In-Vehicle Radar Target Height Determination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional in-vehicle radar apparatuses cannot differentiate between targets that the vehicle can pass under and those that pose a collision risk, leading to unnecessary collision avoidance processes.
Innovation Solution
An in-vehicle radar apparatus that determines the height of a target from the road surface by transmitting and receiving radar waves, detecting reception strength and distance, and calculating an approximation expression to differentiate between passable and collision-risk targets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the in-vehicle radar apparatus performs collision avoidance process for all detected targets, then the safety of the own vehicle is improved, but unnecessary collision avoidance processes are performed for passable targets such as signboards and bridge piers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the detection space into two distinct regions: a first detection region above the road surface (for objects like signboards and bridge piers) and a second detection region at or below the road surface (for collision risks). By spatially segmenting the detection zones, the system can apply different processing strategies to each region, performing height determination for the first region and collision avoidance processing for the second region, thereby eliminating unnecessary operations while maintaining safety.
2Measurement precision
If the in-vehicle radar apparatus performs height determination for all detected targets, then the discrimination between passable and collision-risk targets is improved, but the processing load increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the local quality principle by making the height determination process selective rather than universal. Height determination is performed only for detection objects located in the first detection region (above the road surface), while objects in the second detection region (at or below road surface) undergo direct collision avoidance processing. This localized application of height determination reduces overall processing load while maintaining accurate discrimination where needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements partial action by performing height determination only for a subset of detected targets—specifically those in the first detection region above the road surface—rather than for all detected objects. This partial application of the height determination process achieves sufficient target discrimination accuracy while significantly reducing computational burden compared to universal height determination.
3Measurement precision
If the in-vehicle radar apparatus uses complex approximation expression calculation to determine target height, then the accuracy of height determination is improved, but the calculation time and processing load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses approximation expressions as simplified mathematical models (copies) that replicate the relationship between reception strength and distance without requiring complex physical simulations. By pre-establishing approximation expressions that capture the essential characteristics of radar wave propagation and reflection, the system achieves accurate height determination through straightforward mathematical calculations rather than time-consuming complex computations.
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
Enables the radar apparatus to accurately determine whether a detected target is above the road, thereby avoiding unnecessary collision avoidance processes and reducing processing load by using approximation expressions to assess target height.
Implementation Method 1
a transmission and reception means 1 that transmits a radar wave ahead of an own vehicle and receives a reflected wave corresponding to the radar wave from a target
Implementation Method 2
receives a reflected wave corresponding to the radar wave from a target
Data Source
AI summary
An in-vehicle radar apparatus includes a transmission and reception means which transmits a radar wave ahead of an own vehicle and receives a reflected wave corresponding to the radar wave from a target; a reception strength detection means which repeatedly detects reception strength of the reflected wave; a distance detection means which repeatedly detects a distance from the own vehicle to the target; an approximate expression calculation means which calculates an approximation expression expressing the reception strength using the distance as a variable from the reception strength repeatedly detected by the reception strength detection means and the distance repeatedly detected by the distance detection means; and a determination means which determines a height of the target from a road surface based on values of coefficients of the approximation expression.