Combined Radar Backup Assist and Blindspot Detector and Method
First Claim
1. A tracking system for tracking objects located adjacent a vehicle, comprising:
- a first radar sensor having a first long/narrow detection pattern antenna configured to detect objects located within a first long/narrow detection pattern located at a rear of the vehicle, and a first short/wide detection pattern antenna configured to detect objects located within a first short/wide detection pattern located at the rear of the vehicle, the first long/narrow detection pattern being longer and narrower than the first short/wide detection pattern;
a second radar sensor spaced away from the first radar sensor, the second radar sensor including a second long/narrow detection pattern antenna configured to detect objects located within a second long/narrow detection pattern located at the rear of the vehicle, and a second short/wide detection pattern antenna configured to detect objects located within a second short/wide detection pattern located at the rear of the vehicle, the second long/narrow detection pattern being longer and narrower than the second short/wide detection pattern, whereinthe first and second long/narrow detection pattern antennae are configured to detect objects when the vehicle is backing up and wherein the first and second short/wide detection pattern antennae are configured to detect objects when the vehicle is moving forward.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for detecting objects in the blind spot and behind a vehicle is provided. The system according to the disclosed embodiments includes a first and second sensor each having a long/narrow detection antenna and a short/wide detection antenna. The long/narrow detection antennae are activated when the vehicle is travelling in reverse so that objects behind the vehicle are detected when the vehicle is backing up. The short/wide detection antennae are activated when the vehicle is moving forward so that objects in the vehicle'"'"'s blind spot are detected. When an object is detected, an alert is generated so that the vehicle operator is notified.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A tracking system for tracking objects located adjacent a vehicle, comprising:
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a first radar sensor having a first long/narrow detection pattern antenna configured to detect objects located within a first long/narrow detection pattern located at a rear of the vehicle, and a first short/wide detection pattern antenna configured to detect objects located within a first short/wide detection pattern located at the rear of the vehicle, the first long/narrow detection pattern being longer and narrower than the first short/wide detection pattern; a second radar sensor spaced away from the first radar sensor, the second radar sensor including a second long/narrow detection pattern antenna configured to detect objects located within a second long/narrow detection pattern located at the rear of the vehicle, and a second short/wide detection pattern antenna configured to detect objects located within a second short/wide detection pattern located at the rear of the vehicle, the second long/narrow detection pattern being longer and narrower than the second short/wide detection pattern, wherein the first and second long/narrow detection pattern antennae are configured to detect objects when the vehicle is backing up and wherein the first and second short/wide detection pattern antennae are configured to detect objects when the vehicle is moving forward. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for tracking objects located about a vehicle, comprising:
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means for generating and transmitting a radio frequency signal rearward of the vehicle; means for sensing radio signals from a first long/narrow detection pattern and a second long/narrow detection pattern when the vehicle is traveling in reverse; means for sensing radio signals from a first short/wide detection pattern and a second short/wide detection pattern when the vehicle is traveling forward, the first short/wide detection pattern being shorter and wider than the first long/narrow detection pattern and the second short/wide detection pattern being shorter and wider than the second long/narrow detection pattern; and means for generating an alert signal based upon the received return wave signal.
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15. A method for tracking an object located about a vehicle, comprising:
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generating and transmitting a radio frequency pattern; sensing a first long/narrow detection pattern and a second long/narrow detection pattern when the vehicle is traveling in reverse; sensing a first short/wide detection pattern and a second short/wide detection pattern when the vehicle is traveling forward, the first short/wide detection pattern being shorter and wider than the first long/narrow detection pattern and the second short/wide detection pattern being shorter and wider than the second long/narrow detection pattern; receiving a return wave signal from an object located in at least one detection pattern; and generating an alert signal based upon the received return wave signal. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A vehicle tracking system for tracking objects, comprising:
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a vehicle having a vehicle longitudinal axis center line; a first radar sensor having a first long/narrow detection pattern antenna and a first short/wide detection pattern antenna each spaced from the vehicle longitudinal axis center line, the first long/narrow detection pattern antenna configured to detect an object located within a first long/narrow detection pattern, and the first short/wide detection pattern antenna configured to detect an object located within a first short/wide detection pattern, the first short/wide detection pattern being shorter and wider than the first long/narrow detection pattern; a second radar sensor spaced away from the first radar sensor, the second radar sensor including a second long/narrow detection pattern antenna and a second short/wide detection pattern antenna each spaced from the vehicle longitudinal axis center line, wherein, the first and second long/narrow detection pattern antennae are configured to detect objects when a vehicle is backing up and wherein the first and second short/wide detection pattern antennae are configured to detect objects when the vehicle is moving forward.
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Specification