Radar device for vehicle

• US 6,218,981 B1
• Filed: 09/21/1999
• Issued: 04/17/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Uehara, Naohisa
• Primary Examiner(s): Sotomayor, John B.
• Application Number:
  US09/400,840
• Time in Patent Office: 574 Days
• Field of Search: 342/70, 342/71, 342/72, 342/89, 342/91, 342/92, 342/107, 342/115, 342/133, 342/135, 342/139, 342/146, 342/157, 342/158
• US Class Current: 342/70
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/42 Simultaneous measurement of distance and other co-ordinates indirect measurement G01S13/46
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/34 Gain of receiver varied automatically during pulse-recurrence period, e.g. anti-clutter gain control
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4004 of parts of a radar system

Abstract

A radar device for vehicle comprising a means for transmitting electromagnetic waves, a means for receiving the electromagnetic waves reflected by a target object, a signal processing means for obtaining a range, a relative velocity, and receipt intensity of the target object based on an output from the transmitting means and an input in the receiving means, a scanning means for changing directions of transmitting and receiving the electromagnetic waves, and an operating means for calculating a direction of the target object based on the receiving intensity of the target object in a plurality of directions, wherein the amounts of AGC in the receiving means in the plurality of directions are independently controlled, whereby a maximum detectable range as an inherent performance of radar is not deteriorated under any driving situation and a position of the preceding vehicle is securely detected.

Claims

1. A radar device for vehicle comprising:

a means for transmitting electromagnetic waves,

a means for receiving the electromagnetic waves reflected by a target object,

a signal processing means for obtaining a range, a relative velocity, and receiving intensity of the target object based on an output from said transmitting means and an input in said receiving means,

a scanning means for changing directions of transmitting and receiving the electromagnetic waves, and

an operating means for calculating a direction of the target object from the receiving intensity of the target object in a plurality of directions, wherein

the amounts of AGC of the receiving means in the plurality of directions are independently controlled.

2. The radar device for vehicle according to claim 1, wherein:

said operating means corrects receiving levels of the target object in the plurality of directions in response to the amounts of AGC of the receiving means in the plurality of directions and measures angles.

3. The radar device for vehicle according to claim 2, wherein

said operating means increases the amounts of AGC in a direction of mainly detecting an object having large reflection intensity in case that a preceding vehicle is not detected in at least two directions by existence of the object having large reflection intensity running through a lane other than where an own vehicle runs.

4. The radar device for vehicle according to claim 2, wherein

said operating means makes the amount of AGC in a direction of mainly detecting an object having large reflection intensity the same as the amount of AGC in a direction of catching a preceding vehicle in case that it is judged that the preceding vehicle is not detected in at least two directions by existence of the object having large reflection intensity running through a lane other than where an own vehicle runs.

5. The radar device for vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

continuous waves are transmitted from said transmitting means.

6. The radar device for vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

pulse waves are transmitted from said transmitting means.