Method for detecting an obstacle around a vehicle
First Claim
1. A method for detecting an obstacle around a vehicle, comprising the steps of:
- radiating transmitted waves outside the vehicle, the transmitted waves being radiated by a radar;
detecting reflected waves of the transmitted waves, the reflected waves being detected by the radar;
sensing a distance to an obstacle around the vehicle based on a result of detection of the reflected waves by the radar, including judging a signal level of the reflected waves;
determining a limit distance within which the distance can be sensed, wherein the determining step determines the limit distance based on certain waves of the detected reflected waves, the certain waves having the signal level lower than a preset level; and
comparing the limit distance determined by the determining step with a preset sensing reference distance, and thereby determining whether the obstacle can be detected.
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Abstract
If the maximum time width Lt of the intensity of received light of reflected waves from a vehicle ahead is smaller than a reference time width, it is judged that the vehicle ahead is positioned in proximity to the detection limit distance of an obstacle detection device for vehicle. Thus, there is no problem, for example, even if a cut-in vehicle is present in reality between the vehicle ahead and the vehicle of interest and nevertheless, the distance to the cut-in vehicle cannot be detected. It can be judged whether the vehicle ahead is positioned in proximity to the detection limit distance of the device by judging the magnitude relation between Lt and the reference time width. As a result, the detecting capability of the device can be judged with accuracy.
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Citations
7 Claims
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1. A method for detecting an obstacle around a vehicle, comprising the steps of:
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radiating transmitted waves outside the vehicle, the transmitted waves being radiated by a radar; detecting reflected waves of the transmitted waves, the reflected waves being detected by the radar; sensing a distance to an obstacle around the vehicle based on a result of detection of the reflected waves by the radar, including judging a signal level of the reflected waves; determining a limit distance within which the distance can be sensed, wherein the determining step determines the limit distance based on certain waves of the detected reflected waves, the certain waves having the signal level lower than a preset level; and comparing the limit distance determined by the determining step with a preset sensing reference distance, and thereby determining whether the obstacle can be detected. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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Specification