Technique for limiting the range of an object sensing system in a vehicle

• US 6,434,486 B1
• Filed: 08/28/2000
• Issued: 08/13/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Aptiv Technologies Limited (Aptiv PLC)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (Aptiv PLC)
• Inventors: Studt, David Glen, Henderson, Mark Ford, Taylor, Ronald Melvin
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Marc-Coleman, Marthe Y.
• Application Number:
  US09/648,972
• Time in Patent Office: 715 Days
• Field of Search: 701/300, 701/301, 701/96, 342/70, 342/71, 342/72, 340/435, 340/436, 340/438, 180/167-169, 180/204, 180/401, 180/404, 180/407
• US Class Current: 701/301
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/932 using own vehicle data, e.g. ground speed, steering wheel direction
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9324 Alternative operation using ultrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93271 in the front of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93272 in the back of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4004 of parts of a radar system

Abstract

An object sensing system is capable of masking certain detected objects such that the system does not provide an alarm. Initially, a projected path of the vehicle is determined by using a current steering angle of the vehicle. Next, a desired warning distance is determined based upon the current steering angle. Then, a current distance to a sensed object, as derived from an object sensor, is determined. Finally, an alarm is provided only if the sensed object is within the desired warning distance.

Claims

1. A method for limiting the range of an object sensing system such that certain objects detected by the sensing system that are not in a vehicle path do not cause the sensing system to provide an alarm, comprising the steps of:

determining a projected path of a vehicle based upon a current steering angle of the vehicle;

determining a desired warning distance based upon the current steering angle;

determining a current distance to a sensed object; and

providing an alarm only if the sensed object is within the desired warning distance.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the desired warning distance is a function of a width, a length and a radius of curvature of the vehicle, wherein the radius of curvature is derived from the current steering angle.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensing system includes a radar sensor mounted at a rear of the vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensing system includes a radar sensor and two ultrasonic sensors mounted at a rear of the vehicle.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the maximum range of the sensing system is limited to about twenty feet.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the current steering angle is provided by a steering angle sensor.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the current steering angle is provided by a yaw rate sensor.

8. An object sensing system that provides for limiting the range of the sensing system such that certain objects detected by the sensing system that are not in a vehicle path do not cause the sensing system to provide an alarm, comprising:

a processor;

a memory subsystem for storing information coupled to the processor;

a steering angle sensor coupled to the processor;

an object sensor coupled to the processor; and

processor executable code for causing the processor to perform the steps of;

determining a projected path of a vehicle using a current steering angle of the vehicle as derived from the steering angle sensor;

determining a desired warning distance based upon the current steering angle;

determining a current distance to a sensed object as derived from the object sensor; and

providing an alarm only if the sensed object is within the desired warning distance.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the desired warning distance is of function of a width, a length and a radius of curvature of the vehicle, wherein the radius of curvature is derived from the current steering angle.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the object sensor includes a radar sensor mounted at a rear of the vehicle.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the object sensor includes a radar sensor and two ultrasonic sensors mounted at a rear of the vehicle.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the maximum range of the object sensor is limited to about twenty feet.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the current steering angle is provided by a steering angle sensor.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the current steering angle is provided by a yaw rate sensor.

15. An object sensing system that provides for limiting the range of the sensing system such that certain objects detected by the sensing system that are not in a vehicle path do not cause the sensing system to provide an alarm, comprising:

a processor;

a memory subsystem for storing information coupled to the processor;

a steering angle sensor coupled to the processor;

an object sensor coupled to the processor, wherein the object sensor includes a radar sensor that is mounted at a rear of a vehicle; and

processor executable code for causing the processor to perform the steps of;

determining a projected path of the vehicle using a current steering angle of the vehicle as derived from the steering angle sensor;

determining a desired warning distance based upon the current steering angle;

determining a current distance to a sensed object as derived from the object sensor; and

providing an alarm only if the sensed object is within the desired warning distance.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the desired warning distance is a function of a width, a length and a radius of curvature of the vehicle, wherein the radius of curvature is derived from the current steering angle.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the object sensor further includes two ultrasonic sensors mounted at a rear of the vehicle.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the current steering angle is provided by a steering angle sensor.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the current steering angle is provided by a yaw rate sensor.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the maximum range of the object sensor is limited to about twenty feet.

21. A method for limiting the range of a object sensing system such that certain objects detected by the sensing system that are not in a vehicle path do not cause the sensing system to provide an alarm, comprising the steps of:

determining a desired warning distance based upon the current steering angle;

determining a current distance to a sensed object; and

providing an alarm only if the sensed object is within the desired warning distance.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the desired warning distance is a function of a width, a length and a radius of curvature of the vehicle, wherein the radius of curvature is derived from the current steering angle.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the sensing system includes a radar sensor mounted at a rear of the vehicle.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the sensing system includes a radar sensor and two ultrasonic sensors mounted at a rear of the vehicle.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the maximum range of the sensing system is limited to about twenty feet.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein the current steering angle is provided by a steering angle sensor.

27. The method according to claim 21, wherein the current steering angle is provided by a yaw rate sensor.

28. An object sensing system that provides for limiting the range of the sensing system such that certain objects detected by the sensing system that are not in a vehicle path do not cause the sensing system to provide an alarm, comprising:

a processor;

a memory subsystem for storing information coupled to the processor;

a steering angle sensor coupled to the processor;

an object sensor coupled to the processor; and

processor executable code for causing the processor to perform the steps of;

determining a desired warning distance based upon the current steering angle;

determining a current distance to a sensed object as derived from the object sensor; and

providing an alarm only if the sensed object is within the desired warning distance.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the desired warning distance is of function of a width, a length and a radius of curvature of the vehicle, wherein the radius of curvature is derived from the current steering angle.

30. The system of claim 28, wherein the object sensor includes a radar sensor mounted at a rear of the vehicle.

31. The system of claim 28, wherein the object sensor includes a radar sensor and two ultrasonic sensors mounted at a rear of the vehicle.

32. The system of claim 28, wherein the maximum range of the object sensor is limited to about twenty feet.

33. The system of claim 28, wherein the current steering angle is provided by a steering angle sensor.

34. The system of claim 28, wherein the current steering angle is provided by a yaw rate sensor.

35. An object sensing system that provides for limiting the range of the sensing system such that certain objects detected by the sensing system that are not in a vehicle path do not cause the sensing system to provide an alarm, comprising:

a processor;

a memory subsystem for storing information coupled to the processor;

a steering angle sensor coupled to the processor;

an object sensor coupled to the processor, wherein the object sensor includes a radar sensor that is mounted at a rear of a vehicle, and

processor executable code for causing the processor to perform the steps of;

determining a desired warning distance based upon the current steering angle;

determining a current distance to a sensed object as derived from the object sensor; and

providing an alarm only if the sensed object is within the desired warning distance.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the desired warning distance is a function of a width, a length and a radius of curvature of the vehicle, wherein the radius of curvature is derived from the current steering angle.

37. The system of claim 35, wherein the object sensor further includes two ultrasonic sensors mounted at a rear of the vehicle.

38. The system of claim 35, wherein the current steering angle is provided by a steering angle sensor.

39. The system of claim 35, wherein the current steering angle is provided by a yaw rate sensor.

40. The system of claim 35, wherein the maximum range of the object sensor is limited to about twenty feet.