted view angles. In the KoRRund research project, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and coordinated by Robert Bosch GmbH, a solution to this challenge is being developed. Using conformal antenna arrays that will be mounted on the vehicle contour, the antenna signals reflected from obstacles can be processed in parallel with a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) system. This paper investigates the manufacturing process of the modules utilizing compression molding.