Vehicle function impairment detection

• US 10,482,768 B1
• Filed: 05/08/2018
• Issued: 11/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Denso International America Incorporated (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Denso International America Incorporated (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: Sato, Miki, Lai, Ting-Yu, Gerges, Markos
• Primary Examiner(s): Nwugo, Ojiako K
• Application Number:
  US15/973,725
• Publication Number:
  US 20190347937A1
• Time in Patent Office: 560 Days
• Field of Search: 340435
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93273 on the top of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93275 in the bumper area
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/021 Auxiliary means for detecting or identifying radar signals or the like, e.g. radar jamming signals
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/023 Interference mitigation, e.g. reducing or avoiding non-intentional interference with other HF-transmitters, base station transmitters for mobile communication or other radar systems, e.g. using electro-magnetic interference [EMI] reduction techniques auxiliary means for detecting or identifying radar signals or the like G01S7/021; means for anti-jamming G01S7/36
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/04 using optical or ultrasonic detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/161 Decentralised systems, e.g. inter-vehicle communication
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/164 Centralised systems, e.g. external to vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes

Abstract

Systems, methods, and apparatuses are provided and include a receiver module that is configured to receive at least one radar signal. A control module includes a processor that is configured to execute instruction stored in a nontransitory memory. The control module is configured to generate a Fourier transformation based on the at least one radar signal, and the control module is configured to determine a presence of wave interference based on the Fourier transformation. A primary indicator module is configured to, in response to the control module determining the presence of wave interference, generate an indication. The indication corresponds to the presence of wave interference.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a receiver module that is configured to receive at least one radar signal;

a control module that includes a processor that is configured to execute instruction stored in a nontransitory memory, wherein the control module is configured to;

generate a Fourier transformation based on the at least one radar signal; and

determine a presence of wave interference in response to the Fourier transformation having a harmonic distortion value that is greater than a threshold harmonic distortion value; and

a primary indicator module that is configured to, in response to the control module determining the presence of wave interference, generate an indication, wherein the indication corresponds to the presence of wave interference;

wherein;

the primary indicator module includes at least one of a vibration module, an LED module, and an auditory alert module;

the vibration module includes a vibration motor, a switching element, and a filtering element;

in response to the control module determining the presence of wave interference, the control module is configured to provide an indication signal to the switching element;

in response to the switching element receiving the indication signal, the switching element is configured to activate the vibration motor;

in response to the vibration motor being activated, the vibration motor is configured to generate the indication; and

the indication is a haptic alert.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the control module is configured to determine the presence of wave interference in response to an amplitude of a noise floor of the Fourier transformation being greater than a threshold amplitude.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a secondary indicator module that is configured to broadcast a signal to at least one remote system, wherein the signal is configured to cause the at least one remote system to generate the indication.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the control module is further configured to determine the presence of wave interference in response to the Fourier transformation having an unstable noise floor.

5. A method comprising:

receiving, using a receiver module, at least one radar signal;

generating, using a control module that includes a processor that is configured to execute instruction stored in a nontransitory memory, a Fourier transformation based on the at least one radar signal;

determining, using the control module, a presence of wave interference based on the Fourier transformation having a harmonic distortion value that is greater than a threshold harmonic distortion value; and

generating, using a primary indicator module and in response to the control module determining the presence of wave interference, an indication, wherein the indication corresponds to the presence of wave interference;

wherein;

the primary indicator module includes at least one of a vibration module, an LED module, and an auditory alert module;

the vibration module includes a vibration motor, a switching element, and a filtering element,

the method further comprises;

in response to the control module determining the presence of wave interference, providing, using the control module, an indication signal to the switching element;

in response to the switching element receiving the indication signal, activating, using the switching element, the vibration motor; and

in response to the vibration motor being activated, generating, using the vibration motor, the indication, wherein the indication is a haptic alert.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein determining the presence of wave interference is based on an amplitude of a noise floor of the Fourier transformation being greater than a threshold amplitude.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising broadcasting, using a secondary indicator module, a signal to at least one remote system, wherein the signal is configured to cause the at least one remote system to generate the indication.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein determining the presence of wave interference is based on the Fourier transformation having an unstable noise floor.

9. An apparatus comprising:

a receiver module that is configured to receive, at a first location associated with at least one of (i) a user of the apparatus and (ii) a first road, at least one radar signal transmitted by at least one vehicle;

a control module that includes a processor that is configured to execute instruction stored in a nontransitory memory, wherein the control module is configured to;

generate a Fourier transformation based on the at least one radar signal; and

determine a presence of wave interference at the first location in response to the Fourier transformation having a harmonic distortion value that is greater than a threshold harmonic distortion value; and

a primary indicator module that is configured to, in response to the control module determining the presence of wave interference, generate an indication, wherein the indication corresponds to the presence of wave interference;

wherein;

the primary indicator module includes at least one of a vibration module, an LED module, and an auditory alert module;

the vibration module includes a vibration motor, a switching element, and a filtering element;

in response to the control module determining the presence of wave interference, the control module is configured to provide an indication signal to the switching element;

in response to the switching element receiving the indication signal, the switching element is configured to activate the vibration motor;

in response to the vibration motor being activated, the vibration motor is configured to generate the indication; and

the indication is a haptic alert.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the control module is configured to determine the presence of wave interference in response to the Fourier transformation having an unstable noise floor.