Object detection system

• US 7,554,484 B2
• Filed: 02/22/2001
• Issued: 06/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Zimmermann, Uwe, Pruksch, Achim, Uhler, Werner
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza; Thomas H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bythrow; Peter M
• Application Number:
  US10/563,990
• Publication Number:
  US 20070205938A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,050 Days
• Field of Search: 342/52, 342/59, 342 70- 72, 701/117, 701/205, 701/207
• US Class Current: 342/70
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/867 Combination of radar systems with cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/87 Combinations of radar systems, e.g. primary radar and secondary radar
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9321 Velocity regulation, e.g. cruise control
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9323 Alternative operation using light waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9324 Alternative operation using ultrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9325 for inter-vehicle distance regulation, e.g. navigating in platoons
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93271 in the front of the vehicles

Abstract

An object detection system, in particular for a motor vehicle, has multiple object detectors and/or operating modes with which different detection ranges and/or detection zones are detected. In this case, an object detector is preferably a radar sensor which has a relatively large detection range with a relatively small angular detection zone in a first operating mode and has a detection range that is small relative to the first with an enlarged angular detection zone in a second operating mode.

Claims

1. An objection detection system comprising:

a microwave radar sensor having a first detection range and a first angular detection zone in a first operating mode, and having a second detection range and a second angular detection zone in a second operating mode, wherein the first detection range is larger than the second detection range, and wherein the first angular detection zone is smaller than the second angular detection zone; and

an ultra short-range sensor having a smaller detection range than the second detection range and a larger angular detection zone than the second angular detection zone, wherein the ultra short-range sensor is one of an optical sensor and a radar sensor.

2. The object detection system according to claim 1, further comprising an additional object detector, the additional object detector being a video device for lane detection and classification of detected objects.

3. The object detection system according to claim 2, wherein the video device is one of a stereoscopic camera and a CMOS camera.

4. The object detection system according to claim 1, wherein the object detection system is for a motor vehicle.