In-vehicle radar device and cover for in-vehicle radar device

• US 8,368,587 B2
• Filed: 02/22/2012
• Issued: 02/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Takeuchi, Koji
• Primary Examiner(s): Keith, Jack W
• Assistant Examiner(s): BYTHROW, PETER M
• Application Number:
  US13/402,515
• Publication Number:
  US 20120212364A1
• Time in Patent Office: 349 Days
• Field of Search: 342 70- 72, 343/872
• US Class Current: 342/70
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93272 in the back of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93275 in the bumper area
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/03 Details of HF subsystems specially adapted therefor, e.g. common to transmitter and receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3233 particular used as part of a sensor or in a security system, e.g. for automotive radar, navigation systems
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/062 for focusing

Abstract

An in-vehicle radar device which radiates electromagnetic waves and receives reflected waves, from an object, of the electromagnetic waves so as to detect a location of the object and which is mounted on a rear of a vehicle, the in-vehicle radar device including: a transmission-and-reception section that transmits the electromagnetic waves and receives the reflected waves; a detection section that detects the location of the object based on the reflected waves; and a cover member that is provided below a rear bumper of the vehicle and that covers the transmission-and-reception section in a manner that a rear surface of the cover member faces a transmission-and-reception surface of the transmission-and-reception section so as to be spaced apart therefrom.

Claims

1. An in-vehicle radar device which radiates electromagnetic waves and receives reflected waves, from an object, of the electromagnetic waves so as to detect a location of the object and which is mounted on a rear of a vehicle, the in-vehicle radar device comprising:

a transmission-and-reception section that transmits the electromagnetic waves and receives the reflected waves;

a detection section that detects the location of the object based on the reflected waves; and

a cover member that is provided below a rear bumper of the vehicle and that covers the transmission-and-reception section in a manner that a rear surface of the cover member faces a transmission-and-reception surface of the transmission-and-reception section so as to be spaced apart therefrom, wherein

the cover member includes at least

a cover portion that is formed from a material through which electromagnetic waves are transmitted and that covers the transmission-and-reception surface, and

a lower protrusion portion that is provided below the cover portion and formed so as to protrude beyond a surface side of the cover member with respect to the cover portion, the lower portion having a convex shape and the cover portion having a concave shape.

2. The in-vehicle radar device according to claim 1, wherein the cover member further includes an upper protrusion portion which is provided above the cover portion and formed to protrude on the surface side of the cover member with respect to the cover portion.

3. The in-vehicle radar device according to claim 2, wherein the cover portion, the lower protrusion portion, and the upper protrusion portion are integrally formed.

4. The in-vehicle radar device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a crash risk determination section that determines whether or not a risk of a crash between the object and the vehicle is high based on the detected location of the object; and

an information section that provides information to rearward of the vehicle of the risk of a crash when the risk of a crash between the object and the vehicle is determined to be high.

5. The in-vehicle radar device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a crash risk determination section that determines whether or not a risk of crash between the object and the vehicle is high based on the detected location of the object; and

an occupant protection section that protects an occupant in the vehicle from the risk of a crash when the risk of crash between the object and the vehicle is determined to be high.

6. The radar device according to claim 5, wherein the occupant protection section protects the occupant from a crash impact when the risk of crash between the object and the vehicle is determined to be high, by making a headrest equipped on the vehicle move forward so as to support the head of the occupant.

7. The in-vehicle radar device according to claim 1, wherein the cover portion is molded from a synthetic resin through which the electromagnetic waves are transmitted.