Enhanced paint for microwave/millimeter wave radiometric detection applications and method of road marker detection

• US 6,414,606 B1
• Filed: 08/11/2000
• Issued: 07/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Original Assignee: TRW Inc. (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Inventors: Quon, Bill H., Eninger, James E., Hauss, Bruce I., Yujiri, M. Larry
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tai T.
• Application Number:
  US09/637,826
• Time in Patent Office: 690 Days
• Field of Search: 340/901, 340/905, 340/933, 340/941, 340/904, 180/168, 180/169, 180/167
• US Class Current: 340/901
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 9/30 Arrangements interacting with transmitters or receivers otherwise than by visible means, e.g. using radar reflectors or radio transmitters E01F11/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/08 formed of solid dielectric material
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/062 for focusing
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 25/007 using two or more primary active elements in the focal region of a focusing device for operation on different wavebands H01Q5/22

Abstract

Adding a quantity of metallic shot or particles of other materials having a high dielectric constant to the thermoplastic paint in the mixing pot of ordinary roadway marker fixation equipment, which extrudes the paint and applies same to the roadway surface, enhances the MMW radiometric visibility of the marker without adverse effect to the affixation equipment. Vehicles containing MMW radiometers directed down toward the roadway surface moves along the roadway surface is able to automatically sense microwave/millimeter wave energy from a marker in the vehicles path. In one system, the sensed energy is used in conjunction with other apparatus to assist to guide the vehicle within a traffic lane. In another system, the sensed energy is decoded and displayed as pertinent information for the vehicle'"'"'s driver.

Claims

1. The method of detecting roadway markers on a roadway exposed to the sky, comprising the steps of:

positioning a MMW radiometric detector at a predetermined position above the roadway with the MMW radiometric detector'"'"'s receiving antenna oriented at a predetermined angle to the roadway surface, said predetermined angle being 45 degrees or larger, but less than ninety degrees;

moving said MMW radiometric detector along and at a constant height above said roadway to traverse any roadway markers on said roadway; and

monitoring the output of the detector for a change in output.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein said predetermined angle is 70 degrees and wherein said MMW radiometric detector comprises tuning means for restricting electromagnetic energy detected to that electromagnetic energy having a frequency of approximately 94 GHz.