Object detecting system for vehicle

• US 7,218,208 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2004
• Issued: 05/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Kikuchi, Hayato
• Primary Examiner(s): SWARTHOUT, BRENT
• Application Number:
  US10/975,837
• Publication Number:
  US 20050174222A1
• Time in Patent Office: 930 Days
• Field of Search: 340/903, 340/435, 340/436, 701/96, 701/301, 342/70, 342/71, 342/165, 180/179
• US Class Current: 340/435
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2007/4975 of sensor obstruction by, e.g. dirt- or ice-coating, e.g. by reflection measurement on front-screen
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/932 using own vehicle data, e.g. ground speed, steering wheel direction
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9321 Velocity regulation, e.g. cruise control
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9325 for inter-vehicle distance regulation, e.g. navigating in platoons
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/40 Means for monitoring or calibrating
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4039 of sensor or antenna obstruction, e.g. dirt- or ice-coating
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/497 Means for monitoring or calibrating

Abstract

Whether or not a radar device detects an object is determined by a detection state determinator. Whether or not a time during which the object is not detected and which is measured by a clocking device becomes a determination threshold value or more, is determined by a non-detection determinator. Based on the determination results, an informing device informs an occupant that the object is not detected for a predetermined time or more. Therefore, a state in which the radar device does not detect an object due to absence of the object on a road in a desert or the like is prevented from being erroneously determined as a state caused by contamination of the radar device. Also, the occupant can easily determine whether the operation of the informing device is actually caused by absence of an object or contamination of the radar device, based on the environment around the road on which the own vehicle is traveling. Especially because a reflected wave from a road surface, of which intensity changes in accordance with the condition, is not used for determination, it becomes unnecessary to change the setting of the determination threshold value and determination frequency region, and thus the structure and operation are simplified.

Claims

1. An object detecting system for a vehicle, comprising:

an object detector which is mounted on a vehicle and detects an object existing ahead in an own vehicle traveling direction;

a detection state determinator which determines whether or not the object is detected by the object detector;

a clocking device which measures a time during which it is determined that the object is not detected by the detection state determinator;

a non-detection determinator which determines whether or not the time measured by the clocking device becomes a determination threshold value or more; and

an informing device which informs an occupant that the object is not detected for a predetermined time or more, based on a determination result of the non-detection determinator;

wherein the non-detection determinator includes a plurality of determination threshold values, and the informing device changes an information content in accordance with the determination threshold value which is used in determination.

3. The object determining system for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the information which is given to the occupant by the informing device is the determination threshold value used in determination.

4. The object detecting system for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the informing device gives information to the occupant by changing color of a plurality of regions previously specified on a display in accordance with the determination threshold value.

5. The object detecting system for a vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of regions are constructed by a plurality of rectangular regions or a plurality of circular regions.

6. The object detecting system for a vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of regions are constructed by a plurality of sector regions formed by equally dividing a circular region.

7. The object detecting system for a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a vehicle speed sensor for detecting an own vehicle speed, wherein the clocking device performs clocking when the own vehicle speed is at a predetermined value or more.

2. An object detecting system for a vehicle, comprising:

an object detector which is mounted on a vehicle and detects an object existing ahead in an own vehicle traveling direction;

a detection state determinator which determines whether or not the object is detected by the object detector;

a clocking device which measures a time during which it is determined that the object is not detected by the detection state determinator;

a non-detection determinator which determines whether or not the time measured by the clocking device becomes a determination threshold value or more; and

an informing device which informs an occupant that the object is not detected for a predetermined time or more, based on a determination result of the non-detection determinator;

wherein the information which is given to the occupant by the informing device is the determination threshold value used in determination.

8. An object detecting system for a vehicle, comprising:

an object detector which is mounted on a vehicle and detects an object existing ahead in an own vehicle traveling direction;

a detection state determinator which determines whether or not the object is detected by the object detector;

a travel distance calculator which calculates an own vehicle travel distance in a time during which it is determined that the object is not detected by the detection state determinator;

a non-determination determinator which determines whether or not the own vehicle travel distance calculated by the travel distance calculator becomes a determination threshold value or more; and

an informing device which informs an occupant that the object is not detected in a predetermined travel distance or more, based on a determination result of the non-detection determinator;

wherein the non-detection determinator includes a plurality of determination threshold values, and the informing device changes an information content in accordance with the determination threshold value which is used in determination.

10. The object determining system for a vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the information which is given to the occupant by the informing device is the determination threshold value used in determination.

11. The object detecting system for a vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the informing device gives information to the occupant by changing color of a plurality of regions previously specified on a display in accordance with the determination threshold value.

12. The object detecting system for a vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the plurality of regions are constructed by a plurality of rectangular regions or a plurality of circular regions.

13. The object detecting system for a vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the plurality of regions are constructed by a plurality of sector regions formed by equally dividing a circular region.

14. The object detecting system for a vehicle according to claim 8, further comprising a vehicle speed sensor for detecting an own vehicle speed, wherein the clocking device performs clocking when the own vehicle speed is at a predetermined value or more.

9. An object detecting system for a vehicle, comprising:

an object detector which is mounted on a vehicle and detects an object existing ahead in an own vehicle traveling direction;

a detection state determinator which determines whether or not the object is detected by the object detector;

a travel distance calculator which calculates an own vehicle travel distance in a time during which it is determined that the object is not detected by the detection state determinator;

a non-determination determinator which determines whether or not the own vehicle travel distance calculated by the travel distance calculator becomes a determination threshold value or more; and

an informing device which informs an occupant that the object is not detected in a predetermined travel distance or more, based on a determination result of the non-detection determinator;

wherein the information which is given to the occupant by the informing device is the determination threshold value used in determination.