Vehicle Radar Trailer Detection Exclusion Zone

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Solution Overview

Problem

Vehicle radar systems face interference from trailers when detecting objects, leading to false positives and inability to discriminate between trailer-related and non-trailer-related targets, especially when towing a trailer.

Innovation Solution

A radar object detection system that determines the presence and size of a trailer by analyzing consistent and intermittent reflected signals, using a controller to define an exclusion zone and adjust detection parameters, thereby reducing false positives by distinguishing trailer-related targets from other objects.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the radar system detects all reflected signals from trailers, then the detection coverage is improved, but false positives increase due to inability to distinguish trailer-related targets from other objects

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveobject detection accuracyVSAvoidfalse alarm rate
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes trailer-related reflected signals from the detection results by defining an exclusion zone around the trailer. This allows the radar system to ignore signals from the trailer and its immediate surroundings, thereby preventing false positives while maintaining detection accuracy for other objects.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different detection characteristics to different regions of the radar field. By defining an exclusion zone with specific characteristics (different from the main detection area), the system allows trailer-related signals to be excluded while maintaining normal detection in other areas, thus improving overall detection accuracy without increasing false alarms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If the radar system uses a fixed detection area, then the system complexity is reduced, but the ability to accommodate varying trailer sizes and detection requirements is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetrailer size accommodationVSAvoiddetection zone configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic exclusion zone that adapts to different trailer sizes and positions. The exclusion zone is not fixed but rather adjusts based on the detected trailer characteristics, allowing the system to accommodate varying trailer dimensions while maintaining manageable complexity through automated adjustment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes detection parameters dynamically based on trailer detection. When a trailer is detected, the system modifies the exclusion zone parameters (size, position, shape) to match the trailer's characteristics. This allows the system to adapt to different trailer types without requiring multiple fixed detection zones, thus improving versatility while keeping complexity manageable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

The system effectively discriminates trailer-related targets from other objects, reducing false alarms and improving the accuracy of object detection by defining an exclusion zone based on trailer size, enhancing the radar system's ability to detect adjacent vehicles and prevent blind spot warnings.

Implementation Method 1

a radar sensor configured to emit a radar signal toward a defined area proximate to the vehicle, and detect a reflected signal arising from the radar signal being reflected by detected targets

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRadar: Radar

Implementation Method 2

detect a reflected signal arising from the radar signal being reflected by detected targets

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP3940417B1Vehicle radar system with trailer detection
Publication Date: 2023.05.03 APTIV TECHNOLOGIES LTD
  • EP3940417B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3940417B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3940417B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A radar object detection system (10) includes a radar sensor (20) and a controller (32). The radar sensor (20) is configured to emit a radar signal (24) toward a defined area (22) proximate to the vehicle (12), and output a reflection signal (30) indicative of a detected target (28) present in the defined area (22). The controller (32) is configured to receive the reflection signal (30) from the radar sensor (20), determine if the detected target (28) corresponds to a trailer (14) towed by the vehicle (12), and define an exclusion zone (34) characterized as occupied by the trailer (14) and thereby excluded from the defined area (22) where objects can be detected.