FM-CW radar apparatus

• US 7,123,183 B2
• Filed: 01/20/2004
• Issued: 10/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: Hitotsuya, Masaki, Shouno, Masayoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Sotomayor, John B.
• Application Number:
  US10/762,088
• Publication Number:
  US 20040150550A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,001 Days
• Field of Search: 342 70- 72, 342/123, 342/455
• US Class Current: 342/70
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/345 using triangular modulation
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/584 adapted for simultaneous range and velocity measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/35 Details of non-pulse systems
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3233 particular used as part of a sensor or in a security system, e.g. for automotive radar, navigation systems
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/22 varying the orientation in accordance with variation of frequency of radiated wave

Abstract

An FM-CW radar apparatus capable of detecting a stationary object, in particular, an overbridge, located above the road ahead in a simple manner uses a traveling wave antenna as a transmitting antenna, and includes a means for varying, in upward and downward directions the projection angle of a combined beam pattern of a transmitted wave radiated from the traveling wave antenna, and an overbridge is detected by varying the projection angle of the combined beam pattern in the upward direction using the varying means. Further, a phase shifter for varying the projection angle of the beam pattern in upward/downward directions by controlling the phase of the radio wave to be transmitted or received is provided on either a transmitting antenna or a receiving antenna or on a transmitting/receiving antenna, and an overbridge is detected by controlling the phase shifter and varying the projection angle of the beam pattern in the upward direction.

Claims

1. An FM-CW radar apparatus comprising:

a traveling wave antenna as a transmitting antenna, and

a means for varying the frequency of transmitted waves radiated from said traveling wave antenna,

wherein the projection tilt angle of a combined beam pattern of the transmitted waves is varied in upward/downward directions by varying the frequency of the transmitted waves radiated from said traveling wave antenna.

2. The FM-CW radar apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for varying the frequency of transmitted waves varies said frequency by varying a modulating voltage to be input to a voltage-controlled oscillator that outputs said transmitted waves.

3. The FM-CW radar apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for varying the frequency of said transmitted waves includes a means for switching a said modulating voltage to be input to a voltage-controlled oscillator that outputs said transmitted waves, and wherein the frequency of said transmitted waves is switched between an upper band region and a lower band region by switching said modulating voltage.