Radar system with an active lens for adjustable field of view

• US 7,724,180 B2
• Filed: 05/04/2007
• Issued: 05/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toyota Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Corporation, Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Ooe, Junzo, Yonak, Serdar H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza; Thomas H
• Assistant Examiner(s): GALT, CASSI J
• Application Number:
  US11/744,503
• Publication Number:
  US 20080272955A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,117 Days
• Field of Search: 342 70- 72, 343/753
• US Class Current: 342/70
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9314 Parking operations
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/932 using own vehicle data, e.g. ground speed, steering wheel direction
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9321 Velocity regulation, e.g. cruise control
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93271 in the front of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93272 in the back of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93274 on the side of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93275 in the bumper area
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93277 in the lights
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/0086 said selective devices having materials with a synthesized negative refractive index, e.g. metamaterials or left-handed materials
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/10 comprising three-dimensional array of impedance discontinuities, e.g. holes in conductive surfaces or conductive discs forming artificial dielectric
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 25/002 providing at least two patterns of different beamwidth; Variable beamwidth antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/2658 Phased-array fed focussing structure

Abstract

An example radar system for a vehicle comprises a radar antenna, operable to produce a radar beam, and a lens assembly including at least one active lens, the radar beam passing through the lens assembly. The radar beam has a field of view that is adjustable using the active lens. In some examples, the active lens comprises a metamaterial, the metamaterial having an adjustable property such as an adjustable negative index, the field of view being adjustable using the adjustable property of the metamaterial.

Claims

1. An apparatus, the apparatus being a radar system for a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

a radar antenna, operable to produce a radar beam; and

a lens assembly including an active lens, the active lens formed of a metamaterial, the metamaterial having an adjustable property,

the radar beam passing through the lens assembly;

the radar beam having a field of view for detecting an object, the field of view having a plurality of characteristics including a beam width, a scan angle being the angular range of the field of view and a beam shape wherein at least one of the plurality of characteristics is changed using the adjustable property of the metamaterials.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the adjustable property is a refractive index at radar beam frequencies.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lens assembly includes a vehicle component.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the vehicle component is a grille component.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the vehicle component is a vehicle badge.

6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the vehicle component is a bumper component.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus has a first operational mode having a first field of view, and a second operational mode having a second field of view,

the second field of view being wider than the first field of view.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the first operational mode assists an adaptive cruise control for the vehicle.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the second operational mode assists a parking assistance system for the vehicle.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the second operational mode assists a pedestrian detection system for the vehicle.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the field of view being approximately equal to the beam width.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an electronic circuit operable to provide an electronic control signal to the active lens,

the field of view of the beam being adjustable using the electronic control signal.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the electronic circuit receives a speed signal from the vehicle.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the metamaterial includes electrically conducting elements interconnected by switches,

the switches being selectively opened or closed using the electronic control signal.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the metamaterial comprises a multi-layer printed circuit board assembly.

16. An apparatus, the apparatus being a radar system for a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

a radar antenna, operable to produce a radar beam;

a lens assembly including an active lens, the radar beam passing through the lens assembly; and

an electronic circuit operable to provide an electronic control signal to the active lens, the field of view of the beam being adjustable using the electronic control signal,

the active lens formed of a metamaterial,

the field of view having a plurality of characteristics including a beam width, a scan angle and a beam shape, wherein at least one of the characteristics is changed by using an adjustable refraction index of the metamaterial.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the lens assembly includes a vehicle component.