Object sensing system

• US 20110037640A1
• Filed: 08/13/2009
• Published: 02/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Acquisition, LLC
• Original Assignee: TK Holdings Incorporated (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Schmidlin, Michael J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,978,122 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/55
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 11/12 using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/4454 phase comparisons monopulse, i.e. comparing the echo signals received by an interferometric antenna arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/867 Combination of radar systems with cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/92 for velocity measurement
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/03 Details of HF subsystems specially adapted therefor, e.g. common to transmitter and receiver
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/04 using optical or ultrasonic detectors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/239 using two 2D image sensors having a relative position equal to or related to the interocular distance H04N13/243 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49016 Antenna or wave energy "plumbing" making

Abstract

An object sensing system includes a radar system including at least one aperture through which a radar signal is transmitted and at least one aperture through which reflected radar signals are received. The sensing system also includes a stereo vision system including a first sensor and a second sensor. The first sensor and the second sensor are separated by an offset. The stereo vision system is mounted to the radar system to form a single assembly. The radar system is positioned in the offset between the first sensor and the second sensor.

Claims

1. An object sensing system, comprising:

a radar system comprising at least one aperture through which a radar signal is transmitted and at least one aperture through which reflected radar signals are received; and

a stereo vision system comprising a first sensor and a second sensor, the first sensor and the second sensor separated by an offset, the stereo vision system mounted to the radar system to form a single assembly, the radar system positioned in the offset between the first sensor and the second sensor.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the offset separating the first sensor and the second sensor is adjustable.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein an elevation angle of the stereo vision system is adjustable relative to the elevation angle of the radar system.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the stereo vision system is rotatable about a pivot point coupling the stereo vision system and radar system together.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the elevation angle of the stereo vision system is adjusted by a screw coupling the stereo vision system to the radar system.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the radar system is a monopulse radar system.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the radar system comprises two receive apertures or two transmit apertures.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the radar system is configured for detecting or estimating a position of a first object at a first range and the stereo vision system is configured for detecting or estimating a position of a second object at a second range.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first range is farther from the radar system than the second range.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the system is configured to be mounted in a vehicle.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a power supply configured to power both the radar system and the stereo vision system.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the power supply is located in a housing containing a radar transmitter and a radar receiver.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a signal processing circuit for processing signals generated and received by both the radar system and the stereo vision system.

14. A method for assembling a radar and stereo vision system, the method comprising the steps of:

mounting a radar assembly to an apparatus;

adjusting an elevation angle of the radar assembly with respect to the apparatus;

mounting a stereo vision assembly to the radar assembly such that the radar assembly is positioned between a first sensor and a second sensor of the stereo vision assembly;

adjusting an offset between the first sensor and the second sensor of the stereo vision assembly; and

adjusting an elevation angle of the stereo vision assembly with respect to the radar assembly.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein adjusting an elevation angle of the stereo vision assembly comprises actuating a screw coupling the stereo vision assembly to the radar assembly, the stereo vision assembly rotatable about a pivot point coupling the stereo vision assembly and radar assembly together.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein adjusting the offset the first sensor and the second sensor of the stereo vision assembly comprises adjusting the position of only one of the first sensor and the second sensor with respect to the other sensor.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the radar assembly is a monopulse radar assembly comprising two receive or two transmit apertures.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the radar assembly is configured for detecting or estimating a position of a first object at a first range and the stereo vision assembly is configured for detecting or estimating a position of a second object at a second range.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of:

mounting the radar and stereo vision assembly in a vehicle or in an intersection monitoring system.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of:

mounting a power supply to the radar assembly, the power supply configured to power both the radar assembly and the stereo vision assembly.