Radar module for radar system on motor vehicle

• US 5,712,640 A
• Filed: 11/27/1995
• Issued: 01/27/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Katou, Shigeki, Andou, Hiroyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Sotomayor, John B.
• Application Number:
  US08/563,058
• Time in Patent Office: 792 Days
• Field of Search: 342/70, 342/71, 342/72
• US Class Current: 342/70
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/34 using transmission of continuous, frequency-modulated waves while heterodyning the received signal, or a signal derived therefrom, with a locally-generated signal related to the contemporaneously transmitted signal
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/87 Combinations of radar systems, e.g. primary radar and secondary radar
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93271 in the front of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93272 in the back of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/032 Constructional details for solid-state radar subsystems
• 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

Abstract

A FM radar alarm system for use on a motor vehicle detects a following motor vehicle in an adjacent lane behind the motor vehicle. The FM radar alarm system includes an FM radar module including a near-region monitoring antenna and a far-region monitoring antenna. The near-region monitoring antenna radiates a relatively wide radio-wave beam in a near region positioned behind the motor vehicle and extending over an adjacent lane. The far-region monitoring antenna radiates a relatively narrow radio-wave beam in a far region positioned behind the motor vehicle and extending over the adjacent lane.

Claims

1. A radar module for a radar alarm system on a motor vehicle for detecting a motor vehicle in an adjacent lane behind the motor vehicle, comprising:

a near-region monitoring antenna for radiating a relatively wide electromagnetic-wave beam in a near region positioned behind the motor vehicle and extending over an adjacent lane; and

a far-region monitoring antenna for radiating a relatively narrow electromagnetic-wave beam in a far region positioned behind the motor vehicle and extending over the adjacent lane.

2. A radar module according to claim 1, wherein said near-region monitoring antenna comprises a first dielectric plate for radiating a first wave in response to a first wave signal applied thereto and a first metal block having a first pyramidal horn housing said first dielectric plate for guiding the radiated first radio wave as the relatively wide wave beam, and said far-region monitoring antenna comprises a second dielectric plate for radiating a second wave in response to a second wave signal applied thereto, a second metal block having a second pyramidal horn housing said second dielectric plate for guiding the radiated second wave, and a convergent reflecting mirror confronting said pyramidal horn for reflecting and converging the guided second wave as said relatively narrow wave beam.

3. A radar module for a radar alarm system on a motor vehicle for detecting a motor vehicle in an adjacent lane behind the motor vehicle, comprising:

a near-region monitoring antenna for radiating a relatively wide radio-wave beam in a near region positioned behind the motor vehicle and extending over an adjacent lane, and receiving a reflected radio-wave beam;

a far-region monitoring antenna for radiating a relatively narrow radio-wave beam in a far region positioned behind the motor vehicle and extending over the adjacent lane, and receiving a reflected radio-wave beam;

a radio-wave signal generator for generating a radio-wave signal;

a transmission path including an electric energy coupler for supplying the radio-wave signal from said radio-wave signal generator to said near-region monitoring antenna and said far-region monitoring antenna; and

a mixer coupled to said transmission path for generating a beat signal by mixing at least one of the reflected radio-wave signal beams with the radio-wave signal generated by said radio-wave signal generator.

4. A radar module according to claim 3, wherein said transmission path comprises a first nonradiative dielectric line extending between said electric energy coupler and said near-region monitoring antenna, and a second nonradiative dielectric line extending between said electric energy coupler and said far-region monitoring antenna, said mixer comprising a first mixer inserted in said first nonradiative dielectric line and a second mixer inserted in said second nonradiative dielectric line.

5. A radar module according to claim 3, wherein said mixer comprises a single mixer inserted in said transmission path between said radio-wave signal generator and said electric energy coupler.

6. A radar module according to claim 3, wherein said near-region monitoring antenna comprises a first dielectric plate for radiating a first radio wave in response to a first radio-wave signal applied thereto and a first metal block having a first pyramidal horn housing said first dielectric plate for guiding the radiated first radio wave as the relatively wide radio-wave beam, and said far-region monitoring antenna comprises a second dielectric plate for radiating a second radio wave in response to a second radio-wave signal applied thereto, a second metal block having a second pyramidal horn housing said second dielectric plate for guiding the radiated second radio wave, and a convergent reflecting mirror confronting said pyramidal horn for reflecting and converging the guided second radio wave as said relatively narrow radio-wave beam.

7. An FM radar module for a radar alarm system on a motor vehicle for detecting a motor vehicle in an adjacent lane behind the motor vehicle, comprising:

a near-region monitoring antenna for radiating a relatively wide FM signal beam in a near region positioned behind the motor vehicle and extending over an adjacent lane, and receiving a reflected FM signal beam;

a far-region monitoring antenna for radiating a relatively narrow FM signal beam in a far region positioned behind the motor vehicle and extending over the adjacent lane, and receiving a reflected FM signal beam;

an FM signal generator for generating an FM signal;

a transmission path including an electric energy coupler for supplying the FM signal from said FM signal generator to said near-region monitoring antenna and said far-region monitoring antenna; and

a mixer coupled to said transmission path for generating a beat signal by mixing at least one of the reflected FM signal beams with the FM signal generated by said FM signal generator.

8. A radar module according to claim 7, wherein said transmission path comprises a first nonradiative dielectric line extending between said electric energy coupler and said near-region monitoring antenna, and a second nonradiative dielectric line extending between said electric energy coupler and said far-region monitoring antenna, said mixer comprising a first mixer inserted in said first nonradiative dielectric line and a second mixer inserted in said second nonradiative dielectric line.

9. A radar module according to claim 7, wherein said mixer comprises a single mixer inserted in said transmission path between said radio-wave signal generator and said electric energy coupler.

10. A radar module according to claim 7, wherein said near-region monitoring antenna comprises a first dielectric plate for radiating a first FM wave in response to a first FM signal applied thereto and a first metal block having a first pyramidal horn housing said first dielectric plate for guiding the radiated first FM wave as the relatively wide FM beam, and said far-region monitoring antenna comprises a second dielectric plate for radiating a second FM wave in response to a second FM signal applied thereto, a second metal block having a second pyramidal horn housing said second dielectric plate for guiding the radiated second FM wave, and a convergent reflecting mirror confronting said pyramidal horn for reflecting and converging the guided second FM wave as said relatively narrow FM beam.