Signal processing method in a motor vehicle radar system and radar system therefor

• US 6,239,738 B1
• Filed: 07/06/1998
• Issued: 05/29/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Daimler-Benz AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Daimler-Benz AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Schneider, Robert, Wanielik, Gerd
• Primary Examiner(s): Sotomayor, John B.
• Application Number:
  US09/101,235
• Time in Patent Office: 1,058 Days
• Field of Search: 342/70, 342/71, 342/72, 342/90, 342/99, 342/106, 342/109, 342/114, 342/115, 342/117
• 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 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/464 using only the non-line-of-sight signal(s), e.g. to enable survey of scene 'behind' the target only the indirect signal is evaluated
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9325 for inter-vehicle distance regulation, e.g. navigating in platoons
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93271 in the front of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/411 Identification of targets based on measurements of radar reflectivity G01S7/415 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/161 Decentralised systems, e.g. inter-vehicle communication

Abstract

A signal-processing method for a motor-vehicle radar arrangement is specified, which method provides more extensive information on the traffic situation in observation direction by evaluating echo signals deflected at the road surface.

Claims

1. A signal processing method in a motor-vehicle radar arrangement, comprising the following steps:

emitting radar signals in the direction of motor-vehicle travel, said radar signals reflecting at least one of a road surface and a reflecting target adjacent the road surface resulting in echo signals; and

evaluating echo signals which correspond to a signal path with a diversion at the road surface between the radar arrangement and the reflecting target adjacent the road surface;

wherein at least one of a signal emission or signal reception is performed selectively into the road surface or from the road surface, respectively.

2. The method according to claim 1, in wherein echo signals having a longer transit time than the echo signal having the shortest transit time are also evaluated within a solid-angle range encompassing a direction of the road.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the echo signals are subjected to a classification with at least one vehicle class.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the echo signals are subjected to an image-analysis procedure.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein at least one of the vehicle length and the vehicle surface is evaluated as a classification feature.

6. The method according to claim 3, wherein the orientation of the vehicles on the road is detected.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the distance between vehicles located in the observation direction and their velocities are determined.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the observation range for evaluating the echo signals from signal paths with a diversion at the road surface is reduced to at least one of an azimuth and an elevational cutout angle in the direction of travel.

9. The method according to claim 4, wherein the vehicle length is evaluated as a classification feature.

10. The method according to claim 4, wherein the vehicle surface is evaluated as a classification feature.