Vehicle surroundings monitoring device

• US 20020038170A1
• Filed: 02/20/2001
• Published: 03/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Matsuoka, Katsuji
• Granted Patent: US 6,424,892 B1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/29
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/025 involving the transmission of linearly polarised waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/032 Constructional details for solid-state radar subsystems
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3233 particular used as part of a sensor or in a security system, e.g. for automotive radar, navigation systems
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3266 using the mirror of the vehicle

Abstract

A vehicle surroundings monitoring device in which reflection by a mirror is reduced to ensure the desired performance of distance measurement even in a short-distance range. The monitoring device for monitoring surroundings around a vehicle has a transmitting antenna provided in a door mirror assembly of the vehicle to radiate transmitted waves through a mirror surface of the door mirror, and a receiving antenna provided in the door mirror assembly to receive, through the door mirror surface, reflected waves from an object existing near the vehicle. In the this monitoring device, electric wave transmission surfaces are formed as portions of the door mirror surface corresponding to openings surfaces for the transmitting and receiving antennas to limit reflection by the door mirror surface and to enable transmission of electric waves through the door mirror surface. The electric wave transmission surfaces are formed by partially removing a reflective film formed on the mirror surface, by partially cutting off the mirror surface, or by forming metal slits in portions of the door mirror surface or through the entire door mirror surface.

Claims

1. A vehicle surroundings monitoring device which monitors surroundings around a vehicle, said device comprising:

a transmitting antenna mounted in a door mirror assembly of the vehicle, said transmitting antenna for radiating transmitted waves through a mirror surface of a door mirror in the door mirror assembly;

a receiving antenna mounted in the door mirror assembly, said receiving antenna for receiving, through the mirror surface of the door mirror, reflected waves from an object existing in the surroundings of the vehicle; and

electric wave transmission surfaces formed as portions of the door mirror surface corresponding to opening surfaces for said transmitting and receiving antennas to limit reflection by the door mirror surface and to enable transmission of electric waves through the door mirror surface.

2. A vehicle surroundings monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein said electric wave transmission surfaces in the door mirror surface are formed by partially removing a reflective film formed on the mirror surface.

3. A vehicle surroundings monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein said electric wave transmission surfaces in the door mirror surface are formed by partially cutting off the mirror surface.

4. A vehicle surroundings monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein said electric wave transmission surfaces in the door mirror surface are formed by forming metal slits in portions of the door mirror surface or through the entire door mirror surface.