Integrated radar-camera sensor

• US 8,604,968 B2
• Filed: 10/06/2009
• Issued: 12/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aptiv Technologies AG
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Alland, Stephen W., Lind, Richard C., Shogren, William G., Humm, Lawrence A., Shi, Shawn, Bauson, William A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brainard, Timothy A
• Application Number:
  US13/119,307
• Publication Number:
  US 20110163904A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,526 Days
• Field of Search: 342/22, 342 27- 28, 342 70- 72
• US Class Current: 342/70
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/00 Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/02 for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0026 Windows, e.g. windscreen
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0075 using a containment or docking space
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/108 using 'non-standard' camera systems, e.g. camera sensor used for additional purposes i.a. rain sensor, camera sensor split in multiple image areas
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/301 combining image information with other obstacle sensor information, e.g. using RADAR/LIDAR/SONAR sensors for estimating risk of collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/804 for lane monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8093 for obstacle warning
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/867 Combination of radar systems with cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93185 Controlling the brakes
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9321 Velocity regulation, e.g. cruise control
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93276 in the windshield area
• 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 1/325 characterised by the location of the antenna on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/526 Electromagnetic shields

Abstract

An integrated radar-camera sensor is provided which includes a camera sensor component and a radar sensor component both housed within a common single module housing. The sensor module also includes processing circuitry for processing the radar sensor and camera outputs. The sensor module is located behind the windshield of a vehicle and may include glare and/or EMI shields.

Claims

1. A sensor module comprising:

a sensor module housing comprising a plurality of walls;

a camera component located in the module housing for capturing images based on light waves;

a radar sensor component located within the module housing for emitting a radar beam and receiving reflected radar signals, wherein a polarization of the radar beam is selected based on an angle of incidence relative to a window through which the radar beam passes; and

processing circuitry for processing the captured images and the received reflected radar signals and providing an indication of the detection of the presence of one or more objects.

2. The sensor module as defined in claim 1, wherein the sensor module is employed on a vehicle to detect the presence of one or more objects relative to the vehicle.

3. The sensor module as defined in claim 2, wherein the module housing is located behind a windshield of the vehicle so that the camera and radar sensor components detect signals passing through the windshield.

4. The sensor module as defined in claim 3, wherein the housing is attached to the vehicle windshield.

5. The sensor module as defined in claim 1, wherein the sensor module comprises a glare shield arranged in the housing to shield glare from the camera component.

6. The sensor module as defined in claim 1 further comprising an electromagnetic interference shield for shielding electromagnetic interference from the radar sensor component.

7. The sensor module as defined in claim 6, wherein the electromagnetic interference shield comprises a plurality of substantially horizontal conductive plates arranged to form a parallel plate lens and positioned so the radar beam passes therethrough.

8. The sensor module as defined in claim 7, wherein the parallel plate lens further comprises a dielectric foam disposed between adjacent conductive plates.

9. The sensor module as defined in claim 1 further comprising a refractive block disposed within a path of the camera component.

10. The sensor module as defined in claim 1, wherein the polarization is one of vertical polarization and horizontal polarization.

11. A sensor module for use on a vehicle for detecting one or more objects relative to the vehicle said sensor module comprising:

a sensor module housing behind a windshield of a vehicle;

a radar sensor component located within the housing behind the windshield and configured to emit a radar beam therethrough, wherein a polarization of the radar beam is selected based on an angle of incidence relative to the windshield through which the radar beam passes;

an electromagnetic interference shield disposed to one or more sides of the radar sensor component for shielding electromagnetic radiation from the radar sensor component; and

processing circuitry for processing radar signals received with the radar sensor component.

12. The sensor module as defined in claim 11 further comprising a camera component located in the sensor module housing.

13. The sensor module as defined in claim 12, wherein the processing circuitry further processes the captured images and determines detection of the presence of one or more objects.

14. The sensor module as defined in claim 12 further comprising a glare shield provided in the housing to shield glare from the camera component.

15. The sensor module as defined in claim 11, wherein the electromagnetic interference shield comprises a plurality of substantially horizontal conductive plates arranged to form a parallel plate lens and positioned so the radar beam passes therethrough.

16. The sensor module as defined in claim 15, wherein the parallel plate lens further comprises a dielectric foam disposed between adjacent conductive plates.

17. The sensor module as defined in claim 11, wherein the polarization is one of vertical polarization and horizontal polarization.

18. A method for detecting one or more objects relative to a vehicle said method comprising the steps of:

providing a camera component in a module housing;

providing a radar sensor component in the module housing to provide an integrated sensor module;

mounting the sensor module behind a windshield of the vehicle;

capturing images forward of the vehicle passing through the windshield with the camera component;

transmitting a radar beam forward of the vehicle through the windshield with the radar sensor component, wherein a polarization of the radar beam is selected based on an angle of incidence relative to the windshield where the radar beam passes through;

receiving reflected radar signals from one or more objects forward of the vehicle with the radar sensor component; and

processing video images captured by the camera component and the reflected radar signals received by the radar sensor component for use in detecting an object relative to the vehicle.

19. The method as defined in claim 18 further comprising the step of arranging a glare shield in the housing to shield glare from the camera component.

20. The method as defined in claim 18 further comprising the step of arranging an electromagnetic interference shield relative to the radar sensor component.

21. The method as defined in claim 20, wherein the step of arranging an electromagnetic interference shield comprises arranging a plurality of horizontal conductive plates in front of the radar sensor component to form a parallel plate lens that the radar beam passes therethrough.

22. The method as defined in claim 21, wherein the step of arranging an electromagnetic interference shield further comprises tilting an antenna at an angle relative to a vertical plane and disposing a dielectric material between adjacent conductive plates to squint the radar beam.

23. The method as defined in claim 22 further comprising the step of further squinting the radar beam with a phase slope.

24. The method as defined in claim 18 further comprising the step of arranging a refractive block in the path of the camera component.

25. The sensor module as defined in claim 18, wherein the polarization is one of vertical polarization and horizontal polarization.

26. A sensor module for use on a vehicle to detect objects about the vehicle, said sensor module comprising:

a radar sensor configured to emit a radar beam through a window of the vehicle toward an area about the vehicle, and detect reflected radar signals from the area that pass through the window, wherein a polarization of the radar beam is selected based on an angle of incidence relative to the window.

27. The sensor module as defined in claim 26, wherein the polarization is one of vertical polarization and horizontal polarization.

28. The sensor module as defined in claim 26, wherein the windshield is formed of glass.

29. The sensor module as defined in claim 26, wherein said radar sensor comprises an antenna tilted back at an angle relative to a vertical plane and configured to squint the radar beam downward relative to a plane of the antenna.

30. The sensor module as defined in claim 26, wherein said sensor module further comprises

a housing configured to house the radar sensor and be installed behind a windshield of the vehicle;

and

a camera component located within the housing, said camera component configured to capture images of an area about the vehicle based on light waves from the area that pass through the windshield.

31. The sensor module as defined in claim 30, wherein said sensor module further comprises

processing circuitry configured to indicate a detection of an object about the vehicle based on the captured images and the reflected radar signals.