Radar-based object detection for vehicles
First Claim
1. A radar-based object detection component implemented in a vehicle, the radar-based object detection component comprising:
- at least one radar sensor positioned within an interior of the vehicle, the at least one radar sensor comprising at least one radar-emitting element and at least one antenna; and
a radar module implemented at least partially in hardware and configured to authenticate a driver of the vehicle by;
receiving, via the antenna, an incoming RF signal generated by an outgoing RF signal emitted by the radar-emitting element of the radar sensor reflecting off a portion of the driver that is performing at least one gesture;
determining the gesture based on the incoming RF signal;
comparing the determined gesture to stored gestures corresponding to known persons permitted to drive the vehicle; and
authenticating the driver as a known person permitted to drive the vehicle based on the determined gesture matching one of the stored gestures.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This document describes techniques and devices for radar-based object detection for vehicles. A radar-based object detection component implemented in a vehicle is configured to detect characteristics of persons within the vehicle, such as a driver or other passengers. Based on the detected characteristics, an activity of the person can be determined and various operations can be initiated based on the activity, such as initiating a warning when the driver is not paying attention to driving or automatically slowing down the vehicle. In some cases, the radar-based object detection component can also be implemented to detect characteristics of objects positioned external to the vehicle, such as pedestrians, other vehicles, or objects in the road. The radar-based object detection component may also be implemented to authenticate a driver of the vehicle, such as by detecting biometric characteristics of the driver or recognizing a series of gestures corresponding to an authentication sequence.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A radar-based object detection component implemented in a vehicle, the radar-based object detection component comprising:
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at least one radar sensor positioned within an interior of the vehicle, the at least one radar sensor comprising at least one radar-emitting element and at least one antenna; and a radar module implemented at least partially in hardware and configured to authenticate a driver of the vehicle by; receiving, via the antenna, an incoming RF signal generated by an outgoing RF signal emitted by the radar-emitting element of the radar sensor reflecting off a portion of the driver that is performing at least one gesture; determining the gesture based on the incoming RF signal; comparing the determined gesture to stored gestures corresponding to known persons permitted to drive the vehicle; and authenticating the driver as a known person permitted to drive the vehicle based on the determined gesture matching one of the stored gestures. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method comprising:
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initiating transmission of an outgoing RF signal via at least one radar-emitting element implemented within at least one radar sensor of a vehicle; receiving, via at least one antenna of the radar sensor, an incoming RF signal generated by the outgoing RF signal reflecting off a portion of the driver that is performing at least one gesture; determining the gesture based on the incoming RF signal; comparing the determined gesture to stored gestures corresponding to known persons permitted to drive the vehicle; and authenticating the driver as a known person permitted to drive the vehicle based on the determined gesture matching one of the stored gestures. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A vehicle comprising:
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a vehicle controller configured to provide an autonomous driving mode for the vehicle; a radar-based object detection component comprising; at least one interior radar sensor positioned within an interior of the vehicle and configured to detect a series of gestures performed by a driver of the vehicle, and at least one exterior radar sensor positioned on an exterior of the vehicle and configured to detect characteristics of external objects; and a radar module implemented at least partially in hardware and configured to communicate control signals to the vehicle controller to allow the driver to operate the vehicle based on the detected gestures of the driver matching a predefined series of gestures corresponding to a known driver. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification