METHOD OF OPERATING A RADAR SYSTEM TO REDUCE NUISANCE ALRRTS CAUSED BY FALSE STATIONARY TARGETS

• US 20140292554A1
• Filed: 04/02/2013
• Published: 10/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aptiv Technologies AG
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: SMITH, MATTHEW R., CASHLER, ROBERT J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,297,892 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/27
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2031/0016 Identification of obstacles; Selection of a target vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/0008 including means for detecting potential obstacles in vehicle path
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/20 Steering systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/14 Yaw
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/00 Input parameters relating to objects
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/04 Systems determining presence of a target based on relative movement of target G01S13/56
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/411 Identification of targets based on measurements of radar reflectivity G01S7/415 takes precedence

Abstract

A method for operating a radar system on a vehicle to reduce nuisance alerts caused by a stationary structure proximate to the vehicle. The method includes determining a stationary count indicative of the number of targets detected by the radar system that are within a travel path of the vehicle and are classified by the radar system as stationary, and indicating that the vehicle is proximate to a stationary structure if the stationary count is greater than a count threshold.

Claims

1. A method for operating a radar system on a vehicle to reduce nuisance alerts caused by a stationary structure proximate to the vehicle, said method comprising:

determining a stationary count indicative of the number of targets detected by the radar system that are within a travel path of the vehicle and are classified by the radar system as stationary; and

indicating that the vehicle is proximate to a stationary structure if the stationary count is greater than a count threshold.

2. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the stationary structure is characterized as one or more of a tunnel, a guardrail, an overhead bridge, and one or more construction-zone obstacles.

3. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the travel path has a width that corresponds to the width of the vehicle.

4. The method in accordance with claim 3, wherein the travel path includes a boundary zone on either side of the vehicle.

5. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the count threshold is determined based on one or more of a steering angle, a yaw rate, and a vehicle speed.

6. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the radar system is only configured to determine a range and a bearing to a target and not configured to determine an elevation of the target, wherein said method further comprises

determining a range and a bearing to each target.

7. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said method further comprises

determining a travel path of the vehicle based on one or more of a yaw rate, a vehicle speed, and a steering angle of the vehicle.

8. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said method further comprises

preventing a response by a vehicle safety system if the proximity to a stationary structure is indicated.

9. The method in accordance with claim 8, wherein said method further comprises reducing a range threshold used by the vehicle safety system.

10. The method in accordance with claim 8, wherein said method further comprises reducing a time-to-collision threshold used by the vehicle safety system.