Method for adjusting a vehicle-mounted radar sensor

• US 6,636,172 B1
• Filed: 02/04/2002
• Issued: 10/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: Eberl, Markus, Sauer, Thomas, Bauer, Guenter, Prestl, Willibald
• Primary Examiner(s): Sotomayor, John B.
• Application Number:
  US10/048,641
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• Field of Search: 342/165, 342/173, 342/174, 342/70, 342/71, 342/72, 342/147, 343/703, 343/711, 343/713, 73/17.9
• US Class Current: 342/173
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93271 in the front of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93275 in the bumper area
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4026 Antenna boresight
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/403 in azimuth, i.e. in the horizontal plane
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4034 in elevation, i.e. in the vertical plane
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4086 in a calibrating environment, e.g. anechoic chamber

Abstract

In a method for adjusting a vehicle-mounted radar sensor having three radar lobes, which are emitted in a fan-shaped manner, one of which is a central lobe, and the other two are lateral lobes extending at the same angle, a reflector plate disposed at a distance from the vehicle and perpendicular to the vehicle longitudinal axis is pivoted about a vertical axis. The deviation of the reflector'"'"'s position angle from an ideal position is determined. The ideal position is one in which the two lateral radar lobes produce at least a substantially identical reflection signal. The radar sensor is subsequently pivoted by a correction angle, which is equal to the deviation of the reflector plate'"'"'s position angle, but in the opposite direction.

Claims

1. A method for adjusting a radar sensor mounted on a motor vehicle, the radar sensor having three radar lobes emitted in a fan-shaped manner, one lobe extending centrally and the other two lobes extending laterally at the same angle, the method comprising the acts of:

pivoting about a vertical axis a reflector plate disposed at a distance from the motor vehicle and perpendicular to a vehicle longitudinal axis;

determining a deviation of a position angle of the reflector plate from an ideal position angle, the ideal position angle being one in which the two laterally extending lobes produce an approximately equal reflection signal;

subsequently pivoting the radar sensor by a correction angle, which correction angle is equal to the deviation of the position angle of the reflector plate but in an opposite direction.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the acts of:

pivoting the reflector plate about an axis extending horizontally as well as transversely to the vehicle longitudinal axis; and

deriving a vertical mounted position of the radar sensor from the behavior of the reflection signals of the radar lobes when the reflector plate is pivoted upward and downward by a few angular degrees relative to a position that is perpendicular relative to the vehicle longitudinal axis.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the act of disposing the reflector plate at a position relative to the vehicle longitudinal axis is performed as a preparatory step.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the act of disposing the reflector plate at a position relative to the vehicle longitudinal axis is performed as a preparatory step.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the act of positioning the reflector plate further comprises the act of determining distances between the reflector plate and center axes of rear vehicle wheels of the motor vehicle.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein the act of positioning the reflector plate further comprises the act of determining distances between the reflector plate and center axes of rear vehicle wheels of the motor vehicle.