Compact vehicle based rear and side obstacle detection system including multiple antennae

• US 5,767,793 A
• Filed: 04/21/1995
• Issued: 06/16/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: TRW Limited (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: TRW Limited (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Moffa, Philip J., Hauss, Bruce I., Agravante, Hiroshi H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): LIEU, JULIE BICHNGOC
• Application Number:
  US08/426,376
• Time in Patent Office: 1,152 Days
• Field of Search: 340/903, 340/901, 340/435, 340/436, 180/169, 180/167, 342/70, 342/71, 342/72, 342/29, 342/41
• US Class Current: 340/903
• 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 2013/9317 Driving backwards
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/932 using own vehicle data, e.g. ground speed, steering wheel direction
• 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 2013/93275 in the bumper area
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/032 Constructional details for solid-state radar subsystems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/2883 using FFT processing
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/2927 by deriving and controlling a threshold value
• 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 21/205 providing an omnidirectional coverage turnstile aerials H01Q21/26
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 25/002 providing at least two patterns of different beamwidth; Variable beamwidth antennas

Abstract

A rear and side object detection system for a vehicle based on monolithic millimeter wave integrated circuit technology. A multiple antenna configuration is employed that defines six sensing regions to the right, left and the rear of the vehicle. A sixth sensing region is defined at the right side of the vehicle, a second sensing region is defined at the right side and rear of the vehicle and overlaps the sixth sensing region, a fourth sensing region and a first sensing region extend from the rear on both sides of the vehicle in the adjacent lanes, a third sensing region is defined at the left side of the vehicle and a fifth sensing region is defined at the left side and rear of the vehicle and overlaps the second and third sensing regions. A right side warning signal is issued if an object is detected in a right side detection zone defined by the sixth sensing region or a portion of the second sensing region that does not overlap the fourth or fifth sensing regions. Likewise, a left side warning signal is issued if an object is detected in a left side detection zone defined by the third region and a portion of the fifth sensing region that does not overlap the second or first sensing regions. A back-up warning signal is issued if an object is detected in an overlap region between the second and fifth sensing regions.

Claims

1. A rear obstacle detection system for detecting obstacles around a vehicle, said system comprising:

at least one radiation beam signal source that generates a frequency signal;

a plurality of antenna responsive to the frequency signal, each of the plurality of antenna transmitting a radiation beam in a controlled manner to define a plurality of separate sensing regions around the vehicle, wherein a first sensing region is defined around a right side rear portion of the vehicle and a second sensing region is defined around a left side rear portion of the vehicle, said first and second sensing regions overlapping to define a rear detection zone directly behind the vehicle, said plurality of antenna further defining a third sensing region that extends behind and to a right side of the vehicle and overlaps the first sensing region and a fourth sensing region that extends behind and to a left side of the vehicle and overlaps the second sensing region, said plurality of antenna being responsive to radiation signals that are reflected off of obstacles within the first, second, third and fourth sensing regions so as to generate a signal indicative of a reflected intensity of the reflected signal; and

a control device responsive to the signals from the plurality of antenna, said control device generating a rear obstacle detection signal if an object is detected in the first and second sensing regions at approximately the same position within the rear detection zone, and said control device preventing the rear obstacle detection signal from being generated if an object is detected in the third and fourth sensing regions outside of the rear detection zone.

2. The system according to claim 1 wherein the rear detection zone extends behind the vehicle within a range of approximately nine feet to approximately fifteen feet.