Vehicle radar-based side impact assessment method

• US 7,243,013 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2002
• Issued: 07/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Prakah-Asante, Kwaku O., Rao, Manoharprasad K., Strumolo, Gary Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): BEAULIEU, YONEL
• Application Number:
  US10/293,147
• Publication Number:
  US 20040093141A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,700 Days
• Field of Search: 701 45- 47, 701/36, 701300-302, 280/728.1, 280/730.2, 280/734, 280/735, 180/268, 180/274, 180/282, 382/106, 340/425.5, 340/436
• US Class Current: 701/45
• 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 13/582 adapted for simultaneous range and velocity measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93274 on the side of the vehicles

Abstract

A side impact object sensing system for a vehicle includes a single radar sensor mounted on each side of the vehicle, each sensor generating a range and range-rate value for a detected target object, and a controller coupled to each radar sensor. The controller calculates an estimated target object speed, an angle of the target object line of travel with respect to the respective sensor line of sight, and a shortest distance value from the respective sensor to the target object line of travel, and compares the shortest distance value and a change in the angle value to respective threshold values for potential collision threat assessment.

Claims

1. A side impact threat assessment system for a vehicle comprising:

a single radar sensor mounted on each side of the vehicle, each sensor generating a range and range-rate value for a detected target object; and

a controller coupled to each radar sensor, said controller calculating an estimated target object speed, an angle of the target object line of travel with respect to said respective sensor line of sight, and a shortest distance value from the respective sensor to the target object line of travel and, comparing said shortest distance value and a change in said angle value to respective threshold values.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein said controller generates a plurality of target object locations to define said target object line of travel.

3. A system according to claim 2 further comprising a safety countermeasure device, said controller activating said safety countermeasure device when said respective threshold values are satisfied.

4. A system according to claim 1 wherein each of said radar sensors is a pulsed Doppler radar sensor having a field of view approximately 60 degrees wide.

5. A system according to claim 3 wherein said safety countermeasure device comprises at least one of a side airbag, a side curtain airbag, and a seat belt pretensioner.

6. A system according to claim 1 wherein said controller is adapted to compare said target object speed to a threshold detected object speed.

7. A system according to claim 6 wherein said controller is adapted to compare said target object range to a threshold detected object range.

8. A system according to claim 7 wherein said controller is adapted to estimate a target object time-to-impact and compare said target object time-to-impact to a threshold detected object time-to-impact.

9. A system according to claim 8 further comprising a safety countermeasure device, said controller activating said safety countermeasure device when each of said respective threshold values are satisfied.

10. A method of determining the collision threat of a target object for a side impact vehicle safety system comprising:

providing a single radar sensor on each side of a vehicle for generating a range and range-rate value for a respective detected target object;

calculating an estimated target object speed;

calculating an angle of the target object line of travel with respect to said respective sensor line of sight;

calculating a shortest distance value from the respective sensor to the target object line of travel;

comparing said shortest distance value and a change in said angle value to respective threshold values.

11. A method according to claim 10 further comprising generating a plurality of target object locations to define a target object line of travel.

12. A method according to claim 10 further comprising comparing said target object speed to a threshold detected object speed.

13. A method according to claim 10 further comprising comparing said target object range to a threshold detected object range.

14. A method according to claim 10 further comprising estimating a target object time-to-impact and comparing said target object time-to-impact to a threshold detected object time-to-impact.

15. A method according to claim 10 further comprising comparing said range-rate value to said detected object speed value.

16. A method according to claim 10 wherein each of said radar sensors is a pulsed Doppler radar sensor having a field of view approximately 60 degrees wide.

17. A method according to claim 10 wherein said shortest distance threshold value is approximately 0.35 meters.

18. A method of operating a vehicle side impact countermeasure system comprising:

providing a single radar sensor on each side of a vehicle for generating a range and range-rate value for a respective detected target object;

calculating an estimated target object speed;

calculating an angle of the target object line of travel with respect to said respective sensor line of sight;

calculating a shortest distance value from the respective sensor to the target object line of travel;

comparing said shortest distance value and a change in said angle value to respective threshold values;

comparing said target object speed to a threshold detected object speed;

comparing said target object range to a threshold detected object range;

estimating a target object time-to-impact and comparing said target object time-to-impact to a threshold detected object time-to-impact; and

activating a safety countermeasure device when said respective threshold values are satisfied.

19. A method according to claim 18 further comprising comparing said range-rate value to said detected object speed value.

20. A method according to claim 18 wherein said shortest distance threshold value is approximately 0.35 meters.