Azimuth detecting apparatus and radar apparatus

• US 7,932,854 B2
• Filed: 06/09/2009
• Issued: 04/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Ando, Takamasa
• Primary Examiner(s): Sotomayor; John B
• Application Number:
  US12/455,900
• Publication Number:
  US 20090303107A1
• Time in Patent Office: 686 Days
• Field of Search: 342 70- 72, 342/90, 342107-108, 342/111, 342/113, 342/116, 342/133, 342/139, 342146-147, 342/156
• US Class Current: 342/70
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/34 using transmission of continuous, frequency-modulated waves while heterodyning the received signal, or a signal derived therefrom, with a locally-generated signal related to the contemporaneously transmitted signal
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/42 Simultaneous measurement of distance and other co-ordinates indirect measurement G01S13/46
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93185 Controlling the brakes
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9319 Controlling the accelerator
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/932 using own vehicle data, e.g. ground speed, steering wheel direction
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/74 Multi-channel systems specially adapted for direction-finding, i.e. having a single antenna system capable of giving simultaneous indications of the directions of different signals systems in which the directions of different signals are determined sequentially and displayed simultaneously G01S3/04, G01S3/14
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/35 Details of non-pulse systems
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/00 Antenna arrays or systems arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system H01Q3/00

Abstract

In an azimuth detecting apparatus, a receiver includes a plurality of first antenna elements and a second antenna element. The first antenna elements are arranged at first intervals d1 to form an array. The second antenna element is arranged to define a second interval d2 between itself and one of the first antenna elements which is located at an end of the array, where d2 is less than d1. A first azimuth detector detects, within a first azimuth detection area whose angular range is defined by d1, the azimuth of a target based on the signals generated by all the first antenna elements. A second azimuth detector detects, within a second azimuth detection area whose angular range is defined by d2, the azimuth of the target based on the signals generated by the second antenna element and the first antenna element located at the end of the array.

Claims

1. An azimuth detecting apparatus comprising:

a transmitter that transmits a continuous wave;

a receiver including a plurality of first antenna elements and a second antenna element, each of all the first and second antenna elements being configured to generate a signal upon receipt of a reflected continuous wave that is produced by the reflection of the continuous wave by a target, the first antenna elements being arranged at first intervals d1 to form an array of the first antenna elements, the second antenna element being arranged to define a second interval d2 between itself and one of the first antenna elements which is located at an end of the array of the first antenna elements, where d2 is less than d1;

a first azimuth detector that detects, within a first azimuth detection area whose angular range is defined by d1, the azimuth of the target based on the signals generated by all the first antenna elements; and

a second azimuth detector that detects, within a second azimuth detection area whose angular range is defined by d2, the azimuth of the target based on the signals generated by the second antenna element and the one of the first antenna elements which is located at the end of the array and defines the second interval d2 together with the second antenna element.

2. The azimuth detecting apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the second azimuth detector detects the azimuth of the target based on at least one of the phase difference and amplitude difference between the signals generated by the second antenna element and the one of the first antenna elements which is located at the end of the array and defines the second interval d2 together with the second antenna element.

3. The azimuth detecting apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of the first antenna elements is a compound antenna element that is formed by combining a plurality of antenna elements.

4. The azimuth detecting apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the azimuth detecting apparatus is used in a motor vehicle.

5. A radar apparatus comprising:

a transmitter that transmits a continuous wave;

a receiver including a plurality of first antenna elements and a second antenna element, each of all the first and second antenna elements being configured to generate a signal upon receipt of a reflected continuous wave that is produced by the reflection of the continuous wave by a target, the first antenna elements being arranged at first intervals d1 to form an array of the first antenna elements, the second antenna element being arranged to define a second interval d2 between the second antenna element and one of the first antenna elements which is located at an end of the array of the first antenna elements, where d2 is less than d1;

a first azimuth detector that detects, within a first azimuth detection area whose angular range is defined by d1, the azimuth of the target based on the signals generated by all the first antenna elements;

a second azimuth detector that detects, within a second azimuth detection area whose angular range is defined by d2, the azimuth of the target based on the signals generated by the second antenna element and the one of the first antenna elements which is located at the end of the array and defines the second interval d2 together with the second antenna element;

a first range detector that detects the range of the target based on the signals generated by all the first antenna elements;

a second range detector that detects the range of the target based on the signals generated by the second antenna element and the one of the first antenna elements; and

a target identifier that identifies the target based on both the azimuth of the target detected by one of the first and second azimuth detectors and the range of the target detected by one of the first and second range detectors.

6. The radar apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein the second azimuth detector detects the azimuth of the target based on at least one of the phase difference and amplitude difference between the signals generated by the second antenna element and the one of the first antenna elements which is located at the end of the array and defines the second interval d2 together with the second antenna element.

7. The radar apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein each of the first antenna elements is a compound antenna element that is formed by combining a plurality of antenna elements.

8. The radar apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein the radar apparatus is used in a motor vehicle.