Method of improving zone of coverage response of automotive radar
DCFirst Claim
1. In a radar system wherein a host vehicle uses radar to detect a target vehicle in a blind spot of the host vehicle driver, a method of improving the perceived zone of coverage response of automotive radar comprising the steps of:
- determining the relative speed of the host and target vehicles;
selecting a variable sustain time as a function of relative vehicle speed;
detecting target vehicle presence and producing an alert command;
activating an alert signal in response to the alert command;
at the end of the alert command, determining whether the alert signal was active for a threshold time; and
if the alert signal was active for the threshold time, sustaining the alert signal for the variable sustain time, wherein the zone of coverage appears to increase according to the variable sustain time.
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Litigations
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Accused Products
Abstract
Side detection radar utilized on a host vehicle for covering a blind spot in a vehicle mirror view produces alert commands resulting in signals which have gaps due to poor radar reflectivity of portions of a target. To fill these gaps to produce a steady alert signal when a target vehicle is in radar view and to extend the perceived zone of coverage, a variable sustain time is added to each alert signal which exceeds a threshold value. The sustain time varies as an inverse function of the relative vehicle speed and the threshold value varies as an inverse function of vehicle speed. If the alert signal is shorter than the threshold value, then a minimized hold time can be applied.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. In a radar system wherein a host vehicle uses radar to detect a target vehicle in a blind spot of the host vehicle driver, a method of improving the perceived zone of coverage response of automotive radar comprising the steps of:
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determining the relative speed of the host and target vehicles; selecting a variable sustain time as a function of relative vehicle speed; detecting target vehicle presence and producing an alert command; activating an alert signal in response to the alert command; at the end of the alert command, determining whether the alert signal was active for a threshold time; and if the alert signal was active for the threshold time, sustaining the alert signal for the variable sustain time, wherein the zone of coverage appears to increase according to the variable sustain time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification