332 results about "Automotive radar" patented technology

Methods and apparatus are presented which reduce the overall cost and increase the imaging capability for medium and long range automotive radar sensing applications through the combination of a high signal-to-noise ratio and wide dynamic range radar waveform and architecture, antenna arrangement, and a low cost packaging and interconnection method. In accordance with aspects of the present invention, one way a high signal-to-noise ratio and wide dynamic range imaging radar with reduced cost can be achieved is through the combination of a pulsed stepped-frequency-continuous-wave waveform and electrically beam-switched radar architecture, utilizing a planar package containing high-frequency integrated circuits as well as integrated high-frequency waveguide coupling ports, coupled to a multi-beam waveguide-fed twist-reflector narrow beam-width antenna. Other methods and apparatus are presented.

Methods and apparatus are presented that reduce the overall system cost for automotive radar sensing applications through reduction of the number of the radar sensors required. In accordance with aspects of the present invention, one way sensor count reduction can be achieved is through the combination of target range, direction, and velocity determination capability with wide angular field of view coverage within a single sensor unit. One embodiment combines a transmit-pulsed, linearly stepped frequency modulated, transmit power limited radar architecture with a spatially separated receiver antenna array, intermediate frequency down-conversion, and a digital multi-zone monopulse (DMM) signal processing technique for high-resolution target range, velocity, and azimuth angle determination and fast update rate capability in a low cost, mass-production-capable design.

In a conventional automotive radar, a return occurs in a phase difference characteristic necessary for a super-resolution method, resulting in an increase of a detection error, or an extremely narrowed azimuth detection range. A transmitting array antenna, and receiving array antennas are composed of antenna elements respectively, and aligned in a horizontal direction. The weighting of receiving sensitivities of the antenna elements of the receiving array antenna 1 is A1, A2, A3, and A4, which are monotonically decreased from an inner side toward an outer side as represented by A1≧A2≧A3≧A4. On the other hand, the receiving array antenna 3 is symmetrical with the receiving array antenna with respect to the receiving array antenna 1.

A small and light automotive radar having a high detection performance by preventing the road clutter and its in-vehicle positioning is optional is provided. The automotive radar comprises an antenna 1, 2a, 2b equipped with at least one radiating element which radiates linear polarized radio waves; a slit plate 7 which is a metal plate in which a plurality of slits are defined, placed in front of the surface of the antenna; radio wave absorbers 5 provided between the antenna and the slit plate; and a transceiver device which supplies transmit signals to the antenna to radiate radio waves and, from signals acquired by receiving reflection waves which are returned waves of the radio waves reflected by an obstruction, detects a direction in which the obstruction exists.

A radar system (44) for a vehicle (42) includes a transmit unit (56) and a receive unit (58). The transmit unit (56) includes a single beam antenna (72) for output of a radar signal (74) into a target zone (46). The receive unit (58) includes a single beam antenna (76) for receiving a direct receive signal (78) and an indirect receive signal (80). The receive signals (78, 80) are reflections of the radar signal (74) from an object (34, 36) in the target zone (46). The indirect receive signal (80) is reflected off the object (34, 36) toward a reflective panel (54) of the vehicle (42), and the indirect receive signal (80) is reflected off the reflective panel (54) for receipt at the receive antenna (76). The receive signals (78, 80) are summed to produce a detection signal (81) indicating presence of the object (34, 36) in the target zone (46).

A pulse radar is provided with a filter for eliminating a transmission waveform interfered with an answering signal from a received waveform, and a harmonic detector or a phase delay detector for detecting arrival and end of the answering signal reflected on a target.

A process of determining target parameters of an object within a field of detection of an automotive radar system, the process comprising the steps of: (a) establishing a target range from a sequence of ranges; (b) dwelling on the target range for an initial dwell time to obtain sensor data; (c) determining if the sensor data corresponds to the presence of an object or to the absence of an object at the target range based on probability density distributions of an object being present and being absent at the target range, and if such the determination cannot be made, then repeating steps (b)-(c) until the determination can be made; (d) if the sensor data is determined to correspond to the presence of an object in step (c), then dwelling at the target range for an extended dwell time to obtain additional sensor data for determining the target parameters of the object before proceeding to step (e); and (e) establishing the next of the sequence of ranges as the target range before reiterating steps (b)-(e).

A blockage detection system and method for use in a sensor such as a side object detection (SOD) sensor in an automotive radar system is described. The sensor emits signals and receives return signals (i.e. reflected signals) from a passing object. If the passing object is within a virtual detection zone, the sensor uses the information from the passing object to determine if a blockage condition exists in the sensor. The technique utilizes statistics related to the passing object to determine whether a blockage condition exists within the sensor. In one embodiment, a SOD sensor mounted in a first vehicle uses information from a second passing vehicle (e.g. radar return information) to determine whether a blockage condition exists within the SOD sensor itself.

Examples of the present invention include calibration methods for phased array radar apparatus. The calibration methods include an electronic calibration of phase shifters, and compensation for mechanical misalignment. Approaches are particularly useful for automotive radar, and may be used for initial calibration after installation on a factory line, or at later times such as at a service station whenever recalibration becomes necessary.

A high frequency circuit module for use in an automotive radar or the like, in which RF circuit parts are mounted on both sides of a hard multilayer dielectric substrate, and a transmission line connecting the RF circuit parts provided on both sides is constructed by a via group including a periodical structure or a via having a coaxial structure perpendicular to faces of the multilayer dielectric substrate. As the multilayer dielectric substrate, a hard multilayer substrate using metallic layers as a microstrip line wiring layer, a DC/IF signal line layer, and grounding metal layers for shielding which are disposed on and under the DC/IF signal line is employed. By using the transmission line achieved by a through via having the periodical structure or the through via having the coaxial structure, an electromagnetic wave propagating in parallel between the grounding conductors is confined.

An integrated multi-beam antenna with a shared dielectric lens is disclosed. The antenna is formed by positioning the feed apertures of a plurality of waveguide feeds at positions located on the surface of the shared dielectric lens. The angular direction and shape of radiation beams produced by the waveguide feeds are determined by the physical and dielectric characteristics of the lens, the location of feed apertures of the waveguide feeds on the surface of the lens, and the frequency of electromagnetic energy propagating in the waveguide feeds. The principles of the invention are applied to realize an inexpensive, integrated multi-feed antenna adapted to provide desired angular areas of coverage for both a long range and short range radar in an automotive radar safety system.

Examples of the present invention include methods and apparatus for phased array automotive radar which allow reductions in erroneous detections such as sidelobe clutter and ghost images. An example radar includes a steerable transmit antenna and a steerable receive antenna. Transmit and receive beams may be steered using an electronic control circuit so the main lobe of the transmit beam remains generally aligned with the main lobe of the receive beam, and the side lobe of the receive beam remains generally aligned with a null in the transmit beam.

An automotive radar having a high level of azimuth accuracy and a broad detectable range by virtue of preventing leaks of unnecessary waves to receiving antennas is to be provided. A transmitting array antenna 1 and receiving array antennas 2a, 2b are arranged on an antenna plate (grounding conductor plate) 3 which serves to ground the antennas, and radio wave absorbers 4 are arranged on two sides of the edges 15 of the antenna plate 3. The radio wave absorbers 4 may be configured of, for instance, a sponge material containing radio wave absorbing grains.

A method and apparatus for determining misalignment of a radar sensor unit mounted to a vehicle includes providing targets on an alignment apparatus. A vehicle is located at predetermined location on a test station an exact given distance from the alignment apparatus. The actual locations and distances of the targets from each other and from radar sensor unit of the vehicle at the test station are known and pre-stored. At least one target is a greater distance from the vehicle than the other targets. The targets receive and return a radar wave from the radar sensor unit. The radar sensor unit determines locations and distances of the targets and compares with the given or actual locations and distances of the targets to determine misalignment of the radar sensor unit. A calibration program automatically calibrates azimuth and elevation to adjust for misalignment.

An automotive radar system includes a beamformer circuit and a beamcombiner circuit. The beamformer circuit forms a plurality of antenna beams at a plurality of beam ports. The beam combiner circuit receives the beams provided thereto from the beamformer circuit and combines the beams to provide a desired number of beams, with each of the beams having a desired beam shape. In one embodiment, the beamcombiner provides first and second end beams having a beamwidth which is less than a beamwidth of middle beams.

Automotive vehicle including a radar transceiver each including a heterodyne active IMPATT multiplier module arranged to receive a signal from a VCO, a first balance mixer arranged to receive a signal from a VCO, a second balance mixer arranged to receive a signal from a receive antenna and the IMPATT multiplier module and derive a first intermediate frequency signal, a first amplifier for amplifying the output of the second balance mixer and providing the amplifier output to the first balance mixer, and a second amplifier for amplifying the output of the first balance mixer. The vehicle also includes a processor which receives output from the second amplifier of each transceiver and generates a control signal for controlling one or more vehicular components based on the output from the second amplifier(s). The components can be part of a collision avoidance system, blind spot monitoring system and the like.

A radar system and method with reduced multipath effects include a first component of a radar sensor module on which at least one antenna element is formed, the at least one antenna element having a surface at which radar radiation is received or transmitted, the at least one antenna element having a radiation aperture. A second component in proximity to the antenna element such that a portion of the radar radiation impinges on the second component comprises an angled surface forming an angle with the surface of the antenna element. The angled surface of the second component comprises a texture such that when the portion of the radiation impinges on the angled surface, the amount of multipath signal propagating through the radiation aperture of the antenna element is reduced.

A short slot directional coupler includes a dielectric substrate having both surfaces each covered by a metal film, a first via-hole string and a second via-hole string, each of which has via-holes penetrating through the substrate, and formed so that a distance between the first via-hole string and the second via-hole string is narrow at a center of a length direction of the string and wider along directions of both ends of the string, and a pair of third via-hole strings each having via-holes penetrating through the substrate, and formed between parts adjacent to both ends of the first via-hole string and parts adjacent to both ends of the second via-hole string to form a first post-wall waveguide along with the first via-hole string and a second post-wall waveguide along with the second via-hole string.