Using host vehicle dynamics for side-looking automotive pre-crash sensor aiming control

• US 6,522,287 B1
• Filed: 06/24/2002
• Issued: 02/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Stopczynski, Lawrence Gerard
• Primary Examiner(s): Sotomayor, John B.
• Application Number:
  US10/064,231
• Time in Patent Office: 239 Days
• Field of Search: 342/70, 342/71, 342/72, 180/271, 180/274, 180/282, 280/730.1, 280/730.2, 280/735, 280/736, 280/737, 340/435, 340/436, 340/903, 701/225, 701/301, 701/45
• US Class Current: 342/70
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0006 Lateral collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/013 including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0134 responsive to imminent contact with an obstacle , e.g. using radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/42 Simultaneous measurement of distance and other co-ordinates indirect measurement G01S13/46
• 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 2013/93274 on the side of the vehicles

Abstract

The antenna of a side-looking pre-crash sensor (12) is aimed, either electronically or mechanically, in correlation with the travel velocity of a host vehicle (10). As the forward travel velocity of the host increases, the antenna beam (16) remains aimed laterally, but in an increasingly forward direction.

Claims

1. An on-board system of a host vehicle traveling on land at a travel velocity in a direction of travel for acquiring a closing object having potential for impacting the host vehicle from a direction non-parallel to the direction of travel of the host vehicle, the system comprising:

an aperture having a field of view of limited azimuthal span and pointed in azimuth in a direction that is non-parallel to the direction of host vehicle travel for enabling acquisition of such an object; and

apparatus for changing, in azimuth, the angle between the direction in which the aperture is pointed and the fore-aft axis of the host vehicle in correlation with travel velocity of the host vehicle in the direction of travel.

2. An on-board system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the apparatus for changing, in azimuth, the angle between the direction in which the aperture is pointed and the fore-aft axis of the host vehicle in correlation with travel velocity of the host vehicle in the direction of travel comprises pointing the aperture increasingly toward the direction of travel of the host vehicle with increasing travel velocity of the host vehicle in the direction of travel.

3. An on-board system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the apparatus for changing, in azimuth, the angle between the direction in which the aperture is pointed and the fore-aft axis of the host vehicle in correlation with travel velocity of the host vehicle in the direction of travel comprises a mechanical system for mechanically pointing the aperture on the host vehicle.

4. An on-board system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the apparatus for changing, in azimuth, the angle between the direction in which the aperture is pointed and the fore-aft axis of the host vehicle in correlation with travel velocity of the host vehicle in the direction of travel comprises an electronic system for electronically pointing the aperture on the host vehicle.

5. In a host vehicle traveling on land at a travel velocity in a direction of travel, a method for acquiring a closing object having potential for impacting the host vehicle from a direction non-parallel to the direction of travel of the host vehicle, the method comprising:

pointing an aperture that has a field of view of limited azimuthal span, in azimuth, in a direction that is non-parallel to the direction of host vehicle for enabling acquisition of such an object; and

changing, in azimuth, the angle between the direction in which the aperture is pointed and the fore-aft axis of the host vehicle in correlation with travel velocity of the host vehicle in the direction of travel.

6. A method as set forth in claim 5 wherein the step of changing, in azimuth, the angle between the direction in which the aperture is pointed and the fore-aft axis of the host vehicle in correlation with travel velocity of the host vehicle in the direction of travel comprises pointing the aperture increasingly toward the direction of travel of the host vehicle with increasing travel velocity of the host vehicle in the direction of travel.

7. A method as set forth in claim 5 wherein the step of changing, in azimuth, the angle between the direction in which the aperture is pointed and the fore-aft axis of the host vehicle in correlation with travel velocity of the host vehicle in the direction of travel comprises mechanically pointing the aperture on the host vehicle.

8. A method as set forth in claim 7 wherein the step of changing, in azimuth, the angle between the direction in which the aperture is pointed and the fore-aft axis of the host vehicle in correlation with travel velocity of the host vehicle in the direction of travel comprises electronically pointing the aperture on the host vehicle.

9. A host vehicle traveling on land at a travel velocity in a direction of travel comprising:

an on-board acquisition system for acquiring a closing object having potential for impacting the host vehicle from a direction non-parallel to the direction of travel of the host vehicle, the on-board system comprising a) an aperture having a field of view of limited azimuthal span and pointed, in azimuth, in a direction that is non-parallel to the direction of host vehicle travel for enabling acquisition of such an object, and b) apparatus for changing, in azimuth, the angle between the direction in which the aperture is pointed and the fore-aft axis of the host vehicle in correlation with at least one operating parameter related to operation of the host vehicle;

an on-board processor processing data for one or more of the operating parameters related to operation of the host vehicle and data for one or more parameters related to closing of an acquired object derived at least in part from information acquired by the aperture to yield a processing result; and

another on-board system that is acted upon by the processing result.

10. A host vehicle as set forth in claim 9 wherein the other on-board system comprises an occupant restraint system that is deployed to aid in restraint of an occupant of the host vehicle in consequence of the value of one or more variables associated with impact of the acquired object with the host vehicle from a direction non-parallel to the direction of travel of the host vehicle exceeding a corresponding settable value for the corresponding variable, and wherein the corresponding settable value of such a variable is set in accordance with the processing result.

11. A host vehicle as set forth in claim 9 wherein the data for the one or more of the operating parameters related to operation of the host vehicle include one or more of host vehicle travel velocity, extent of vehicle throttle actuation, extent of vehicle brake actuation, vehicle yaw rate, and vehicle steering angle.

12. A host vehicle as set forth in claim 9 wherein the apparatus for changing, in azimuth, the angle between the direction in which the aperture is pointed and the fore-aft axis of the host vehicle in correlation with at least one operating parameter related to operation of the host vehicle comprises pointing the aperture increasingly toward the direction of travel of the host vehicle with increasing travel velocity of the host vehicle in the direction of travel.