Method and apparatus for detecting object

• US 20040267452A1
• Filed: 06/16/2004
• Published: 12/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alpine Electronics Incorporated (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Alpine Electronics Incorporated (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Sugano, Masaaki, Igarashi, Yohji, Watanabe, Takayuki
• Granted Patent: US 7,584,047 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/300
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/34 using transmission of continuous, frequency-modulated waves while heterodyning the received signal, or a signal derived therefrom, with a locally-generated signal related to the contemporaneously transmitted signal
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/86 Combinations of radar systems with non-radar systems, e.g. sonar, direction finder
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/22 Producing cursor lines and indicia by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4021 of receivers

Abstract

A method and apparatus for detecting an object on a road around a vehicle. The method includes referring to three-dimensional geographical data, calculating a distance D_A to a detecting object BLD in a 360 degree range, defining an area for the detecting target by the distance D_A, measuring a distance D_B to the object BLD and an object OBL in the 360 degree range when the vehicle travels, determining that the object is present on a road around the vehicle when D_B<D_A, and outputting the determination result.

Claims

1. An apparatus for detecting an object around a vehicle comprising:

a vehicle positioning device operable to detect a vehicle position;

a database, the database including three-dimensional geographical data;

an area defining device operable to utilize the three-dimensional geographical data to define an area for detecting a target;

object detecting device operable to measure a distance between a vehicle position and an object and determine whether the object is within the area defined by the area defining unit; and

an output device operable to identify if the object detecting device has detected an object within the area.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the area defining device calculates the area for detecting a target by calculating a distance between the position of the vehicle and a building that is greater than or equal to a predetermined height.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the area defining device calculates the area for detecting a target to be a detectable distance from the vehicle position when no building is identified.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the object detecting device scans in a 360 degree range.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the object detecting device compares the distance between the vehicle position and the object with the distance between the vehicle position and a building.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the object detecting device associates a direction with the distance between the vehicle position and the object.

7. A method for detecting an object on a road around a vehicle comprising the acts of:

providing a vehicle;

providing a database, the database including three-dimensional geographical data;

calculating a first distance, the first distance relating to a position of the vehicle and a first object;

utilizing the first distance to define an area for detecting a target;

measuring a second distance, the second distance relating to a position of the vehicle and a second object;

determining that the second object is an obstruction if the second object is in the area for detecting a target; and

outputting an indication that the second object is an obstruction.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first object is a building.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the building has a height is greater than or equal to a predetermined height.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein further comprising the act of determining if the first distance is greater than the second distance.

11. The method of claim 7 further comprising the act of associating a direction with the first distance.

12. The method of claim 7 further comprising the act of associating a direction with the second distance.

13. An apparatus for detecting an object on a road around a vehicle comprising:

a vehicle positioning device operable to detect a vehicle position;

a geographical database containing geographical data;

a radar device operable to emit a radio beam, receive radio waves reflected from an object, and detect a position of the object; and

an obstruction detecting and controlling device operable to gather geographical data from the geographical database, identify a vehicle position in which the sensitivity of the radar device should be changed, and instruct the radar device to change its sensitivity.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the obstruction detecting and controlling device is operable to identify a vehicle position for the resetting of the sensitivity of the radar device and instruct the radar device to reset the sensitivity to its original level.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the vehicle position in which the sensitivity of the radar device should be changed corresponds to a beginning portion of a section of a road with increased detectable noise and vehicle position for resetting the sensitivity of the radar device corresponds to an end portion of the section of the road.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the section of the road is proximate to a tunnel, a steel bridge, or a sound barrier.

17. A method for detecting an object on a road around a vehicle, comprising the acts of:

providing a radar device operable to emit a radio beam and receive radio waves reflected from an object;

providing geographical data;

identifying a first location, the first location corresponding to a vehicle position for changing the sensitivity of the radar;

utilizing the geographical data to determine if the vehicle has reached the first location;

instructing the radar device to change its sensitivity when the vehicle reaches the first location.

18. The method for detecting the object of claim 17 further comprising the acts of:

identifying a second location, the second location corresponding to a vehicle position for resetting the sensitivity of the radar;

utilizing the geographical data to determine if the vehicle has reached the second location; and

instructing the radar device to reset its sensitivity when the vehicle reaches the second location.