RADAR APPARATUS

• US 20150226838A1
• Filed: 12/18/2014
• Published: 08/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: HAYAKAWA, Eisuke
• Granted Patent: US 9,880,262 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/0098 Details of control systems ensuring comfort, safety or stability not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/00 Measuring acceleration; Measuring deceleration; Measuring shock, i.e. sudden change of acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/02 Systems using reflection of radio waves, e.g. primary radar systems; Analogous systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/345 using triangular modulation
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/86 Combinations of radar systems with non-radar systems, e.g. sonar, direction finder
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/0245 Radar with phased array antenna
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/932 using own vehicle data, e.g. ground speed, steering wheel direction
• 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: 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 3/267 Phased-array testing or checking devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/36 with variable phase-shifters

Abstract

A radar apparatus includes: a transmitting antenna including a first antenna and a second antenna that transmit transmission waves; a signal processor configured to determine a mounted state of the radar apparatus on the vehicle; and a phase adjuster that adjusts at least one of phases of transmission signals output to the first antenna and the second antenna of the transmitting antenna. The signal processor controls the phase adjuster to adjust the at least one of the phases of the transmission signals based on the mounted state determined by the signal processor.

Claims

1. A radar apparatus that is mounted on a vehicle, the radar apparatus comprising:

a transmitting antenna comprising a first antenna and a second antenna that transmit transmission waves;

a signal processor configured to determine a mounted state of the radar apparatus on the vehicle; and

a phase adjuster that adjusts at least one of phases of transmission signals output to the first antenna and the second antenna of the transmitting antenna, wherein

the signal processor controls the phase adjuster to adjust the at least one of the phases of the transmission signals based on the mounted state determined by the signal processor.

2. The radar apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

in a case where the signal processor determines that the radar apparatus is mounted on the vehicle in an upside-down mounted state as compared to a predetermined mounted state, the signal processor controls the phase adjuster to adjust at least one of the phases of the transmission signals output to the first antenna and the second antenna.

3. The radar apparatus according to claim 2, wherein

the predetermined mounted state is a state where the first antenna is positioned higher than the second antenna in a direction vertical to a road surface, and the upside-down mounted state is a state where the first antenna is positioned lower than the second antenna in the direction vertical to the road surface.

4. The radar apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

a memory that stores a plurality of parameters including a first parameter and a second parameter that are phase information of the transmission signals, the second parameter being different from the first parameter, wherein

in a case where the radar apparatus is mounted on the vehicle in the predetermined mounted state, the signal processor controls the phase adjuster to adjust, based on the first parameter, at least one of the phases of the transmission signals output to the first antenna and the second antenna, and in a case where the radar apparatus is mounted on the vehicle in the upside-down mounted state as compared to the predetermined state, the signal processor controls the phase adjuster to adjust, based on the second parameter, at least one of the phases of the transmission signals output to the first antenna and the second antenna.

5. The radar apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the signal processor determines the mounted state based on, a gravity acceleration obtained from an acceleration sensor of the radar apparatus.

6. The radar apparatus according to claim 2, wherein

the signal processor determines the mounted state based on a gravity acceleration obtained from an acceleration sensor of the radar apparatus.

7. The radar apparatus according to claim 3, wherein

the signal processor determines the mounted state based on a gravity acceleration obtained from an acceleration sensor of the radar apparatus.

8. The radar apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the signal processor determines the mounted state based on a state of a reception signal of a reflection wave reflected from an object.

9. The radar apparatus according to claim 2, wherein

the signal processor determines the mounted state based on a state of a reception signal of a reflection wave reflected from an object.

10. The radar apparatus according to claim 3, wherein

the signal processor determines the mounted state based on a state of a reception signal of a reflection wave reflected from an object.

11. The radar apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising:

a switch that is operated by a user, wherein

the signal processor determines the mounted state based on an operation state of the switch.

12. The radar apparatus according to claim 2 further comprising:

a switch that is operated by a user, wherein

the signal processor determines the mounted state based on an operation state of the switch.

13. The radar apparatus according to claim 3 further comprising:

a switch that is operated by a user, wherein

the signal processor determines the mounted state based on an operation state of the switch.

14. A vehicle control system that controls a vehicle, the vehicle control system comprising:

the radar apparatus according to claim 1; and

a vehicle controller that controls the vehicle based on target information output from the radar apparatus.

15. A signal processing method that is performed by a radar apparatus that is mounted on a vehicle, the signal processing method comprising the steps of:

(a) transmitting transmission waves from a first antenna and a second antenna of a transmitting antenna of the radar apparatus;

(b) determining a mounted state of the radar apparatus on the vehicle; and

(c) adjusting at least one of phases of transmission signals output to the first antenna and the second antenna of the transmitting antenna, wherein

the step (c) adjusts the phases of the transmission signals based on the mounted state that has been determined.

16. The signal processing method according to claim 15, wherein

in a case where it is determined that the radar apparatus is mounted on the vehicle in an upside-down mounted state as compared to a predetermined mounted state, the step (c) adjusts at least one of the phases of the transmission signals output to the first antenna and the second antenna.

17. The signal processing method according to claim 16, wherein

the predetermined mounted state is a state where the first antenna is positioned higher than the second antenna in a direction vertical to a road surface, and the upside-down mounted state is a state where the first antenna is positioned lower than the second antenna in the direction vertical to the road surface.