VEHICLE RADAR SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTING OBJECTS

• US 20110291874A1
• Filed: 06/01/2010
• Published: 12/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: De Mersseman, Bernard
• Application Number:
  US12/791,514
• Publication Number:
  US 20110291874A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/70
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0006 Lateral collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0011 Rear collision or recoiling bounce after frontal collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0134 responsive to imminent contact with an obstacle , e.g. using radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/143 Alarm means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/80 Spatial relation or speed relative to objects
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/0956 the prediction being responsive to traffic or environmental parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18163 Lane change; Overtaking manoeuvres
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/4454 phase comparisons monopulse, i.e. comparing the echo signals received by an interferometric antenna arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/87 Combinations of radar systems, e.g. primary radar and secondary radar
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9314 Parking operations
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9315 Monitoring blind spots
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9317 Driving backwards
• 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 2013/93275 in the bumper area

Abstract

A vehicle radar system and method for detecting objects are provided. The vehicle radar system includes a side radar sensor providing a detection area at a side of the vehicle and a rear radar sensor providing a detection area at a rear of the vehicle. Each of the side and rear radar sensors includes a monopulse radar device. The radar sensor system further includes a controller configured to control operation of the side and rear radar sensors.

Claims

1. A radar sensor system for a vehicle, the radar sensor system comprising:

a side radar sensor providing a detection area at a side of the vehicle;

a rear radar sensor providing a detection area at a rear of the vehicle, wherein each of the side and rear radar sensors include a monopulse radar device; and

a controller configured to control operation of the side and rear radar sensors.

2. The radar sensor system of claim 1, wherein the side radar sensor faces sideways from the vehicle.

3. The radar sensor system of claim 1, wherein an antenna centerline of the side radar sensor is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle.

4. The radar sensor system of claim 1, wherein the rear radar sensor faces rearward from the vehicle.

5. The radar sensor system of claim 1, wherein an antenna centerline of the rear radar sensor is offset from a longitudinal axis of the vehicle.

6. The radar sensor system of claim 5, wherein the offset is about ten degrees.

7. The radar sensor system of claim 1, wherein the side radar sensor is mounted at a door of the vehicle.

8. The radar sensor system of claim 1, wherein the rear radar sensor is mounted at an end portion of a rear bumper of the vehicle.

9. The radar sensor system of claim 1, wherein the monopulse radar devices comprise one of a phase monopulse antenna and an amplitude monopulse antenna.

10. The radar sensor system of claim 1, wherein the monopulse radar devices are configured having a horizontal detection angle of +/−

60 degrees.

11. The radar sensor system of claim 1, wherein the monopulse radar devices each comprise a Pulsed-Doppler sensor.

12. The radar sensor system of claim 1, wherein the side radar sensor and the rear radar sensor have overlapping fields of view.

13. An impact avoidance and protection system for a vehicle, the impact avoidance and protection system comprising:

a pair of monopulse radar sensors;

a processor configured to receive signals from the pair of monopulse radar sensors and determine whether to report an object detected by at least one of the monopulse radar sensors; and

a warning and protection system configured to receive an activation signal from the processor to one of provide a warning indication and actuate a protection device.

14. The impact avoidance and protection system of claim 13, wherein the pair of monopulse radar sensors comprise a rear radar sensor and a side radar sensor configured to detect objects at a rear and a side, respectively, of the vehicle.

15. The impact avoidance and protection system of claim 13, further comprising another pair of monopulse radar sensors, wherein the pair of monopulse radar sensors is configured to detect an object at and behind one side of the vehicle and the other pair of monopulse radar sensors is configured to detect an object at and behind an opposite side of the vehicle.

16. The impact avoidance and protection system of claim 13, wherein the processor is configured to report only moving detected objects.

17. The impact avoidance and protection system of claim 13, further comprising another pair of monopulse radar sensors, and wherein the two pairs of radar sensors are mounted on the vehicle to generate detection areas for blind spot monitoring and lane change assistance.

18. The impact avoidance and protection system of claim 13, wherein the pair of monopulse radar sensors include one sensor mountable to a side door of the vehicle and one sensor mountable to a rear bumper of the vehicle.

19. A method for detecting an object with a vehicle radar system, the method comprising:

receiving signals from a radar sensor mounted at a door of a vehicle and at a rear bumper of the vehicle;

processing the received signals, using a processor, to determine whether to report an object detected by at least one of the radar sensors; and

providing one of a warning indication and protection system actuation based on the report of the detected object.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the radar sensors comprise monopulse radar sensors.