Detection device and detection method

• US 7,453,390 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2007
• Issued: 11/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Omron Automotive Electronics Company Limited (Nidec Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Omron Corporation
• Inventors: Ishihara, Naoyuki, Satoh, Yasuhiro, Nishiguchi, Tadao
• Primary Examiner(s): Gregory; Bernarr E
• Application Number:
  US11/726,854
• Publication Number:
  US 20070222593A1
• Time in Patent Office: 606 Days
• Field of Search: 342/21, 342/27, 342/28, 342/59, 342 89-103, 342/118, 342134-145, 342/175, 342/195, 340/500, 340/540, 340/541, 340/552, 340/565, 340/567
• US Class Current: 342/28
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/18 wherein range gates are used
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/2923 based on data belonging to a number of consecutive radar periods
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/32 Shaping echo pulse signals; Deriving non-pulse signals from echo pulse signals

Abstract

A detection device for detecting a body entering a predetermined range has a transmission means for periodically radiating a pulse-like transmission signal by way of an electromagnetic wave to which a band restriction has been applied, a first reception means and a second reception means, and a judgment means. Each of the reception means performs receiving, as a reception signal, the electromagnetic wave reflected by the body, periodic sampling of the reception signal after a predetermined delay time has elapsed from transmission, and judging, based on a result of the periodic sampling, whether the body exists. The judgment means judges, based on judgment results of each of the first reception means and the second reception means, whether the body has entered into the predetermined range, and outputs a judgment result.

Claims

1. A detection device for detecting a body entering a predetermined range, comprising:

a transmission means for periodically radiating a pulse-like transmission signal in a form of an electromagnetic wave to which a band restriction has been applied, the pulse-like transmission signal generated from determining a main frequency wave and creating additional waves of different frequencies based on the main frequency wave and combining the additional waves with the main frequency wave;

a first reception means and a second reception means, each of which perform;

receiving, as a reception signal, the electromagnetic wave reflected by the body,

sampling of the reception signal after a predetermined delay time has elapsed from transmission, the first reception means sampling at the end of a first delay time and the second reception means sampling at the end of a second delay time, and

judging, based on the sampling, whether the body is present; and

a judgment means for;

judging, based on judgment results of each of the first reception means and the second reception means, whether the body has entered into the predetermined range, and

outputting a judgment result,

wherein the second delay time is set to be an offset of the first delay time by a length of time equivalent to a half-period of the main frequency wave of the transmission signal.

2. A detection device according to claim 1, wherein the second delay time is set to be the first delay time plus the time equivalent to the half-period of the main frequency wave of the transmission signal.

3. A detection device according to claim 1, wherein:

the predetermined range is a distance from the detection device of less than one meter, and

a shape of the body is varied.

4. A detection method in a detection device, wherein the detection device:

periodically radiating a pulse-like transmission signal in a form of an electromagnetic wave to which a band restriction has been applied, the pulse-like transmission signal generated from determining a main frequency wave and creating additional waves of different frequencies based on the main frequency wave and combining the additional waves with the main frequency wave;

receiving, as a reception signal, the electromagnetic wave reflected by a body;

and

detecting, based on the reception signal, the body that has entered into a predetermined range, the detection method comprising steps of;

individually performing, in each of two systems,

sampling of the reception signal after a predetermined delay time has elapsed from transmission of the transmission signal, a first system sampling at the end of a first delay time and a second system sampling at the end of a second delay time, and

judging, based on a result of the sampling, whether the body is present, and

determining, based on judgment results of each of the two systems, whether the body has entered into the predetermined range, and

outputting a judgment result,

wherein the second delay time is set to be an offset from the first delay time by a length of time equivalent to a half-period of a main frequency wave of the transmission signal.