Obstacle-detection system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system for detecting objects around a vehicle comprising:
- a plurality of microwave-transceiver sensors mounted to the vehicle for transmitting microwave signals having a first phase and receiving microwave signals reflected from objects around the vehicle and having a second phase;
a phase comparator for comparing the transmitted microwave signal having the first phase with the received microwave signal having the second phase, said comparator generating an output signal in response to the phase comparison of the first phase and the second phase;
a control processor responsive to the output signal of the comparator and generating an alarm signal, the control processor including means for altering a scanning pattern of a sensor in response to the speed of the vehicle; and
alarm means for generating an alarm in response to the alarm signal received from the control processor.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for detecting objects around a vehicle, comprising a plurality of microwave-transceiver sensors for transmitting microwave signals to reflect off objects around the vehicle. The reflected signals are received and passed to a control unit for comparing the received signal to a transmitted signal to determine whether a detected object constitutes a threat to the moving vehicle. An alarm means is connected to the control unit and activates upon the receipt of an alarm signal when the control unit determines a detected object constitutes a threat to the vehicle.
-
Citations
21 Claims
-
1. A system for detecting objects around a vehicle comprising:
-
a plurality of microwave-transceiver sensors mounted to the vehicle for transmitting microwave signals having a first phase and receiving microwave signals reflected from objects around the vehicle and having a second phase; a phase comparator for comparing the transmitted microwave signal having the first phase with the received microwave signal having the second phase, said comparator generating an output signal in response to the phase comparison of the first phase and the second phase; a control processor responsive to the output signal of the comparator and generating an alarm signal, the control processor including means for altering a scanning pattern of a sensor in response to the speed of the vehicle; and alarm means for generating an alarm in response to the alarm signal received from the control processor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
4. A system for detecting objects around a vehicle comprising:
-
a plurality of microwave-transceiver sensors mounted to the vehicle for transmitting microwave signals having a first phase and receiving microwave signals reflected from objects around the vehicle and having a second phase; a phase comparator for comparing the transmitted microwave signal having the first phase with the received microwave signal having the second phase, said comparator generating an output signal in response to the phase comparison of the first phase and the second phase; a control processor responsive to the output signal of the comparator and generating an alarm signal, said control processor including means for recording predetermined failure modes of the system; and alarm means for generating an alarm in response to the alarm signal received from the control processor. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
5. A system for detecting objects around a vehicle comprising:
-
a plurality of microwave-transceiver sensors mounted to the vehicle for transmitting microwave signals having a first phase and receiving microwave signals reflected from objects around the vehicle and having a second phase; a phase comparator for comparing the transmitted microwave signal having the first phase with the received microwave signal having the second phase, said comparator generating an output signal in response to the phase comparison of the first phase and the second phase; a control processor responsive to the output signal of the comparator and generating an alarm signal, said control processor further including means for deactivating an individual sensor in response to control of the vehicle; and alarm means for generating an alarm in response to the alarm signal received from the control processor.
-
-
10. Method for detecting objects near a vehicle comprising the steps of:
-
transmitting a microwave signal having a first phase; receiving a reflection microwave signal of the transmitted microwave signal, the reflection signal having a second phase; determining the phase difference between the transmitted microwave signal and the reflection microwave signal; calculating a critical zone based on the direction of movement of the vehicle; determining if a detected object lies within the critical zone based upon the comparison of the transmitted signal and the reflection signal; determining whether a number of predetermined criteria relating to position and/or direction and/or condition of the detected object and the vehicle are satisfied; and activating an alarm if the object lies within a critical zone and the predetermined criteria are satisfied.
-
-
15. A microwave object detection system for use with a vehicle comprising:
-
a plurality of microwave-transceiver sensors for transmitting a microwave signal having a first phase and receiving a microwave signal having a second phase, said plurality of microwave-transceiver sensors detecting objects in the vicinity of the vehicle at least one of said microwave-receiver sensors includes means for focusing a microwave beam to electronically scan a predetermined pattern; a phase comparator for comparing the transmitted microwave signal having the first phase with the received microwave signal having the second phase, said phase comparator generating an output signal in response to the phase comparison of the transmitted microwave signal and the received microwave signal; a control processor responsive to the output signal of the comparator and generating an alarm signal, said control processor including means for individually activating the plurality of microwave transceiver sensors in response to operation of the vehicle; and alarm means for generating an alarm in response to the alarm signal received from the control processor. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
-
21. A system for detecting objects around a vehicle comprising:
-
a plurality of microwave-transceiver sensors for transmitting and receiving microwave signals reflecting by an object, each sensor generating a scanning pattern for detecting objects around the vehicle; control means for comparing the phase of a receive signal with the phase of a transmitted signal to determine a distance from the vehicle to an object reflecting the transmitted signal, said control means including a control processor for generating an output signal responsive to the comparison, said control processor including means for altering the scanning pattern of a sensor in response to the speed of the vehicle; and alarm means responsive to the output signal from the control processor for notifying the driver of a detected object.
-
Specification