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Enhancing automotive sensor performance for tomorrow’s vehicles
Self-driving cars, flying taxis, drone deliveries… It’s clear that we are in the midst of a global mobility transformation. It’s driven by the need to improve vehicle safety, reduce accidents on roadways, improve transportation efficiencies and increase profitability with new mobility models. Technologies in advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), autonomous driving (AD) and 5G connectivity — which enables vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communications — are evolving to address these needs. And automotive sensors are at the center of it all. They can help enable better situational awareness, improve control and make driving easier and safer. They can also help in achieving more efficient traffic flow and reducing commute times.
3M can help you integrate, protect and optimize sensors in your vehicles. And that’s just the start. With multiple technology platforms and deep automotive and electronics experience, we can help OEMs maximize performance of increasingly sophisticated camera, radar, LiDAR and ultrasonic sensor systems in nearly any part of the vehicle. In short, we can help you meet the automotive sensor design challenges you face today and into the future.
Explore solutions. Discover possibilities.
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Solutions for Camera Sensors
From parking assist to lane departure warning and driver monitoring systems, camera sensors will remain at the core of the automotive sensing and perception suite as the industry evolves from ADAS and active safety technologies to highly automated driving. 3M offers a wide range of solutions to integrate, protect and optimize camera systems and help you capture their full potential.
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1. 3M™ VHB™ Tapes
2. 3M Tape Attached Hardware with 3M™ Structural Bonding Tapes
3. CONFOR™ SC Damped Foams - Aearo Technologies
4. ISODAMP™ Molded Thermoplastics - Aearo Technologies -
5. 3M™ Electrically Conductive Single-Sided Tapes and 3M™ Electrically Conductive Double-Sided Tapes
6. 3M™ EMI Absorbers
7. 3M™ Thermally Conductive Interface Tapes and Pads
8. 3M™ Flexible Printed Circuit Bonding
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Integrate Camera Sensors
Successful integration of cameras into vehicles means successful bonding, joining and concealment — without affecting functionality. Vibration-free imaging depends on strong bonds, stress relaxation and often a delicate balance of both. Camera brackets, lenses, image signal processors and many other crucial camera components must bond to a variety of substrates. And camouflage film conceals IR cameras, allowing for the seamless placement of driver monitoring camera systems where they will be most effective.
3M Tape Attached Hardware with 3M™ Structural Bonding Tapes
3M Acrylic Foam Tapes for Automotive OEM and Tier
3M™ VHB™ Tapes for Electronics
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Protect Camera Sensors
Protecting camera sensors from moisture and shock requires easily incorporated, highly engineered solutions. These include engineered cushioning foams and elastomers that disperse impact energy and absorb vibration. They also include ultra-thin and easy-to-apply electronic grade coatings that help to protect printed circuit boards (PCBs) against moisture and corrosion. For exterior camera applications such as back up cameras, 3M offers a replaceable film to protect against inclement weather and other contaminants.
3M™ Thermally Conductive Interface Tape 8926 Series
3M™ Low-Static Non-Silicone Polyimide Film Tape 7419, 4 mm x 33 m, 124/Case
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Help optimize camera sensors
Dissipating heat from signal processing units, reducing electromagnetic interference (EMI) and providing an effective bond on flexible printed circuitry are essential to optimizing camera system performance. Thermally conductive tapes help enable optimal temperature ranges for improved reliability and intended performance. Electrically conductive tapes and EMI absorbers help improve signal-to-noise ratio across a wide range of frequencies and sources. Adhesive transfer and double-sided tapes deliver excellent bonding power and resist moisture and humidity on flexible printed circuit boards.
3M Thermally Conductive Tapes for Automotive
3M EMI Absorbers for Automotive
3M Thermally Conductive Interface Pads and Tapes
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Solutions for Radar Sensors
As the automotive industry works toward increased vehicle autonomy levels, radar sensors will be critical to enable key ADAS functionality such as adaptive cruise control and automatic emergency braking. With long-range millimeter wave radar, these sensors are also an excellent complement to camera and LiDAR technologies and can help to unlock more automated driving possibilities. 3M solutions can help address key design challenges to help OEMs ensure radar keeps performing as intended.
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1. 3M™ Acrylic Foam Tapes
2. 3M™ VHB™ Tapes
3. 3M™ Scotch-Weld™ Structural Adhesives
4. CONFOR™ SC Damped Foams - Aearo Technologies
5. ISODAMP™ Molded Thermoplastics - Aearo Technologies -
6. 3M Bonding, Mounting and Transfer Tapes
7. 3M™ Electrically Conductive Single-Sided Tapes and 3M™ Electrically Conductive Double-Sided Tapes
8. 3M™ EMI Absorbers
9. 3M™ Thermally Conductive Interface Tapes and Pads
10. 3M™ Flexible Printed Circuit Bonding
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Integrate Radar Sensors
Radar sensors perform well in all types of weather and must have bonding solutions to match. This requires a blend of permanent adhesion and viscoelastic stress relaxation under load for internal and external applications. Inside the unit, structural liquid adhesives can provide strength for narrow bond lines. And our thin bonding tapes, including double-sided and adhesive transfer tapes, feature a variety of chemistries including silicone for bonding PCBs to copper plates.
3M Acrylic Foam Tapes for Automotive OEM and Tier
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Protect radar sensors
Aearo Technologies cushioning and damping materials absorb vibration in sensitive locations, such as PCB standoffs, and in exterior mounting locations where durability is a concern. For ingress protection, check out our 3M™ VHB™ Tapes.
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Help optimize radar sensors
A big challenge for radar sensors: their construction requires engineered thermal management solutions that direct heat away from signal processing units and the components needed to generate radio frequencies. With increased connectivity and electronics in the vehicle, electrically conductive tapes and EMI absorption materials are more important than ever to help ensure signal integrity. Tapes for bonding flexible printed circuits (FPCs) withstand high temperatures and adhere to a wide range of substrates without lifting. And well-placed anti-reflective material can help minimize radar wave reflections from a variety of emblem systems.
3M Thermally Conductive Tapes for Automotive
3M Electrically Conductive Tapes
3M™ EMI Absorbers for Automotive
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Solutions for LiDAR Sensors
LiDAR sensors when used with other sensing technologies provide redundancy for each sensing scenario. However, with its high-resolution 3D mapping capabilities, LiDAR systems will take automated driving to the next level. These sensors are the most challenging in the sensor suite and solving for these challenges is essential to the successful deployment of autonomous vehicles.
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1. 3M™ Acrylic Foam Tapes
2. 3M™ VHB™ Tapes
3. 3M™ Scotch-Weld™ Structural Adhesives
4. CONFOR™ SC Damped Foams - Aearo Technologies
5. ISODAMP™ Molded Thermoplastics - Aearo Technologies -
6. 3M™ Electrically Conductive Single-Sided Tapes and 3M™ Electrically Conductive Double-Sided Tapes
7. 3M™ EMI Absorbers
8. 3M™ Thermally Conductive Interface Tapes or Pads
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Integrate LiDAR Sensors
LiDAR units require robust solutions for sealing as well as bonding and joining. Our foam core tapes combine permanent adhesion and a viscoelastic foam core for a combination of stability and flexibility that bonds, seals and secures internal sensor components. Liquid structural adhesives and a range of thin bonding tapes provide strength in small spaces. Together, these solutions help eliminate concerns about detachment of critical sensor components or LiDAR sensor brackets — allowing for placement of LiDAR sensors across the vehicle.
3M Acrylic Foam Tapes for Automotive OEM and Tier
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Protect LiDAR Sensors
Perhaps the foremost challenge for LiDAR, the protection of valuable components requires uncommon solutions designed specifically for resistance to impact and moisture. They include ultra-thin polymer coatings that protect against corrosion, and engineered foams and elastomers that dissipate impact within the LiDAR unit. Our replaceable sensor protection films can help shield units from inclement weather while preserving optical clarity and functionality, even when placed in locations such as rooftops. For ingress protection, our 3M™ VHB™ Tapes feature 100% closed-cell technology to create an exceptionally tight seal and long-lasting bond.
CONFOR™ SC Foams - Aearo Technologies
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Help optimize LiDAR sensors
As LiDAR technology progresses, sensors process much faster and at greater load. They must also work with other sensor technologies such as radar and camera units without signal disruption. EMI absorbers are crucial. Electrically conductive tapes and adhesive transfer tapes for flexible printed circuits help bond circuitry components and control electrical current. And a range of thermal interface tapes and pads direct heat to help keep LiDAR sensors operating at peak performance.
3M Thermally Conductive Tapes for Automotive
3M Electrically Conductive Tapes
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Solutions for ultrasonic sensors
Dependable and proven for short range, ultrasonic sensors require precise placement on the vehicle for optimal performance. Bonding and joining solutions from 3M can help OEMs reliably and securely attach these sensors anywhere on the vehicle.
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Integrate ultrasonic sensors
Our 3M™ Acrylic Foam Tapes have continually set the standard for permanent bonding to a wide range of vehicle surfaces. Today this technology is available as a reliable solution for bonding ultrasonic sensors in a wide range of locations to meet your vehicle design and production specifications — and to enable new designs for the road ahead.
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Advanced materials enabling 5G connectivity and autonomous driving
In a 5G-connected and autonomous driving world, vehicles will generate and process more data at higher speeds and frequencies. Sensors and other automotive electronics designs are smaller, higher-performing — and produce a lot more heat. Also, as signal transmission and frequencies increase, especially in the millimeter wave spectrum, the risk of signal loss intensifies. Managing these challenges will help improve automated driving systems performance and reliability. 3M offers a range of advanced materials to help improve dielectric properties and thermal conductivity. Added to automotive sensors and electronic components, these 3M solutions can help to simplify system designs and improve overall performance.
Featured solutions:
Explore more automotive Human Machine Interface (HMI) applications
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HMI Home
Explore HMI applications, videos and more.
Learn more about HMI -
Information Displays
Deliver an unforgettable in-cabin experience.
Learn more about Information Displays -
Head-up Displays
Manage light, heat, EMI and more in your head-up display design.
Learn more about Head-up Displays -
Driver Monitoring
Place sensors where you need them.
Learn more about Driver Monitoring
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Electronic control units need to drive more complex functionality in vehicles. Address challenges like thermal management, electromagnetic interference, bonding and joining and more.
Let's talk about the future
3M Experts are dedicated collaborators invested in finding or creating the best solution for your unique challenge. Connect with an expert today to discuss our sensor solutions and discover what’s possible for tomorrow.
