Vehicle Corner Radar Shutter Field of View Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Short-range radars struggle to discriminate objects in a standstill situation due to the absence of Doppler effect, causing objects at the same range to be merged in azimuth, making it difficult to determine if an object is in the front portion of a vehicle, especially in heavy truck scenarios where vehicles and pedestrians are close.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a radar system with corner radar sensors that adjust their field of view by using shutters to block side portions, allowing only the front portion to be monitored, and a radar system controller to combine data from both sensors to detect objects within a safety distance threshold, triggering an alert for potential collisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If short range radar is used for sensing environment around vehicles, then driving scenario detection is improved, but discrimination capability in standstill situation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the sensing environment into two distinct zones using shutters: a first area (side portions) and a second area (front portion). The shutters physically segment the field of view of corner radar sensors, allowing independent detection strategies for each zone. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by enabling precise front portion detection while maintaining reliable side area monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different detection qualities to different spatial regions. In the front portion (second area), the system achieves high azimuth discrimination precision by combining data from multiple corner radar sensors. In the side portions (first area), the system maintains reliable detection through individual sensor monitoring. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between overall reliability and localized precision.
2Area of stationary object
If corner radar sensors monitor entire field of view, then coverage area is improved, but object discrimination in front portion deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the field of view using shutters that create distinct first areas (side portions) and second areas (front portions). This physical division allows the system to optimize detection for each zone independently, resolving the contradiction between comprehensive coverage and precise front portion discrimination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges data from multiple corner radar sensors to detect objects in the front portion (second area). By combining information from left and right corner sensors, the system achieves superior azimuth discrimination precision in the front portion while maintaining full field of view coverage through the shutters.
3Device complexity
If mono-pulse short range radar is used, then device complexity is reduced, but azimuth discrimination capability in standstill deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines data from multiple simple mono-pulse corner radar sensors to achieve discrimination capability that would be complex to implement in a single sensor. By merging measurements from left and right corner sensors, the system achieves azimuth discrimination in standstill situations while maintaining device simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the simple mono-pulse corner radar sensors multi-functional by using them for both side area monitoring and front portion detection. Through data combination and shutter-based field of view control, these universal sensors resolve the contradiction between simplicity and discrimination capability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables accurate detection of objects in the front portion of a vehicle, ensuring safe operation by differentiating between pedestrians and adjacent vehicles at close distances, thereby preventing collisions during standstill situations.
Implementation Method 1
a left corner radar sensor (26) and a right corner radar sensor (28) arranged at a front left corner and at a front right corner of the vehicle respectively, each radar sensor (26, 28) having a transmission antenna configured to transmit an object detection radar signal (54) and a receiver configured to detect a return signal characterized as a reflection of the object detection radar signal (54) reflected by an object in the field-of-view (32, 40) of the radar sensor (26, 28)
Implementation Method 2
a shutter (70) partially arranged above the array of transmission antenna elements such that a portion of the object detection radar signal (72) is reflected against the shutter (70). The shutter (70) is arranged in oblique relative to the planar array of transmission antenna elements such that said reflected signal is deviated out of the corner radar sensor antenna (52)
Data Source
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AI summary
A radar system (24) for vehicle (10) comprises a left corner radar sensor (26) configured to be mounted on the front left corner of a vehicle (10), a right corner radar sensor (28) configured to be mounted on the front right corner of a vehicle (10), the left corner radar sensor (26) being configured to transmit an object detection radar signal in a field of view (32) extending from a left side portion area (34) to a front portion area (38) covering respectively the left portion and the front portion of the vehicle (10), the right corner radar sensor (28) being configured to transmit another object detection radar signal in another field of view (40) extending from a right side portion area (42) to another front portion area (46) covering respectively the right portion and the front portion of the vehicle (10). The radar system (24) further comprises a field of view control means configured to reduce each field of view (32, 40) of each corner radar sensor (26, 28) to their front portion area (38, 46), and a radar system controller (30) configured to monitor the presence of an object (18) in the common field of view of the front portion area (38, 46) of each field of view (32, 40) of each corner radar sensor (26, 28).