Vehicle obstacle warning radar
US6806826B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 14, 2002 |
| Grant date | Oct 19, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 14, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01S2013/93275
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The present invention is a radar system for detecting the presence of obstacles. The radar system includes at least one transmitting antenna and at least one receiving antenna. The transmitting antenna receives an input signal and transmits an electromagnetic wave. The electromagnetic wave reflects off an obstacle back to the receiving antenna. The receiving antenna captures the reflected electromagnetic wave and produces an output signal. The output signal is then combined with the input signal in a quadrature mixer. The resulting in-phase (I) and quadrature (Q) signals may be further processed and then transmitted to a processing system. The processing system uses a suitable algorithm, e.g., a back projection algorithm, to estimate the type and location of obstacles that reflected the electromagnetic wave. In an exemplary embodiment, the algorithm is adapted to discriminate between different sizes and locations of obstacles in order to determine if there is a hazard. Based on this information, the processing system then communicates with a visual and/or audible warning system in order to alert the driver about the obstacle if it has been determined to be a hazard.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.