System and technique for enhanced radar object detection
First Claim
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1. A method of enhancing useful return signals of an output of an object detection system mounted on a vehicle comprising:
- providing an object detection system, capable of detecting objects on the sides of the vehicle on which the system is mounted, and having an output;
placing said object detection system in an environment free of contacts;
recording a baseline noise signal generated by said object detection system in said environment free of contacts, said baseline noise signal representing returns off of non-contact objects surrounding said object detection system;
placing said object detection system in an operating environment;
deleting signals matching said recorded baseline noise signal from said object detection system output, thereby enhancing the useful return signals;
determining a direction of expected movement of the vehicle; and
providing an alarm in the event that useful return signals in the direction of expected movement have reached a predermined amount.
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Abstract
A object detection system, such as a radar, and a method for improving the useful information provided thereby. The system is mounted on a vehicle for providing contact information to the vehicle operator. The method includes recording a baseline noise signal in a contact-free environment. When the system is later used in an operating environment, those returns which fall beyond the ranges of the baseline signal in any given direction, are excluded from the output of the object detection system.
51 Citations
37 Claims
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1. A method of enhancing useful return signals of an output of an object detection system mounted on a vehicle comprising:
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providing an object detection system, capable of detecting objects on the sides of the vehicle on which the system is mounted, and having an output;
placing said object detection system in an environment free of contacts;
recording a baseline noise signal generated by said object detection system in said environment free of contacts, said baseline noise signal representing returns off of non-contact objects surrounding said object detection system;
placing said object detection system in an operating environment;
deleting signals matching said recorded baseline noise signal from said object detection system output, thereby enhancing the useful return signals;
determining a direction of expected movement of the vehicle; and
providing an alarm in the event that useful return signals in the direction of expected movement have reached a predermined amount. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of enhancing useful return signals of an output of an object detection system mounted on a vehicle comprising:
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providing an object detection system, capable of detecting objects to the sides of a vehicle on which the system is mounted, having an output;
placing said object detection system in an environment free of contacts;
measuring signals generated by said object detection system and returned by predictably present objects, in said environment free of contacts, in order to define a baseline noise signal;
placing said object detection system in an operating environment;
providing an output representative of signals returned in said operating environment which are stronger than said baseline noise signal, thereby enhancing the useful return signals;
determining a direction of expected movement of the vehicle; and
providing an alarm in the event that useful return signals in the direction of expected movement have reached a predermined amount. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An object detection system mountable on a vehicle comprising:
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a signal processor;
a plurality of transmitters, constructed and arranged for operation to the sides of the vehicle, and operably attached to said signal processor;
a plurality of receivers, each associated with one of said transmitters, and operably attached to said signal processor;
an output device operably attached to said signal processor;
a computer operably attached to said signal processor and programmed to compare presently received operating signals from said receivers to a previously recorded signal generated by said transmitters and received by said receivers and allow only those attributes of said presently received operating signals from said receivers which differ from those of the previously recorded signals to be manipulated by said output device, wherein the computer further determines a direction of expected movement of the vehicle, and provides an alarm in the event that the differing attributes of the received operating signals in the direction of expected movement have reached a predermined amount. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. An object detection system mountable on a vehicle comprising:
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a signal processor;
a plurality of transmitters, constructed and arranged for operation to the sides of the vehicle, and operably attached to said signal processor;
a plurality of receivers, each associated with one of said transmitters, and operably attached to said signal processor;
an output device operably attached to said signal processor;
a computer operably attached to said signal processor and to a directional control on the vehicle, and programmed to compare presently received operating signals from said receivers to a recorded signal generated by said transmitters and received by said receivers, said computer programmed to cause said output device to alarm in the event that the directional control is operated in the same direction as a presently received operating signal from said receivers having attributes that differ from those of the recorded signals by a predetermined amount. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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Specification