Apparatus and method for determination of a direction to an object

US7764221B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Robert Bosch GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Klaus Voigtlaender · Schallstadt, DE
• Hans Irion · Winnenden, DE
• Matthias Steinhauer · Steinheim, DE
• Wolfgang Menzel · Dachau, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 8, 2005
• Grant date: Jul 27, 2010
• Expiry date: Feb 21, 2026

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01S2013/93271
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An apparatus includes a plurality of sensor modules that are disposed at spacings with respect to one another, each sensor module having a local oscillator device. The oscillator device generates an oscillator signal that is passed on to a transmit/receive device, and the oscillator signal is radiated. The transmit/receive device is set up such that it can receive signals reflected from the object. A phase detection device is coupled at one input to the oscillator device and at a second input to the transmit/receive device. Based on the oscillator signal and the received reflected signals, the phase detection device determines a phase signal. A control and signal-processing device determines, based on the spacings of the sensor modules with respect to one another and the phase signals, a direction of the object with respect to the sensor module.