Automotive radar elevation alignment

• US 20030090411A1
• Filed: 09/30/2002
• Published: 05/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jaguar Cars Limited (TATA Motors Limited)
• Original Assignee: Jaguar Cars Limited (TATA Motors Limited)
• Inventors: Haney, Paul Robert, Hoare, Edward George, Richardson, Michael Julian
• Granted Patent: US 6,778,131 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/165
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4026 Antenna boresight
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4034 in elevation, i.e. in the vertical plane
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4086 in a calibrating environment, e.g. anechoic chamber

Abstract

A method and an apparatus for aligning the elevation of an automotive radar unit. The method of aligning a radar transceiver unit (4) on a vehicle (1) having the steps of: positioning at least three radar reflectors (7, 8, 9) in a pattern in which the reflectors are fixed relative to one another with the reflectors occupying three rows (20, 21, 22) at different elevations and at least three different horizontal positions (23, 24, 25), so that the middle row (21) is horizontally distinguishable from the neighboring rows (20, 22); directing a beam (14) of radar waves (12) from the radar transceiver (4) generally towards the radar reflectors (7, 8, 9); scanning (18), and if necessary repeatedly scanning, the beam (14) relative to the pattern so that the beam moves across the pattern at one or more fixed elevations in a horizontal direction; receiving at the radar transceiver (4) radar waves reflected (17) from one or more of the reflectors (7, 8, 9); detecting the elevation of the middle row (21); setting the elevation of the beam (14) of radar waves according to the detected elevation of the middle row (21).

Claims

1. A method of aligning a radar transceiver unit on a vehicle, using at least three radar reflectors, comprising the steps of:

a) positioning the radar reflectors in a pattern in which the reflectors are fixed relative to one another with the reflectors occupying three rows at different elevations and at least three different horizontal positions, so that the middle row is horizontally distinguishable from the neighboring rows;

b) directing a beam of radar waves from the radar transceiver generally towards the radar reflectors;

c) scanning the beam relative to the pattern so that the beam moves across the pattern at one elevation in a horizontal direction;

d) receiving at the radar transceiver radar waves reflected from one or more of the reflectors;

e) detecting the elevation of the middle row, including repeating if necessary steps c) and d) at different elevations;

f) setting the elevation of the beam of radar waves according to the detected elevation of the middle row.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, in which the pattern is fixed relative to the vehicle, and the beam of radar waves is scanned horizontally across the pattern of radar reflectors.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2, in which a radar reflector in the middle row is aligned azimuthally with respect to a longitudinal center of the vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

g) scanning the beam of radar waves over the pattern so that the beam moves across said reflector in a horizontal direction;

h) receiving at the radar transceiver radar waves reflected from said reflector;

i) detecting the point in the scan at which the reflector is in alignment azimuthally with the beam of radar waves to set the azimuth alignment of the scanned beam.

4. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the beam of radar waves is monopulse beam with two lobes.

5. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the elevation separation between the middle row and neighboring rows is such that in step d) the radar transceiver does not detect reflected radar waves from reflectors in said neighboring rows when the elevation of the beam of radar waves is at the elevation of the middle row.

6. A method as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, in which the elevation separation between the middle row and neighboring rows is such that the radar transceiver detects with equal reduced strength reflected radar waves from reflectors in said neighboring rows when the elevation of radar waves is at the elevation of the middle row.

7. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, in which there are at least five radar reflectors, the number of and/or horizontal separation between radar reflectors in each row serving after steps c) and d) to identify uniquely each row.

8. An apparatus for aligning a radar transceiver unit on a motor vehicle, comprising a motor vehicle with a radar transceiver that generates a beam of radar waves, at least three radar reflectors for reflecting the beam back to the radar transceiver when a reflector is illuminated by the beam, and means for scanning the beam relative to the pattern at one elevation in a horizontal direction, wherein:

the radar reflectors are arranged in a pattern in which the reflectors are fixed relative to one another with the reflectors occupying three rows at different elevations and at least three different horizontal positions such that the middle row is horizontally distinguishable from the neighboring rows, so that the elevation of the beam of radar waves may be set according to the detected elevation of the middle row.

9. A method of aligning a radar transceiver unit on a vehicle substantially as herein described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

10. An apparatus for aligning a radar transceiver unit on a motor vehicle substantially as herein described, with reference to or as shown in the accompanying drawings.