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ADAS Sensor & Camera Heating

Transparent heaters for radar, LiDAR and camera covers — back-injection moldable. Proven in serial production for leading Tier 1 automotive suppliers.

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ADAS Sensor & Camera Heating

Challenge

ADAS sensors (radar, LiDAR, cameras) must deliver reliable data in all weather conditions. Snow, ice and fogging on sensor covers cause critical system failures — potentially disabling autonomous driving functions at the worst possible moment. Wire-based heating solutions suffer from high scrap rates during manufacturing, inhomogeneous temperature distribution and overheating risks that can damage sensitive sensor optics. With growing EV front-end covers housing multiple sensors in a single module, the heating challenge scales significantly — requiring solutions that are transparent, uniform, and manufacturable at scale.

Our Solution

ATT's transparent heaters integrate seamlessly into sensor covers via back-injection molding — eliminating the need for any additional assembly step. Two variants are available: printed silver heaters for camera and radar covers (a direct, cost-effective replacement for wire-based solutions with dramatically lower scrap rates) and transparent heaters on conductive substrates specifically for LiDAR applications — since metallic structures such as silver traces would interfere with laser transmission. Both variants maintain excellent transparency across their respective relevant wavelengths.

How It Works

1

Design & Simulation

Custom heater layout designed using ATT's proprietary simulation tools, matched precisely to your sensor cover geometry and thermal requirements.

2

Printing & Processing

Silver ink screen-printed on transparent polycarbonate foils with controlled layer thickness, ensuring uniform heat distribution. For LiDAR applications, conductive transparent substrates are used.

3

Integration

Heater foils back-injection molded using your existing cover tooling — no additional assembly steps, no design changes to your production line.

4

Testing & Qualification

Comprehensive qualification including thermal cycling, humidity testing, and full automotive validation per OEM-specific requirements.

Variant 1 — Printed Silver Heaters

  • Direct alternative to wire-based heaters with significantly reduced scrap rate
  • Transparent, back-injection moldable onto polycarbonate
  • Thermoformable for complex 3D geometries
  • Power density selectable

Variant 2 — Transparent Heaters for LiDAR

  • Based on conductive transparent substrates — no metallic structures
  • Optimized for LiDAR wavelengths (905 nm and 1550 nm) with > 90% transmittance
  • Silver heaters cannot be used for LiDAR — only transparent substrates provide the required light transmission
  • Back-injection moldable onto polycarbonate

Application Areas

Camera Covers

Front, rear and surround-view cameras for ADAS Level 2–5. Transparent heaters prevent fogging and icing without affecting image quality.

Radar Covers

76–77 GHz radar modules for adaptive cruise control and collision avoidance. Heater design optimized for < −0.5 dB signal attenuation.

LiDAR Windows

905 nm and 1550 nm LiDAR systems for 3D environment mapping. > 90% transmittance maintained across the entire operating spectrum.

Multi-Sensor Clusters

Integrated front-end modules combining camera, radar and LiDAR behind a single heated cover — the growing standard in modern EV platforms.

Technical Data

Power Density Selectable
Min Thickness From 50 μm
Radar Attenuation < −0.5 dB (76–77 GHz)
Optical Transmittance > 90%
LiDAR Transmittance > 90%

Key Advantages

  • Proven technologies for serial production
  • Seamless back-injection molding integration — no assembly step
  • Transparent heaters on conductive substrates specifically for LiDAR
  • Transparent across visual, radar and LiDAR wavelengths
  • Proven supply chain: direct to Tier 1, or combined with injection molding partner to OEM
  • Compliant with automotive qualification standards
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Frequently Asked Questions

What types of ADAS sensors can be heated with ATT's foil heaters?
Our heater foils work with all common ADAS sensor types: cameras (visible and infrared), radar modules (76–77 GHz), and LiDAR units (905 nm and 1550 nm). The transparent heater design ensures minimal signal attenuation across all relevant wavelengths — below −0.5 dB for radar and above 90% transmittance for optical/LiDAR.
How fast can the heater de-ice a sensor cover?
De-icing time depends on the selected power density, ambient temperature, cover geometry, and integration design. Our simulation tools can accurately predict de-icing performance for your specific application.
Does the heater affect radar or LiDAR sensor performance?
No. Our printed heaters are specifically designed for minimal signal interference. At 76–77 GHz, radar attenuation stays below −0.5 dB. For LiDAR at 905 nm and 1550 nm, optical transmittance exceeds 90%. These values meet the most stringent OEM specifications for ADAS sensor covers.
Can the heater foil be integrated into existing injection molding tools?
Yes. Our heater foils are designed for back-injection molding and can be integrated into existing production tooling with minimal or no modifications. The foil is placed in the mold before injection — no additional assembly step is needed. This dramatically simplifies production compared to wire-based solutions.
What is the difference between silver heaters and transparent heaters?
Silver heaters are screen-printed and ideally suited for camera and radar covers — offering a cost-effective replacement for wire-based solutions with uniform heat distribution. Transparent heaters are based on conductive substrates and are specifically designed for LiDAR applications, since metallic structures such as silver traces would interfere with laser transmission at 905 nm and 1550 nm.
What automotive qualification standards do ATT heaters meet?
ATT heater foils are qualified according to the specific requirements of each OEM and Tier 1 customer. This typically includes thermal cycling (-40°C to +85°C or higher), humidity testing (85°C/85% RH), UV exposure, and mechanical stress tests. We work closely with your quality team to meet all project-specific requirements.

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