Sensor for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic signals

• US 7,365,676 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2003
• Issued: 04/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Smart Microwave Sensors GmbH
• Original Assignee: Smart Microwave Sensors GmbH
• Inventors: Mende, Ralph
• Primary Examiner(s): Gregory; Bernarr E.
• Application Number:
  US10/519,563
• Publication Number:
  US 20050237250A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,747 Days
• Field of Search: 342 70- 72, 342/118, 342127-145, 342/175, 342/195, 342/27, 342/28, 342/146, 180167-169, 701/300, 701/301
• US Class Current: 342/70
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9315 Monitoring blind spots
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93272 in the back of the vehicles

Abstract

The invention relates to a sensor comprising a housing, inside of which a transmitting antenna array that transmits electromagnetic transmission signals in a radiation area and a receiving antenna array that receives received signals reflected by at least one object located within the radiation area are provided. The inventive sensor is designed in such a manner that the transmitting antenna array is provided for transmitting transmission signals in a main radiation area (3) and in a secondary radiation area (4) situated at an angle, thereto, and in that the receiving antenna array (TX) is provided for receiving received signals reflected in both radiation areas (3, 4). This makes it possible, for example when used in a monitor vehicle (5), to monitor the area behind and next to the motor vehicle (5) with a single transmitting antenna (1).

Claims

1. A sensor, comprising:

a transmitting antenna array having radiation lobes in each of main radiation area and a secondary radiation area, where the main radiation area and secondary radiation area are angularly offset relative to each other; and

a receiving antenna array having reception lobes in each of said main radiation area and said secondary radiation area, said reception signals being reflected from objects present in said main reception area and said secondary reception area, wherein said receiving antenna array and said transmitting antenna array are positioned in a same location,

wherein objects present in said main radiation area and objects present said secondary radiation area are sensed by said sensor.

2. The sensor of claim 1 wherein said transmitting antenna array forms a single squinting antenna.

3. The sensor of claim 1 wherein said receiving antenna array is a single antenna.

4. The sensor of claim 1 wherein said receiving antenna array includes at least two antennas one of which receives reception signals from said main radiation area, and the other of which receives signals from the secondary reception area.

5. The sensor of claim 1 wherein said radiation signals transmitted by said transmitting antenna array in said main radiation area cover an area at least four times as large as said secondary radiation area.

6. The sensor of claim 1 wherein said main radiation area is located behind a car and wherein said secondary radiation area is located beside said car.

7. A sensor, comprising:

a planar transmitting antenna including a transmitting antenna array which has a plane surface in which antenna pads of said transmitting antenna array are located so as to establish an irradiation surface and which having radiation lobes in each of a main radiation area and a secondary radiation area, where the main radiation area and secondary radiation area are angularly offset relative to each other;

a receiving antenna array having reception lobes in each of said main radiation area and said secondary radiation area, said reception signals being reflected from objects which may be present in either said main radiation area or said secondary radiation area; and

a control means for tuning the transmitting array, wherein the transmitting antenna array is tuned through said control means so as to direct the main radiation area to an acute angle related to a perpendicular of said irradiation surface, thereby enhancing said secondary radiation area, and wherein objects present in either said main radiation area or said secondary radiation area are sensed by said sensor.

8. The sensor of claim 7 wherein said main radiation area has a central axis and the secondary radiation area has a central axis, and wherein between the two central axes an angle of greater than 45°

is included.

9. The sensor of claim 8 wherein the angle is 90°

or above.

10. The sensor of claim 7 wherein the acute angle is approximately 20°

.

11. The object detection system of claim 7 wherein the acute angle is approximately 20°

.

12. An object detection system for a vehicle, comprising:

a sensor positioned at a front or rear of a vehicle for detecting objects located in front of or behind said vehicle and to at least one side of said vehicle, said sensor including

a planar transmitting antenna including a transmitting antenna array which has a plane surface in which antenna pads of said transmitting antenna array are located so as to establish an irradiation surface and having radiation lobes in each of a main radiation area and a secondary radiation area, where the main radiation are and secondary radiation area are angularly offset relative to each other;

a receiving antenna array having reception lobes in each of main radiation area and said secondary radiation area, said reception signals being reflected from objects which may be present in either said main radiation area or said secondary radiation area; and

a control means for tuning the transmitting array, wherein the transmitting antenna array is tuned through said control means so as to direct the main radiation area to an acute angle related to a perpendicular of said irradiation surface, thereby enhancing said secondary radiation area, and wherein objects present in either said main radiation area or said secondary radiation area are sensed by said sensor, and

wherein said sensor is mounted on said vehicle so that the acute angle of the main radiation area is compensated with respect to a longitudinal axis passing through a front and a rear of said vehicle.

13. The object detection system of claim 12 wherein said main radiation area has a central axis and the secondary radiation area has a central axis, and wherein between the two central axes an angle of greater than 45°

is included.

14. The object detection system of claim 13 wherein the angle is 90°

or above.