Method for adjusting detection axis of object detection system

• US 20040017308A1
• Filed: 06/03/2003
• Published: 01/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Kikuchi, Hayato
• Granted Patent: US 6,842,152 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/74
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93271 in the front of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4026 Antenna boresight
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4034 in elevation, i.e. in the vertical plane
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4086 in a calibrating environment, e.g. anechoic chamber
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4972 Alignment of sensor
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52004 Means for monitoring or calibrating short-range imaging G01S7/5205
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/125 Means for positioning
• 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

A method for adjusting a detection axis of an object detection system, wherein a disk-shaped adjusting member is fixed to a reference plane on an outer face of a casing, wherein the rotational position of the adjusting member is adjusted. The adjusting member has first and second base surfaces, between which a wedge shape is formed. Rotating the adjusting member finely adjusts the angle of the second base surface relative to the reference plane of the casing, thereby resulting in the direction of the second base surface coinciding with the direction of an object detection axis of a radar mechanism part fixed within the casing. The direction of the object detection axis can be adjusted in the horizontal direction by placing a level on the second base surface of the adjusting member and adjusting the mounting angle of the casing so the level indicates a horizontal direction.

Claims

1. A method for adjusting a detection axis of an object detection system in which object detection means having a predetermined detection direction (ArO) is fixed within a casing having a reference plane (P) on the outer face thereof, the method comprising the following steps:

detecting an angular difference between the predetermined detection direction (ArO) and an object detection axis (Ar) of the object detection means in an initially fixed state of the object detection means relative to the casing;

fixing to the casing a adjusting member having a first base surface and a second base surface, between which a wedge shape is formed, the adjusting member being mountable in rotationally different positions on the reference plane (P) of the casing with the first base surface being a mounting surface, wherein the adjusting member is fixed, based on the angular difference between the predetermined detection direction (ArO) and the object detection axis (Ar), at a rotational position wherein the direction of the second base surface coincides with the object detection axis (Ar) in a state wherein the adjusting member is mounted on the reference plane (P) of the casing; and

adjusting the angle of the casing wherein a direction of the second base surface has a predetermined relationship relative to the predetermined detection direction (ArO).

2. The method for adjusting a detection axis of an object detection system according to claim 1, wherein the adjusting member is disk-shaped and rotates freely around a mounting part provided in a middle thereof.

3. The method for adjusting a detection axis of an object detection system according to claim 2, wherein engaging a latching part (E1) provided on the reference plane (P) of the casing with a part to be latched (E2) provided on the first base surface of the adjusting member positions the adjusting member in a predetermined rotational position relative to the mounting part.

4. The method for adjusting a detection axis of an object detection system according to claim 3 wherein the adjusting member is positionable in a plurality of rotational positions by providing a plurality of at least one of the latching part (E1) and the part to be latched (E2).

5. The method for adjusting a detection axis of an object detection system according to claim 3 wherein the adjusting member is positionable in a plurality of rotational positions by providing a single one of either the latching part (E1) or the part to be latched (E2) and a plurality of the other one at equal intervals in a circumferential direction around the mounting part of the adjusting member.

6. The method for adjusting a detection axis of an object detection system according to claim 3 wherein the adjusting member is positionable in a plurality of rotational positions by providing a single one of either the latching part (E1) or the part to be latched (E2) and a plurality of the other at unequal intervals in a circumferential direction around the mounting part of the adjusting member.

7. The method for adjusting a detection axis of an object detection system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the predetermined detection direction (ArO) is a horizontal direction and the direction of the second base surface coincides with the horizontal direction in the predetermined relationship.

8. The method for adjusting a detection axis of an object detection system according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined detection direction (ArO) is a horizontal direction, and the adjusting member includes a level integrally provided on the second base surface.

9. The method for adjusting a detection axis of an object detection system according to claim 1, wherein a spacer including a mounting surface and the reference plane (P), between which a wedge shape is formed, is fixed wherein the mounting surface abuts against an outer face of the casing to adjust the angle of the reference plane (P) of the spacer relative to the object detection axis (Ar).

10. The method for adjusting a detection axis of an object detection system according to claim 9, wherein the spacer and the adjusting member are disk-shaped and secured together to the outer face of the casing via mounting parts provided in the middle thereof.

11. The method for adjusting a detection axis of an object detection system according to claim 10, wherein the mounting face of the spacer is interlocked with the outer face of the casing to position the mounting face in the rotational direction.