Radar-based vehicle perimeter security and control

• US 10,549,722 B2
• Filed: 06/23/2016
• Issued: 02/04/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Bilik, Igal, Villeval, Shahar, Tzirkel-Hancock, Eli
• Primary Examiner(s): Magloire, Vladimir
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pervin, Nuzhat
• Application Number:
  US15/190,403
• Publication Number:
  US 20170369034A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,321 Days
• Field of Search: 342 57
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/105 Radio frequency identification data [RFID]
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/01 operating on vehicle systems or fittings, e.g. on doors, seats or windscreens
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/2045 by hand gestures
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/31 of human presence inside or outside the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/34 of conditions of vehicle components, e.g. of windows, door locks or gear selectors
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/64 Monitoring or sensing, e.g. by using switches or sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/42 Simultaneous measurement of distance and other co-ordinates indirect measurement G01S13/46
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/88 Radar or analogous systems specially adapted for specific applications electromagnetic prospecting or detecting of objects, e.g. near-field detection, G01V3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9316 combined with communication equipment with other vehicles or with base stations
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93271 in the front of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93272 in the back of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93274 on the side of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9329 cooperating with reflectors or transponders
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/006 using shared front-end circuitry, e.g. antennas G01S13/765, G01S13/825 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/415 Identification of targets based on measurements of movement associated with the target
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/63 Comprising locating means for detecting the position of the data carrier, i.e. within the vehicle or within a certain distance from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks

Abstract

A method and system perform perimeter security and control of a vehicle. The system includes a radar system arranged in the vehicle, a maximum range of the radar system being less than 100 meters, and a communication unit to communicate with the radar system. The system also includes a control system of the vehicle to control the platform based on the radar system. The control system dynamically controls each door of the vehicle according to a location of the communication unit relative to the platform.

Claims

1. A perimeter security and control system of a vehicle, the system comprising:

a radar system arranged in the vehicle, a maximum range of the radar system being less than 100 meters;

a communication unit configured to communicate with the radar system; and

a control system of the vehicle configured to control the vehicle based on the radar system, wherein the control system dynamically controls each door of the vehicle according to a location of the communication unit relative to the vehicle, wherein the communication unit modulates a received signal received from the radar system to generate a modulated signal and transmits the modulated signal to the radar system.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein a range resolution of the radar system is on the order of centimeters.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the communication unit shifts a frequency of the received signal to generate the modulated signal.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the communication unit codes the received signal to generate the modulated signal.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the control system determines a location of the communication unit relative to the vehicle.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the control system unlocks the door of the vehicle closest to the communication unit based on the location.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the control system identifies a moving target other than the communication unit that is proximate to the vehicle.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the control system indicates a security threat based on the moving target.

9. A method of performing perimeter security and control in a vehicle, the method comprising:

transmitting signals from an array of transmit elements of a radar system in the vehicle, a maximum range of the radar system being less than 100 meters;

processing received signals resulting from the signals;

performing security actions based on the received signals indicating a security threat; and

performing control actions based on the received signals indicating a communication unit associated with the vehicle, the control actions including dynamically controlling each door of the vehicle according to a location of the communication unit relative to the vehicle, wherein the processing the received signals includes detecting a modulation of the signals transmitted by the radar system by the communication unit.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the detecting the modulation includes detecting a frequency shift.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the detecting the modulation includes detecting a modulation code.

12. The method according to claim 9, wherein the processing the received signals includes determining a location of the communication unit relative to the vehicle.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the performing the control actions includes unlocking the door of the vehicle closest to the communication unit based on the location.

14. The method according to claim 9, wherein the processing the received signals includes identifying a moving target other than the communication unit.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising identifying the moving target as the security threat based on performing behavior analysis.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the performing the behavior analysis includes monitoring a duration of time that the moving target is detected or monitoring a movement of the moving target relative to the vehicle.