Radar device for vehicle use

• US 5,717,399 A
• Filed: 11/15/1995
• Issued: 02/10/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/1994
• 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: Urabe, Masanobu, Shingyoji, Masahito
• Primary Examiner(s): Sotomayor, John B.
• Application Number:
  US08/559,709
• Time in Patent Office: 818 Days
• Field of Search: 342/70, 342/71, 342/72, 342/85, 342/87, 342/99
• US Class Current: 342/70
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/10 using transmission of interrupted, pulse modulated waves determination of distance by phase measurement G01S13/32
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/32 using transmission of continuous waves, whether amplitude-, frequency-, or phase-modulated, or unmodulated
• 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 2013/9315 Monitoring blind spots
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/932 using own vehicle data, e.g. ground speed, steering wheel direction
• 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 2013/93274 on the side 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
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/0025 Modular arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/24 varying the orientation by switching energy from one active radiating element to another, e.g. for beam switching

Abstract

A radar device for vehicle use which can be manufactured inexpensively while enhancing its monitoring function for an adjacent object as well as a remote object. The radar device includes a radar module for monitoring an adjacent object having a plurality of adjacent object monitoring antennas, a signal transmitting/receiving section for supplying transmitting signals to the adjacent object monitoring antennas and outputting signals by mixing the transmitting signals with received signals supplied from the adjacent monitoring antennas and a delay circuit inserted between the signal transmitting/receiving section and the adjacent object monitoring antennas. The radar device also includes a module for monitoring a remote object having a remote object monitoring antenna and a signal transmitting/receiving section for supplying transmitting signals to the remote object monitoring antenna and generating signals by mixing the transmitting signals with received signals supplied from the remote monitoring antenna. The radar device has a monitoring control section for controlling the operations of both the radar module for monitoring an adjacent object and the radar module for monitoring a remote object and the monitoring control section receives the signals output from the radar modules and detects the range to the object which generates reflected signals based on the beat signals.

Claims

1. A radar device for vehicle use comprising;

an FM radar module for monitoring an adjacent object including a plurality of adjacent object monitoring antennas, a signal transmitting/receiving section for supplying transmitting FM signals to said adjacent object monitoring antennas and outputting beat signals by mixing said transmitting FM signals with received FM signals supplied from said adjacent monitoring antennas, and a delay circuit inserted between said signal transmitting/receiving section and said adjacent object monitoring antennas,

an FM radar module for monitoring a remote object including a remote object monitoring antenna and a signal transmitting/receiving section for feeding transmitting FM signals to said remote object monitoring antenna and generating beat signals by mixing said transmitting FM signals with received FM signals supplied from said remote monitoring antenna, and

a monitoring controller controlling operations of said FM radar module for monitoring an adjacent object and said FM radar module for monitoring a remote object, said monitoring controller receiving said beat signals output from said FM radar modules and detecting a range to an object which generates reflected signals based on frequencies of said beat signals.

2. A radar device for vehicle use according to claim 1, wherein said monitoring controller alters a ratio of an operation time of said FM radar module for monitoring said remote object relative to an operation time of said FM radar module for monitoring said adjacent object according to a velocity of a vehicle on which said radar device is mounted.

3. A radar device for vehicle use according to claim 2, wherein said monitoring controller sets said ratio of operation time of said FM radar module for monitoring a remote object relative to said operation time of said FM radar module for monitoring an adjacent object at zero when the vehicle velocity is below a predetermined value.

4. A radar device for vehicle use according to one of any preceding claims 1 to 3, wherein said adjacent object monitoring antennas of said FM radar module for monitoring an adjacent object include a plurality of plane antennas capable of transmitting and receiving signals, said plane antennas having different beam tilting angles, having relatively narrow directivities, and being selectively connected with said signal transmitting/receiving section under control of said monitoring controller.

5. A radar device for vehicle use according to claim 4, wherein said adjacent object monitoring antennas of said FM radar module for monitoring an adjacent object further include wide angle plane antennas which have a relatively wide directivity and are selectively connected with said signal transmitting/receiving section under control of said monitoring controller.

6. A radar device for vehicle use according to claim 5, wherein during a period in which said monitoring controller receives said FM signals above a predetermined value through at least any one of said adjacent object monitoring antennas, said monitoring controller shifts to a high resolution mode where said monitoring controller sequentially operates a plurality of said plane antennas which have a relatively narrow directivity, while during periods other than said period said monitoring controller shifts to a low resolution mode where said monitoring controller operates only said plane antennas having a relatively wide directivity.

7. A radar device for vehicle use according to any one of preceding claims 1 to 3, wherein said remote object monitoring antenna of said FM radar module for monitoring a remote object is a defocused offset antenna which includes a reflection mirror and a plurality of primary radiators which are arranged in a focus of said reflection mirror and are sequentially connected with said signal transmitting/receiving section.

8. A radar device for vehicle use according to claim 7, wherein said adjacent object monitoring antennas of said FM radar module for monitoring an adjacent object include a plurality of plane antennas capable of transmitting and receiving signals, said plane antennas having different beam tilting angles, having relatively narrow directivities, and being selectively connected with said signal transmitting/receiving section under control of said monitoring control means.

9. A radar device for vehicle use according to claim 8, wherein said adjacent object monitoring antennas of said FM radar module for monitoring an adjacent object further include wide angle plane antennas which have a relatively wide directivity and are selectively connected with said signal transmitting/receiving section under control of said monitoring control means.

10. A radar device for vehicle use according to claim 9, wherein during a period in which said monitoring controller receives said FM signals above a predetermined value through at least any one of said adjacent object monitoring antennas, said monitoring controller shifts to a high resolution mode where said monitoring controller sequentially operates a plurality of said plane antennas which have a relatively narrow directivity, while during periods other than said period, said monitoring controller shifts to a low resolution mode where said monitoring controller operates only said plane antennas having a relatively wide directivity.

11. A radar device for vehicle use comprising;

an AM radar module for monitoring an adjacent object including a plurality of adjacent object monitoring antennas, a signal transmitting/receiving section for supplying transmitting AM signals to said adjacent object monitoring antennas and outputting detected signals obtained by detecting received AM signals supplied from said antennas, and a delay circuit inserted between said signal transmitting/receiving section and said adjacent object monitoring antennas,

an AM radar module for monitoring a remote object including a remote object monitoring antenna and a signal transmitting/receiving section for supplying transmitting AM signals to said remote object monitoring antenna and outputting detected signals obtained by detecting received AM signals supplied from said remote monitoring antenna, and

a monitoring controller controlling operations of said AM radar module for monitoring an adjacent object and said AM radar module for monitoring a remote object, said monitoring controller receiving modulated signals output from said radar modules and detecting a range to an object based on a phase difference between said received detected signals and modulated signals employed for generating said AM signals.

12. A radar device for vehicle use according to claim 11, wherein said monitoring controller alters a ratio of an operation time of said AM radar module for monitoring a remote object relative to an operation time of said AM radar module for monitoring an adjacent object according to a velocity of a vehicle on which said radar device is mounted.

13. A radar device for vehicle use comprising;

a pulse radar module for monitoring an adjacent object including a plurality of adjacent object monitoring antennas, a signal transmitting/receiving section for supplying transmitting pulse signals to said adjacent object monitoring antennas and outputting received pulse signals supplied from said adjacent monitoring antennas, and a delay circuit inserted between said signal transmitting/receiving section and said adjacent object monitoring antennas,

a pulse radar module for monitoring a remote object including a remote object monitoring antenna and a signal transmitting/receiving section for supplying transmitting pulse signals to said remote object monitoring antenna and outputting received pulse signals from said remote monitoring antenna, and a monitoring controller controlling operations of said pulse radar module for monitoring an adjacent object and said pulse radar module for monitoring a remote object, said monitoring controller being capable of detecting a range to an object based on a generating timing of received pulse signals output from said pulse radar modules.

14. A radar device for vehicle use according to claim 13, wherein said monitoring controller alters a ratio of an operation time of said pulse radar module for monitoring said remote object relative to an operation time of said pulse radar module for monitoring said adjacent object according to a velocity of a vehicle on which said radar device is mounted.

15. A radar system which transmits a high frequency signal to an object and receives a reflected signal from said object for detecting a range to said object based on said transmitted signal and said received signal comprising a first antenna having a wide directivity, a second antenna having a narrow directivity and means for switching operations of said first antenna and said second antenna on a time sharing basis.

16. A radar system according to claim 15, wherein said second antenna having a narrow directivity comprises a plurality of antennas having different beam tilting angles respectively.

17. A radar system according to claim 16, wherein said plurality of antennas having different beam tilting angles respectively are selectively switched on a time sharing basis.

18. A radar system according to claim 15, wherein said first and second antennas are both plane antennas which are mounted on a single dielectric board.

19. A radar system according to claim 15, wherein operation of the system is switched from said first antenna to said second antenna when said reflected signal from said object exceeds a threshold level Lth.

20. A radar device for vehicle use comprising;

a first radar module for monitoring an adjacent object including a plurality of adjacent object monitoring antennas, a signal transmitting/receiving section for supplying transmitting signals to said adjacent object monitoring antennas and outputting received signals supplied from said adjacent monitoring antennas, and a delay circuit between said signal transmitting/receiving section and said adjacent object monitoring antennas,

a second radar module for monitoring a remote object including a remote object monitoring antenna and a signal transmitting/receiving section for feeding transmitting signals to said remote object monitoring antenna and outputting received signals fed from said remote monitoring antenna, and

a monitoring controller for controlling operation of said first and second radar modules, said monitoring controller receiving said signals output from said first and second modules and detecting a range to an object which generates reflected signals.

21. A radar device for vehicle use according to claim 20, wherein said monitoring controller alters a ratio of an operation time of said first radar module relative to an operation time of said second radar module corresponding to a velocity of a vehicle on which said radar device is mounted.

22. A radar device for vehicle use according to claim 21, wherein said monitoring controller sets said ratio of operation time of said second radar module relative to said operation time of said first radar module at zero when the vehicle velocity is below a predetermined value.

23. A radar device for vehicle use according to any one of claims 20, 21 or 22, wherein said adjacent object monitoring antennas of said first radar module include a plurality of plane antennas capable of transmitting and receiving signals, said plane antennas having different beam tilting angles, having relatively narrow directivities, and being selectively connected with said signal transmitting/receiving section under control of said monitoring control means.

24. A radar device for vehicle use comprising:

an FM radar module for monitoring an adjacent object including a plurality of adjacent object monitoring antennas, and a signal transmitting/receiving section for supplying transmitting FM signals to said adjacent object monitoring antennas and outputting beat signals by mixing said transmitting FM signals with received FM signals supplied from said adjacent monitoring antennas,

an FM radar module for monitoring a remote object monitoring antenna and a signal transmitting/receiving section for feeding transmitting FM signals to said remote object monitoring antenna and generating beat signals by mixing said transmitting FM signals with received FM signals supplied from said remote monitoring antenna, and

a monitoring controller controlling operations of said FM radar module for monitoring an adjacent object and said FM radar module for monitoring a remote object, said monitoring controller receiving said beat signals output from said FM radar modules and detecting a range to an object which generates reflected signals based on frequencies of said beat signals.

25. A radar device for vehicle use comprising:

an AM radar module for monitoring an adjacent object including a plurality of adjacent object monitoring antennas, and a signal transmitting/receiving section for supplying transmitting AM signals to said adjacent object monitoring antennas and outputting detected signals obtained by detecting received AM signals supplied from said antennas,

an AM radar module for monitoring a remote object including a remote object monitoring antenna and a signal transmitting/receiving section for supplying transmitting AM signals to said remote object monitoring antenna and outputting detected signals obtained by detecting received AM signals supplied from said remote monitoring antenna, and

a monitoring controller controlling operations of said AM radar module for monitoring an adjacent object and said AM radar module for monitoring a remote object, said monitoring controller receiving modulated signals output from said radar modules and detecting a range to an object based on a phase difference between said received detected signals and modulated signals employed for generating said AM signals.

26. A radar device for vehicle use comprising:

a pulse radar module for monitoring an adjacent object including a plurality of adjacent object monitoring antennas, and a signal transmitting/receiving section for supplying transmitting pulse signals to said adjacent object monitoring antennas and outputting received pulse signals supplied from said adjacent monitoring antennas,

a pulse radar module for monitoring a remote object including a remote object monitoring antenna and a signal transmitting/receiving section for supplying transmitting pulse signals to said remote object monitoring antenna and outputting received pulse signals from said remote monitoring antenna, and

a monitoring controller controlling operations of said pulse radar module for monitoring an adjacent object and said pulse radar module for monitoring a remote object, said monitoring controller being capable of detecting a range to an object based on a generating timing of received pulse signals output from said pulse radar modules.

27. A radar device for vehicle use comprising:

a first radar module for monitoring an adjacent object including a plurality of adjacent object monitoring antennas, and a signal transmitting/receiving section for supplying transmitting signals to said adjacent object monitoring antennas and outputting received signals supplied from said adjacent monitoring antennas,

a second radar module for monitoring a remote object including a remote object monitoring antenna and a signal transmitting/receiving section for feeding transmitting signals to said remote object monitoring antenna and outputting received signals fed from said remote monitoring antenna, and

a monitoring controller for controlling operation of said first and second radar modules, said monitoring controller receiving said signals output from said first and second modules and detecting a range to an object which generates reflected signals.