SENSOR SYSTEM INCLUDING A CONFIRMATION SENSOR FOR DETECTING AN IMPENDING COLLISION
First Claim
1. A sensor system for detecting an impending collision of a vehicle, the sensor system comprising:
- a primary radar arrangement carried by the vehicle for detecting at a first frequency to provide radar output based on a plurality of radar measurements including a radar range measurement, an angular position and a radar closing velocity of an object with respect to the vehicle;
a confirmation detection arrangement including a confirmation sensor positioned on the vehicle for detecting at a second frequency lower than the first frequency within a proximity space adjacent to the vehicle, the confirmation detection arrangement providing a confirmation detection output based on a plurality of proximity measurements including presence of the object within the proximity space and proximity closing velocity of the object with respect to the vehicle; and
an electronic control module in communication with the primary radar and confirmation detection arrangements, the electronic control module configured to produce a deployment signal for a safety device which is dependent upon evaluation of the radar and confirmation detection outputs and to use the radar output as a deployment command and to use the confirmation detection output as a confirmation signal, producing the deployment signal and increasing reliability of determining an impending crash.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In at least one embodiment of the present invention, a sensor system for detecting an impending collision of a vehicle is provided. The sensor system comprises a primary radar arrangement providing the assessment of the severity of an impending impact and the time left before the impact. A separate confirmation detection arrangement including a confirmation sensor is for detecting within a proximity space adjacent to the vehicle to provide a confirmation output. In communication with the primary radar and confirmation detection arrangements is an electronic control module. The module is configured to produce a deployment signal for a safety device which is dependent upon evaluation of the primary radar and confirmation detection outputs.
47 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A sensor system for detecting an impending collision of a vehicle, the sensor system comprising:
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a primary radar arrangement carried by the vehicle for detecting at a first frequency to provide radar output based on a plurality of radar measurements including a radar range measurement, an angular position and a radar closing velocity of an object with respect to the vehicle; a confirmation detection arrangement including a confirmation sensor positioned on the vehicle for detecting at a second frequency lower than the first frequency within a proximity space adjacent to the vehicle, the confirmation detection arrangement providing a confirmation detection output based on a plurality of proximity measurements including presence of the object within the proximity space and proximity closing velocity of the object with respect to the vehicle; and an electronic control module in communication with the primary radar and confirmation detection arrangements, the electronic control module configured to produce a deployment signal for a safety device which is dependent upon evaluation of the radar and confirmation detection outputs and to use the radar output as a deployment command and to use the confirmation detection output as a confirmation signal, producing the deployment signal and increasing reliability of determining an impending crash. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A sensor system for detecting an impending collision of a vehicle, the sensor system comprising:
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a primary radar arrangement including a radar sensor positioned on the vehicle for detecting at a first frequency between about 20 Ghz and 80 Ghz, the primary radar arrangement for providing radar output based on a plurality of radar measurements including a radar cross section, a radar range measurement, an angular position and a radar closing velocity of an object with respect to the vehicle; a confirmation detection arrangement including a confirmation sensor positioned on the vehicle for detecting at a second frequency between about 900 Mhz and 26 Ghz within a proximity space adjacent to the vehicle, the confirmation detection arrangement providing a confirmation detection output based on a plurality of proximity measurements including presence of the object within the proximity space and proximity closing velocity of the object with respect to the vehicle; and an electronic control module in communication with the primary radar and confirmation detection arrangements, the electronic control module configured to produce a deployment signal for a safety device which is dependent upon evaluation of the radar and confirmation detection outputs and to use the radar output as a deployment command and to use the confirmation detection output as a confirmation signal, producing the deployment signal and increasing reliability of determining an impending crash. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification