U.S. patent application number 11/944824 was filed with the patent office on 2009-05-28 for automotive radar system.
This patent application is currently assigned to Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.. Invention is credited to Serdar H. Yonak.
Application Number | 20090135050 11/944824 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40601586 |
Filed Date | 2009-05-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090135050 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Yonak; Serdar H. |
May 28, 2009 |
AUTOMOTIVE RADAR SYSTEM
Abstract
An automotive radar system having a high frequency radio
transmitter which generates a radar signal in a known direction. A
high frequency radio receiver receives echoes from the radar signal
in which each echo represents a reflection of the radar signal from
an object. A processor then identifies animate objects, if any,
from the received echoes within a range of interest and generates
an alert signal for each such identified animate object.
Inventors: |
Yonak; Serdar H.; (Ann
Arbor, MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GIFFORD, KRASS, SPRINKLE,;ANDERSON & CITKOWSKI, P.C.
P.O. BOX 7021
TROY
MI
48007-7021
US
|
Assignee: |
Toyota Motor Engineering &
Manufacturing North America, Inc.
Erlanger
KY
|
Family ID: |
40601586 |
Appl. No.: |
11/944824 |
Filed: |
November 26, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
342/146 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01S 13/93 20130101;
G01S 7/411 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
342/146 |
International
Class: |
G01S 13/08 20060101
G01S013/08 |
Claims
1. An automotive radar system comprising: a high frequency radio
transmitter which generates a radar signal in a known direction, a
high frequency radio receiver which receives echoes from said radar
signal, each said echo representing a reflection of the radar
signal from an object, a processor which identifies animate objects
from said echoes within a range of interest, and said processor
generating an alert signal for each identified animate object.
2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said radar system
further comprises a video display screen and wherein said alert
signal comprises a figure display on said display screen.
3. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said radio
transmitter generates said radar signal in the range of 76 GHz to
81 GHz.
4. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said processor
identifies each animate object by comparing each object with a
matched set filter.
5. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said processor
identifies each animate object by detecting amplitude modulation of
the received echoes over a period of time.
6. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said processor
identifies each animate object by Fourier analysis.
7. A method for utilizing an automotive radar system comprising the
steps of: transmitting a high frequency radar signal in a known
direction, receiving echoes from said radar signal, each echo
representing a reflection of the radar signal from an object,
identifying animate objects within a range of interest as a
function of said echoes, generating an alert signal for each
identified animate object.
8. The invention as defined in claim 7 wherein said generating step
comprises the step of displaying a symbol on a video screen.
9. The invention as defined in claim 7 wherein said identifying
step comprises the step of detecting amplitude modulation of the
received echoes from the animate object over a period of time.
10. The invention as defined in claim 7 wherein said identifying
step comprises the step of comparing the received echoes from each
object with a matched set filter.
11. The invention as defined in claim 7 wherein said identifying
step comprises the step of disregarding received echoes greater
than a predetermined threshold.
12. The invention as defined in claim 7 wherein said identifying
step comprises the step of disregarding received echoes less than a
predetermined threshold.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] I. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates generally to automotive radar
systems and, more particularly, to such a system which identifies
animate objects within a range of interest.
[0003] II. Description of Material Art
[0004] There are previously known automotive radar systems and such
automotive radar systems are expected to become more prevalent in
the future. These automotive radar systems typically comprise a
high frequency radar transmitter which transmits a radar signal in
a known direction. The transmitter may transmit the radar signal in
either a continuous or pulse mode.
[0005] These systems also include a receiver connected to the
appropriate antenna system which receives echoes or reflections
from the transmitted radar signal. Each such reflection or echo
represents an object struck by the transmitted radar signal.
[0006] To date, the use of automotive radar has been generally
limited to collision avoidance systems. For example, in some radar
systems, the system detects the distance between the vehicle
immediately forward of the vehicle having radar. Whenever the
distance between the two vehicles falls less than a predetermined
amount, which may vary as a function of speed, the radar system
either generates an alert to the driver or automatically slows the
vehicle down to increase the spacing between the vehicle and the
next forward vehicle.
[0007] Still other automotive radar systems detect the distance of
objects within the direction of travel of the automotive vehicle
and take necessary steps to avoid collision with those objects.
[0008] There are situations, however, where an object is outside
the direction of travel of the vehicle but may move into the
direction of travel of the vehicle and cause a collision. For
example, animals, such as deer, as well as people may move suddenly
into the path of travel of the vehicle and cause a collision. These
previously known radar systems have been unable to discriminate
between animate objects which may move into the path of travel of
the vehicle and inanimate objects.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0009] The present invention provides an automotive radar system
which overcomes the previously known disadvantages of the prior
systems.
[0010] In brief, the automotive radar system of the present
invention comprises a high frequency radio transmitter which
generates a radio signal in a known direction relative to the
vehicle. The radio transmitter may generate the radar signal in
either a pulse mode or continuous mode.
[0011] The radar system further includes a radar receiver having
two or more antennas that receive reflections or echoes of the
radar signal resulting from impingement with an object. The
position and distance for each such identified object is then
provided as input data to a processor.
[0012] The processor, by analyzing the received data for each
object over a period of time, then discriminates between animate
objects and inanimate objects. The identification of animate
objects may be achieved in several different ways.
[0013] First, all animate objects of interest, such as people and
other mammals, continually exhibit certain movements. For example,
such animate objects have a continuous heartbeat, respiration and
the like, all of which results in amplitude modulation of the
reflected signal back to the automotive vehicle. Consequently,
identification of amplitude modulation in the reflected signal over
a period of time is indicative that the object is animate.
[0014] Similarly, the reflected radar signal may be compared to a
matched set filter contained as data in the processor for the radar
system. The filters may contain both animate as well as inanimate
objects so that, once a match has been made, the identification of
the object as an animate or inanimate object may be rapidly
determined.
[0015] Once the animate objects have been identified, the processor
provides an alert signal to the operator of the vehicle. In one
embodiment of the invention, the vehicle includes a video display
screen and the alert signal comprises displaying video objects on
the screen which correspond to the animate objects identified by
the radar system. Other alert signals, such as an audible signal,
may also be employed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0016] A better understanding of the present invention will be had
upon reference to the following detailed description when read in
conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein like reference
characters refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in
which:
[0017] FIG. 1 is a block diagrammatic view of a preferred
embodiment of the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 2 is an elevational diagrammatic view illustrating the
operation of the present invention;
[0019] FIG. 3 is a graph illustrating the receipt of exemplary
radar echoes corresponding to objects within the range of
interest;
[0020] FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but illustrating the
received signal over an extended time period; and
[0021] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of a
preferred embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE PRESENT
INVENTION
[0022] With reference first to FIG. 1, a block diagrammatic view of
a preferred embodiment of the radar system 10 according to the
present invention is shown. The radar system 10 includes a high
frequency radio transmitter 12 which generates a radar signal
through a radar antenna 14 in a known direction, typically
forwardly, relative to a vehicle 26 (FIG. 2). At present,
governmental regulations allow automotive radar in the range of
76-81 GHz, although other frequency ranges may become available or
mandated for use in automotive systems in the future.
[0023] The radar system 10 further includes a radar receiver 16
having at least two antennas 18 that are physically spaced apart on
the automotive vehicle 26. Such spaced apart antennas 18 allow the
radar system to identify the position of any received signals by
the antenna 18 through triangulation, phase shifting processing or
other means.
[0024] The radar receiver 16 provides an output to a processor 20
indicative of the echo(es) or radar signal reflection received by
the receiver 16. The information provided to the processor 20
enables the processor to determine both the position and distance
between any objects detected by the radar receiver 16.
[0025] The processor 20, which is preferably microprocessor based,
analyzes the data received from the radar receiver 16 to identify
and discriminate between animate objects and inanimate objects that
are within a range of interest. The algorithm utilized by the
processor 20 to identify animate objects will be subsequently
described in greater detail.
[0026] After the processor 20 identifies animate objects within a
range of interest, the processor 20, through an alert control
circuit 22, generates an alert 24 to the operator of the vehicle
26. This alert 24 may comprise, for example, a video display of the
animate objects on a video display screen accessible to the
operator of the vehicle or other audible or visual alerts. The
alert 24 may also include automatic control of the vehicle 26, e.g.
automatic braking of the vehicle 26.
[0027] With reference now to FIG. 2, the automotive radar system 10
is there shown installed in the vehicle 26 which is either
stationary or traveling in the direction of arrow 28. It is only
desirable to identify animate objects, such as a person 30 or a
deer 32, which may move into the path of travel of the vehicle 26.
Consequently, it is only necessary to examine the objects, both
animate and inanimate, that are within a certain range of interest
34. The range of interest 34 may, for example, include both an
angular range .alpha. as well as a distance range d, either of
which may vary as a function of the speed of the vehicle 26.
[0028] With reference now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the radar transmitter
generates the high frequency radio signal through the antenna 14 as
illustrated at 36 (FIG. 2) in the well known manner. Furthermore,
the transmission of the high frequency radio signal through the
antenna 14 may be either in pulse mode or continuous mode.
[0029] Whenever the radar signal 36 impinges upon an object within
the range of interest 34, that object reflects the radar signal 36
back to the receiving antennas 18 on the motor vehicle 26. This
reflected signal or echo from both the inanimate objects 33 and 35,
as well as the animate objects 30 and 32, enables each of the
objects 30, 32, 33 and 35 to not only be located but also,
ultimately, to be identified as either an animate or an inanimate
object.
[0030] First, the time lapse between the transmission of the radar
signal by the antenna 14 and the receipt of the echo from each
object determines the distance between the object and the vehicle
26. The phase shift between the receiving antennas 18 of each echo
enables the angular position of the object relative to the vehicle
26 to be determined. Since both the angular position as well as the
distance is determinable within the range of interest 34, the
position of each object 30, 32, 33 and 35 may be calculated by the
processor 20.
[0031] The amplitude of the echo will vary depending upon the type
of object within the area of interest 34. An exemplary received
radio signal for the scenario illustrated in FIG. 2 is shown in
FIG. 3 with the amplitude of the echo charted as a function of time
t.sub.long.
[0032] With reference then to FIGS. 2 and 3, a first echo indicated
at elapsed time t.sub.l, i.e. the elapsed time between the
transmission of the radar signal and the receipt of the echo,
corresponds to the nearest object or the person 30 as shown in FIG.
2. Similarly, a second echo 52 corresponds to the next further
object or the deer 32 while a third echo 54 corresponds to the stop
sign 33. An echo 56 corresponds to the vehicle 35 immediately in
front of the vehicle 26. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 3, the
amplitude of the radar echo from the automotive vehicle 35 is much
greater than the amplitude of the echoes from either the person 30,
deer 32 or stop sign 33 since the automotive vehicle 35 is not only
largely metallic in construction, but also much larger than the
other objects.
[0033] With reference now to FIG. 4, a graph of the received echoes
by the antenna is shown over an extended period of time t.sub.long.
For simplicity, FIG. 4 also depicts the received radar echoes with
the vehicle 26 stationary; otherwise the echoes 50, 52, 54 and 56
would shift along the elapsed time axis as the distance between the
objects 30, 32, 33 and 35 changes. Consequently, the echo or
reflection signal 50 from the person 30 will include different
amplitude modulations 60 at spaced time intervals. This amplitude
modulation may result from respiration of the person, the person's
heartbeat, and/or the like.
[0034] Similarly, the echo signal 52 from the deer 32 would also
contain amplitude modulations 62 at spaced time intervals. These
amplitude modulations 62, however, presumably would be different
than the amplitude modulation exhibited by the person 30.
[0035] Conversely, the received radar echo 54 from the stop sign
33, as well as the received echo 56 from the vehicle 35 in front of
the vehicle 26, would not exhibit this type of amplitude modulation
since both are inanimate objects. Furthermore, the echo signal 56
from the vehicle 35 is greater than a threshold Amp.sub.thresh
(FIG. 3) which represents an echo signal larger than any expected
animate object.
[0036] With reference now to FIGS. 1 and 5, the operation of the
radar system of the present invention is there illustrated in
greater detail. At step 100 the radar transmitter 12 generates a
microwave radar signal, preferably in the range of 76-81 GHz,
through the antenna 14 and in a known direction relative to the
vehicle. In this example, that known direction corresponds to the
area of interest 34 forwardly of the vehicle 26 and in the angular
range .alpha. as shown in FIG. 2. Step 100 then proceeds to step
102.
[0037] At step 102, the radar receiver 16 receives the echoes from
objects within the area of interest 34 through its antennas 18.
Each received echo will vary both in amplitude, depending upon the
object producing the echo, as well as the elapsed time between the
transmission of the radar signal at step 100 and the receipt of its
echo. Objects that are closer to the vehicle 26 will exhibit a
shorter elapsed time between the transmission of the radar signal
and the reception of its echo while, conversely, objects further
from the vehicle 26 will exhibit a longer elapsed time between the
transmission of the radar signal and the reception of its echo.
Step 102 then proceeds to step 104.
[0038] In order to simplify processing, step 104 eliminates the
received radar echoes having an amplitude in excess of
Amp.sub.thresh. Such reflections or echoes with large amplitudes
would correspond to other automotive vehicles and thus inanimate
objects. Step 104 then proceeds to step 106.
[0039] After elimination of the large objects corresponding to
automotive vehicles, step 106 determines if there are any other
objects that are identified within the range of interest.
Consequently, for the example illustrated, the echo 56
corresponding to the vehicle 35 is eliminated from further
processing at step 104 so that step 106 determines that there are
three separate remaining objects, each corresponding to echoes 50,
52 and 54, and step 106 proceeds to step 108. However, if no
objects are found within the range of interest at step 106, step
106 branches back to step 100 where the above process is
repeated.
[0040] At step 108, the processor 20 determines whether the objects
30, 32 and 33 which respectively produce the return echoes 50, 52
and 54 are animate or inanimate. The identification of animate
objects within the range of interest 34 may be accomplished in
different ways.
[0041] For example, a plurality of echoes may be received over a
relatively long period of time t.sub.long as illustrated in FIG. 4.
Each echo 50, 52 or 54 is examined to determine if it exhibits
amplitude modulation over that relatively long period of time. Such
amplitude modulation can result from a heartbeat, respiration,
actual movement of the inanimate object, and the like. In any
event, once such amplitude modulation is identified, the processor
20 identifies the object as an animate object.
[0042] Alternatively, the received echoes from the radar
transmission may be compared to match set filters that are
previously determined and stored in memory accessible to the
processor 20. Such filters may correspond to objects commonly found
along highways, such as stop signs, speed limit signs, and the
like. When the appropriate filter is applied to the received echo
50, 52 and 54, the object is accordingly identified as either
animate or inanimate as the case may be.
[0043] If the object is identified as inanimate at step 108, step
108 branches to step 110 where the algorithm determines whether or
not all objects within the range of interest 34 have been
processed. If not, step 110 branches back to step 108 where the
above process is repeated.
[0044] Conversely, in the event that the object is identified as an
animate object which could potentially move into the path of travel
of the vehicle 26, step 108 instead branches to step 112 where the
processor 20 generates an alert signal 24 via the alert control
circuit 22. This alert signal 24 may comprise, for example, the
display of a symbol on a video display screen, or other alert
signals.
[0045] Alternatively, the alert signal 24 can change the operation
of the vehicle itself. For example, in the event of a possible
collision with an animate object, the alert signal 24 may
automatically apply the vehicle brakes to slow the vehicle or even
steer the vehicle around the animate object.
[0046] From the foregoing, it can be seen that the present
invention provides an automotive radar system which identifies
animate objects within a range of interest and which may
potentially enter into the path of travel of the vehicle. Having
described my invention, however, many modifications thereto will
become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains
without deviation from the spirit of the invention as defined by
the scope of the appended claims.
I claim:
* * * * *