Optical radar system

• US 6,335,789 B1
• Filed: 09/21/1999
• Issued: 01/01/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Kikuchi, Hayato
• Primary Examiner(s): Buczinski, Stephen C.
• Application Number:
  US09/381,290
• Time in Patent Office: 833 Days
• Field of Search: 356/4.01, 356/5-1-, 356/139-7-1, 356/141.1, 356/141.4, 356/141.5, 180/169, 250/203.2, 359/196-226
• US Class Current: 356/141.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/426 Scanning radar, e.g. 3D radar G01S13/66 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/42 Simultaneous measurement of distance and other co-ordinates indirect measurement G01S17/46
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4811 common to transmitter and receiver
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4817 relating to scanning

Abstract

A laser beam transmitted from a laser diode is run for scanning laterally as a transmitted-beam elongated vertically with a lateral width thereof limited. A wave of the transmitted-beam reflected from an object is caught in a beam receiving area which is elongated laterally with a vertical width limited and scanned vertically, and is received by a photo-diode. Even if the vertical width of the transmitted-beam is set at a sufficient large value to absorb an error in the vertical mounting of a radar system, the period of time when the direct sun rays enter the beam receiving area to make the detection impossible can be shortened by vertically scanning the beam receiving area elongated laterally. Thus, the influence of the direct sun rays can be maintained to the minimum to reliably detect the object without need for a precise aiming, excluding the case where the height position of the sun corresponds to the level of the object.

Claims

1. A radar system characterized by comprising

a single electromagnetic wave transmitting means (1) for transmitting an electromagnetic wave,

a first scanning means (2) for reflectively laterally scanning with the electromagnetic wave transmitted from said electromagnetic wave transmitting means (1) as a single transmitted-beam elongated vertically with a lateral width thereof limited,

a second scanning means (4) for vertically scanning a receiving area elongated laterally with a vertical width thereof limited to catch the electromagnetic wave reflected from an object, and

a single reflected-wave receiving means (3) for receiving the single reflected wave caught in said receiving area.

2. The radar system of claim 1, wherein said transmitted-beam has a vertical dimension substantially identical to a vertical dimension of a scanned area of said object, and said reflected wave has a lateral width substantially identical to a lateral width of said receiving area.

3. The radar system of claim 1, wherein said transmitted-beam has a lateral dimension substantially identical to the vertical dimension of said reflected wave,

and said receiving area being elongated laterally with a vertical width thereof limited constantly during said vertical scanning.

4. A radar system characterized by comprising

an electromagnetic wave transmitting means (1) for transmitting an electromagnetic wave,

a first scanning means (2, 4′

) for vertically and laterally scanning with the electromagnetic wave transmitted from said electromagnetic wave transmitting means (1) as a transmitted-beam having limited lateral and vertical widths thereof,

a second scanning means (4′

) for vertically scanning a receiving area, said receiving area being elongated laterally with a vertical width thereof limited constantly during said scanning, to catch said electromagnetic wave reflected from an object, and

a reflected-wave receiving means (3) for receiving said reflected wave caught in said receiving area,

wherein a period of scanning by said second scanning means (4′

) is equal to a period of vertical scanning by said first scanning means (2, 4′

).

5. A radar system characterized by comprising:

a single electromagnetic wave transmitting means (1) for transmitting an electromagnetic wave;

a first scanning means (2, 4′

) for vertically and laterally scanning with the electromagnetic wave transmitted from said electromagnetic wave transmitting means (1) as a transmitted-beam having limited lateral and vertical widths thereof;

a second scanning means (4′

) for vertically scanning a receiving area elongated laterally with a vertical width thereof limited constantly during said vertical scanning, to catch said electromagnetic wave reflected from an object; and

a single reflected-wave receiving means (3) for receiving said reflected wave caught in said receiving area;

wherein a period of scanning by said second scanning means (4′

) is equal to a period of vertical scanning by said first scanning means (2, 4′

).