Method for detecting at least one moving object

• US 8,035,546 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2007
• Issued: 10/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Seisenberger, Claus, Nalezinski, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza; Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): BYTHROW, PETER M
• Application Number:
  US12/373,447
• Publication Number:
  US 20100007545A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,554 Days
• Field of Search: 342/27, 342/28, 342 70- 72, 342 89- 97, 342104-115
• US Class Current: 342/28
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/343 using sawtooth modulation
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/536 using transmission of continuous unmodulated waves, amplitude-, frequency-, or phase-modulated waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/538 eliminating objects that have not moved between successive antenna scans, e.g. area MTi
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/56 for presence detection presence detection using near field arrangements G01V3/00, e.g. G01V3/08, G01V3/12; burglar, theft or intruder alarms with electrical actuation G08B13/22 - G08B13/26
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/91 for traffic control G01S13/93 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/021 Auxiliary means for detecting or identifying radar signals or the like, e.g. radar jamming signals
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/023 Interference mitigation, e.g. reducing or avoiding non-intentional interference with other HF-transmitters, base station transmitters for mobile communication or other radar systems, e.g. using electro-magnetic interference [EMI] reduction techniques auxiliary means for detecting or identifying radar signals or the like G01S7/021; means for anti-jamming G01S7/36
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/0235 Avoidance by time multiplex
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/354 Extracting wanted echo-signals Doppler systems G01S13/50
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/36 Means for anti-jamming , e.g. ECCM, i.e. electronic counter-counter measures
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/414 Discriminating targets with respect to background clutter
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/415 Identification of targets based on measurements of movement associated with the target
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/052 with provision for determining speed or overspeed speed measuring in general G01P
• CPC Class Codes: H03L 7/099 concerning mainly the controlled oscillator of the loop
• CPC Class Codes: H03L 7/18 using a frequency divider or counter in the loop H03L7/20, H03L7/22 take precedence

Abstract

A method for the detection of at least one moving object in a pre-determined detection zone by way of a speed sensor. The method includes the following steps: determining a detection zone within an illumination region of the speed sensor; detecting a speed signal, particularly a Doppler signal, at least with the entry of a moving object into the illumination region; estimating an entry of the moving object into the detection zone on the basis of a speed of the object, and of a distance between a boundary of the illumination region and the detection zone.

Claims

1. A method for detecting at least one moving object in a predetermined detection zone, the method which comprises:

providing a speed sensor and specifying a detection zone within an illumination zone of the speed sensor;

measuring a speed signal at least upon an entry of a moving object into the illumination zone;

estimating an entry of the moving object into the detection zone on the basis of a speed of the object and a distance between a boundary of the illumination zone and the detection zone.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the speed signal is a Doppler signal.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of specifying the detection zone comprises specifying the detection zone as a function of a speed of the object.

4. The method according to claim 1, which comprises, at a higher speed of the object, reducing a distance between the boundary of the illumination zone and the detection zone.

5. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises reducing an angle dependence of the measured speed of the object.

6. The method according to claim 5, which comprises calibrating the measured speed of the object using a geometry function.

7. The method according to claim 6, which comprises using a geometry function stored point by point in a lookup table.

8. The method according to claim 1, which comprises continually recalculating the speed of the object.

9. The method according to claim 1, which comprises selectively using a result in a display of warning information that is dependent on the speed of the object to occupants of the object.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of specifying the detection zone within the illumination zone of the speed sensor includes changing the distance between the illumination zone and the detection zone dependent on a speed of the object.

10. A presence detector for detecting at least one moving object in a predetermined detection zone, comprising:

a speed sensor for measuring a speed signal at least upon an entry of a moving object into an illumination zone of said speed sensor;

a control unit for specifying a detection zone within the illumination zone of said speed sensor; and

an evaluation unit connected to said speed sensor for estimating an entry of the moving object into the detection zone based on a speed of the object and a distance between a boundary of the illumination zone and the detection zone.

11. The presence detector according to claim 10, wherein said speed sensor includes a Doppler radar.

12. The presence detector according to claim 11, wherein said Doppler radar is an FMCW radar.

13. A configuration comprising:

a speed-dependent traffic display, said speed-dependent traffic display including a presence detector according to claim 10.

15. The presence detector according to claim 10, wherein said control unit changes a distance between the illumination zone and the detection zone dependent on a speed of the object.