Dynamic allocation of radar beams in automotive environments with phased array radar

• US 9,274,222 B1
• Filed: 03/04/2013
• Issued: 03/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Schmalenberg, Paul Donald, Nomura, Tsuyoshi, Lee, Jae Seung
• Primary Examiner(s): Bythrow, Peter
• Application Number:
  US13/783,586
• Publication Number:
  US 20160061936A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,093 Days
• Field of Search: 342/27, 342 70- 72, 342/360, 342/368, 342/371, 342/372
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/42 Simultaneous measurement of distance and other co-ordinates indirect measurement G01S13/46
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/93 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/0254 Active array antenna
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/916 Airport surface monitoring [ASDE]
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/282 Transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/167 Driving aids for lane monitoring, lane changing, e.g. blind spot detection

Abstract

A radar apparatus that focuses a subset of transmit beams within a field of view (FOV) is provided. The radar apparatus has a phased array transmitter that is operable to generate a transmit beam within the FOV, and a phased array receiver that is operable to receive a receive beam reflected from within the FOV. The apparatus also has a radar controller with an electronic circuit and electronic memory, the electronic memory having a plurality of pre-calculated beam density curves. The radar controller is operable to execute each of the plurality of pre-calculated beam density curves and steer at least one transmit beam generated from a particular executed beam density curve towards a sub-area of the FOV.

Claims

1. A radar apparatus comprising:

a phased array transmitter operable to generate a transmit beam within a field of view (FOV);

a phased array receiver operable to receive a receive beam reflected from within said FOV;

a radar controller having an electronic circuit and an electronic memory, said electronic memory having a plurality of pre-calculated beam density curves stored thereon;

said radar controller operable to execute each of said plurality of pre-calculated beam density curves and steer at least one transmit beam generated from an executed beam density curve towards a sub-area of said FOV.

2. The radar apparatus of claim 1, wherein said phased array transmitter transmits a plurality of transmit beams within said FOV as a function of said executed beam density curve with said radar controller steering a subset of said plurality of transmit beams towards said sub-area within said FOV.

3. The radar apparatus of claim 2, wherein said subset of steered transmit beams are generated from said executed beam density curve.

4. The radar apparatus of claim 3, wherein said subset of steered transmit beams provide an increased beam density at said sub-area within said FOV.

5. The radar apparatus of claim 4, wherein said sub-area is selected from the group consisting of an area of a curved road in front of a motor vehicle traveling thereon, an entrance to an enclosed area and an exit from an enclosed area.

6. The radar apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a beam density optimizer algorithm stored in said electronic memory, said beam density optimizer algorithm operable to calculate a beam density distribution for said sub-area.

7. The radar apparatus of claim 6, wherein said FOV is divided into a plurality of zones by said radar controller, said beam density optimizer algorithm having a weighting function operable to weight a first subset of said plurality of zones higher than a second subset of said plurality of zones.

8. The radar apparatus of claim 7, wherein said executed beam density curve is a function of said first subset of FOV zones.

9. The radar apparatus of claim 8, wherein said first subset of FOV zones have a target identified therewithin.

10. The radar apparatus of claim 9, wherein said radar controller executes a beam density curve and said phased array transmitter transmits a first subset of transmit beams evenly across said FOV and a second subset of transmit beams directed only to said first subset of FOV zones.

11. The radar apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a motor vehicle having said radar apparatus attached thereto.

12. The radar apparatus of claim 11, wherein said first subset of FOV zones cover a curved portion of a road said motor vehicle is traveling on, said curved portion located at an angle not equal to zero from a longitudinal center line of said motor vehicle.

13. The radar apparatus of claim 12, wherein said radar controller executes said beam density curve as a function of a yaw rate of said motor vehicle.

14. The radar apparatus of claim 13, wherein said pre-calculated beam density curves correspond to different radii curved roads said motor vehicle can travel on.