Alignment system and method for radar apparatus

• US 8,973,278 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2013
• Issued: 03/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HL Klemove Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mando Corporation
• Inventors: Ham, Hyung Suk
• Primary Examiner(s): FULTON, CHRISTOPHER W
• Application Number:
  US13/782,687
• Publication Number:
  US 20130239425A1
• Time in Patent Office: 739 Days
• Field of Search: 335/33, 332/86, 336/00, 335/49
• US Class Current: 33/286
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 19/483 with obstacle sensors of electric or electronic type
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/26 for measuring angles or tapers; for testing the alignment of axes
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 5/24 for measuring angles or tapers; for testing the alignment of axes
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4026 Antenna boresight
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1207 for fastening a rigid aerial element
• 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

Abstract

Disclosed are an alignment system and an alignment method for aligning a radar apparatus such that the alignment is not significantly influenced by tolerances in an assembly process of a bumper rail, a front end module, and a vehicle body.

Claims

1. An alignment system for a radar apparatus, comprising:

a fixing die for fixing a bumper rail to which a radar apparatus is mounted;

an angle measuring unit for measuring a mounting angle of the radar apparatus mounted to the bumper rail; and

an alignment control unit for determining whether a current alignment of the radar apparatus in a state in which the radar apparatus is mounted to the bumper rail corresponds to a misalignment state based on the measured mounting angle, and if it is determined that the current alignment state corresponds to a misalignment state, determining a calibration value for a mounting position or a mounting angle of the radar apparatus mounted to the bumper rail with reference to the measured mounting angle and a normal mounting angle range.

2. The alignment system of claim 1, wherein if the measured mounting angle deviates from the normal mounting angle range, the alignment control unit determines that the current alignment state of the radar apparatus in a state in which the radar apparatus is mounted to the bumper rail corresponds to a misalignment state.

3. The alignment system of claim 1, further comprising:

a radar bracket unit for mounting the radar apparatus to the bumper rail,

wherein the radar bracket unit comprises;

a master bracket including two or more coupling parts coupled to the radar apparatus, two or more first master coupling parts, and one or more second master coupling parts;

a first slave bracket coupled to the bumper rail, and including two or more first slave coupling parts coupled to the two or more first master coupling parts; and

a second slave bracket coupled to the bumper rail bracket of the bumper rail and including one or more second slave coupling parts coupled to the one or more second master coupling parts.

4. An alignment method for a radar apparatus, comprising:

measuring a mounting angle of a radar apparatus mounted to a bumper rail fixed to a fixing die, by an angle measuring unit provided in an alignment system, while the radar apparatus is mounted to the bumper rail;

determining whether a current alignment state of the radar apparatus while the radar apparatus is mounted to the bumper rail corresponds to a misalignment state based on the measured mounting angle, by an alignment control unit provided in the alignment system; and

if the alignment control unit determines that the current alignment state corresponds to a misalignment state, determining a calibration value for a mounting position or a mounting angle of the radar apparatus mounted to the bumper rail with reference to the measured mounting angle and a normal mounting angle range, by the alignment control unit.