U.S. patent application number 15/539611 was filed with the patent office on 2018-01-11 for cover member having plurality of faces, and radar apparatus provided with the cover member.
The applicant listed for this patent is DENSO CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Kazushi KAWAGUCHI, Asahi KONDO, Kazumasa SAKURAI, Yuji SUGIMOTO.
Application Number | 20180013196 15/539611 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 56150588 |
Filed Date | 2018-01-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180013196 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SAKURAI; Kazumasa ; et
al. |
January 11, 2018 |
COVER MEMBER HAVING PLURALITY OF FACES, AND RADAR APPARATUS
PROVIDED WITH THE COVER MEMBER
Abstract
A radar apparatus includes transmitting means, receiving means,
target detection means, and a cover member. The cover member is
positioned opposite at least one of the transmitting means and the
receiving means, such as to cover at least one of the transmitting
means and the receiving means. The cover member is provided with a
first face which is positioned opposite at least one of the
transmitting means and the receiving means, and a second face which
is on an opposite side from the first face and is not parallel to
the first face.
Inventors: |
SAKURAI; Kazumasa;
(Nishio-city, Aichi-pref., JP) ; SUGIMOTO; Yuji;
(Nishio-city, Aichi-pref., JP) ; KAWAGUCHI; Kazushi;
(Nishio-city, Aichi-pref., JP) ; KONDO; Asahi;
(Kariya-city, Aichi-pref., JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
DENSO CORPORATION |
Kariya-city, Aichi-pref. |
|
JP |
|
|
Family ID: |
56150588 |
Appl. No.: |
15/539611 |
Filed: |
December 24, 2015 |
PCT Filed: |
December 24, 2015 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2015/085963 |
371 Date: |
June 23, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01Q 1/3283 20130101;
G01S 7/03 20130101; G01S 7/02 20130101; G01S 13/931 20130101; G01S
2007/027 20130101; H01Q 1/42 20130101; H01Q 1/3233 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H01Q 1/42 20060101
H01Q001/42; G01S 7/02 20060101 G01S007/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 26, 2014 |
JP |
2014-266099 |
Claims
1. A radar apparatus comprising: transmitting means for
transmitting probe waves, receiving means for receiving incoming
waves, target detection means for detecting targets that are
origins of the incoming waves, based on results of transmitting the
probe waves and receiving the incoming waves, and a cover member
positioned opposite at least one of the transmitting means and the
receiving means, such as to cover at least one of the transmitting
means and the receiving means, wherein the cover member includes: a
first face which is positioned opposite at least one of the
transmitting means and the receiving means, and a second face which
is on an opposite side from the first face, and which is not
parallel to the first face.
2. The radar apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first face
comprises: a transmitting opposing face positioned opposite the
transmitting means, and a receiving opposing face positioned
opposite the receiving means; wherein the transmitting opposing
face and the receiving opposing face are not parallel to one
another.
3. The radar apparatus according to claim 2, wherein at least one
of the transmitting opposing face and the receiving opposing face
is a curved surface.
4. The radar apparatus according to claim 2, wherein at least one
of the transmitting opposing face and the receiving opposing face
is a planar surface.
5. The radar apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the radar
apparatus is installed on a mobile body and the transmitting means
is positioned at a lower side than the receiving means, along a
vertical direction of the mobile body, and a thickness between the
transmitting opposing face and the second face increases in
accordance with increased proximity to the lower side, along the
vertical direction.
6. A cover member provided in a radar apparatus comprising
transmitting means for transmitting probe waves, receiving means
for receiving incoming waves, and target detection means for
detecting targets that are origins of the incoming waves, based on
results of transmitting the probe waves and receiving the incoming
waves, wherein the cover member is positioned opposite at least one
of the transmitting means and the receiving means, such as to cover
at least one of the transmitting means and the receiving means;
characterized in that the cover member includes: a first face which
is positioned opposite at least one of the transmitting means and
the receiving means, and a second face which is on an opposite side
from the first face, and which is not parallel to the first face.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a radar apparatus, and to
a cover member used in the radar apparatus.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Radar apparatuses are known which transmit and receive probe
waves, and, based on the results, detect targets which reflected
the probe waves. For example a radar apparatus is disclosed in
Japan Patent Publication No. 2009-103456, in which a cover member
is provided which is disposed opposite a transmitting and receiving
face for the probe waves, such as to cover the probe wave
transmitting and receiving face.
[0003] Furthermore, the cover member described in the above patent
document is in the form of a plate having faces that are parallel
to one another, and are disposed at a prescribed angle of
inclination (3 degrees) with respect to the probe wave transmitting
and receiving face
PRIOR ART LITERATURE
Patent Literature
[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japan Patent Publication No.
2009-103456
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Technical Problem
[0005] Generally, a cover member is formed of a material that is
permeable to the probe waves, however part of the probe waves are
reflected by the cover member. That is to say, with such a cover
member, the probe waves are reflected at both a first face of the
cover member, which is opposite the probe wave transmitting and
receiving face, and at a second face, which is on an opposite side
from the first face.
[0006] With the cover member that is described in Japan Patent
Publication No. 2009-103456, since the first face and the second
face are formed parallel to one another, the reflected waves from
the first face and the reflected waves from the second face are
oriented in the same direction. Reflected waves that are oriented
in the same direction ((referred to in the following as reflection
noise) may strengthen each other. If such strengthened reflection
noise is oriented towards the probe wave transmitting and receiving
face, and is reflected from the probe wave transmitting and
receiving face, then it is possible that this may interfere with
the probe waves transmitted by the radar apparatus itself, and
result in a lowering of the accuracy of the radar apparatus in
detecting targets.
[0007] That is to say, with the prior art technology, reflection
noise can readily have large effects.
[0008] The present disclosure provides a radar apparatus whereby
the effects of interference due to reflection noise are
reduced.
Solution to Problem
[0009] One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a radar
apparatus (1, 3) having transmitting means (12), receiving means
(14), target detection means (10, 16, 18), and a cover member (20,
50).
[0010] The transmitting means transmits probe waves. The receiving
means receives incoming waves. The target detection means detects
targets that are sources of the incoming waves, based on the
results of transmitting the probe waves by the transmitting means
and receiving the incoming waves by the receiving means.
[0011] The cover member is disposed opposite at least one of the
transmitting means and the receiving means such so as to cover at
least one of the transmitting means and receiving means. The cover
member to has a first face (26, 56) and a second face (28, 58).
[0012] The first face is disposed opposite at least one of the
transmitting means and the receiving means. The second face is on
an opposite side from the first face, and is not parallel to the
first face.
[0013] With such a cover member, since the first face and the
second face are not parallel to one another, a lessening can be
achieved of a condition whereby first reflected waves that are
reflected at the first face and second reflected waves that are
reflected at the second face are oriented in the same
direction.
[0014] As a result, a decrease can be achieved in the condition
whereby the first reflected waves and the second reflected waves
become strengthened and interfere with the probe waves transmitted
by the radar apparatus. That is to say, with a radar apparatus
according to the present disclosure, the effects of interference
due to reflection noise can be reduced.
[0015] Furthermore, with a radar apparatus according to the present
disclosure, lowering of the accuracy of detecting targets can be
lessened.
[0016] One aspect of the present disclosure is a cover member used
in a radar apparatus.
[0017] The signs shown in parentheses in the "Claims" and in the
"Solution to Problem" indicate a relationship to means specified in
embodiments that are described hereinafter as modes, and do not
limit the technical scope of the disclosure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] In the appended drawings:
[0019] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the installation
location of a radar apparatus according to embodiments of the
present disclosure, in a vehicle.
[0020] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the general
configuration of a first embodiment of a radar apparatus.
[0021] FIG. 3 is a graph showing the effects of examples of the
radius of curvature of a transmitting opposing face in the first
embodiment.
[0022] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the general
configuration of a second embodiment of a radar apparatus.
[0023] FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for describing an angle of
inclination of the transmitting opposing face in the second
embodiment.
[0024] FIG. 6 is a graph showing the effects of examples of the
angle of inclination of the transmitting opposing face in the
second embodiment.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0025] Embodiments of the disclosure are described in the following
referring to the drawings.
First Embodiment
[0026] (Radar Apparatus)
[0027] As shown in FIG. 1, a radar apparatus 1 is installed in a
forward part (for example, a front grille) of a 4-wheeled vehicle
80.
[0028] The radar apparatus 1 transmits probe waves (radar waves)
which are electromagnetic waves in the millimeter-waves band,
receives incoming waves which are reflected waves of the probe
waves, and detects respective targets that have reflected the probe
waves, based on the reception result.
[0029] The term "target" as used herein refers to a source of the
incoming waves, including objects which are on the road and
buildings which are around the road. Such objects can include, for
example automobiles, roadside objects, traffic lights, pedestrians,
etc.
[0030] As shown in FIG. 2, the front of the radar apparatus 1 is
covered by the bumper 6 provided on the 4-wheeled automobile 80.
The bumper 6 is formed such as to be permeable to the probe
waves.
[0031] The radar apparatus 1 includes a transmitting section 10, a
transmitting antenna section 12, a receiving antenna section 14, a
receiving section 16, a signal processing section 18, and a cover
member 20.
[0032] The transmitting section 10 generates probe waves in
accordance with signals from the signal processing section 18. The
probe waves generated by the transmitting section 10 may be pulsed
waves or a continuous wave. A continuous wave may be frequency
modulated. In the case of applying frequency modulation, the
modulation may be executed such that, along the time-axis, there
are rising segments in which the frequency gradually increases and
falling segments in which the frequency gradually decreases. That
is, the radar apparatus 1 may be configured as pulse radar, CW
(continuous wave) radar, FMCW (frequency modulated continuous wave)
radar, or some other form of radar.
[0033] The transmitting antenna section 12 radiates the probe waves
generated by the transmitting section 10. The transmitting antenna
section 12 in this embodiment may have a single antenna element or
a plurality of antenna elements.
[0034] The receiving antenna section 14 receives incoming waves.
The "incoming waves" referred to here include probe waves radiated
from the transmitting antenna section 12 and reflected by
targets.
[0035] The receiving antenna section 14 of this embodiment may have
a single antenna element or a plurality of antenna elements. The
receiving antenna section 14 of this embodiment is located higher
than the transmitting antenna section 12, with respect to the
vehicle height direction (i.e., the vertical direction) of the
four-wheel vehicle 80.
[0036] The receiving section 16 executes preprocessing of the
incoming waves received by the receiving antenna section 14, as
required for detecting targets. The preprocessing here includes
sampling incoming waves, removing noise from incoming waves,
etc.
[0037] The signal processing section 18 includes at least one known
type of microcomputer. The signal processing section 18 detects a
target by using a known type of processing, based on incoming waves
that have been subjected to preprocessing in the receiving section
16, and on the probe waves generated by the transmitting section
10, and also calculates at least the distance to the target.
[0038] When the radar apparatus 1 is configured as a FMCW radar,
the signal processing section 18 may be at least one calculation
processing apparatus (for example a DSP: Digital Signal Processor)
which executes FFT (Fast Fourier Transform) processing, etc., on
the data from the receiving section 16.
[0039] <Cover Member>
[0040] The cover member 20 is what is called a radome, which covers
the transmitting antenna section 12 and the receiving antenna
section 14. The cover member 20 is made of a material that is
permeable to electromagnetic waves (that is, the probe waves) in
the millimeter-wave band, and is disposed facing the transmitting
antenna section 12 and the receiving antenna section 14. [0026]
[0041] The cover member 20 has a cover center section 22 formed as
a rectangular plate, and wall sections 24 extending upright in a
common direction from the rim of the cover center section 22.
[0042] The cover center section 22 is formed with a first face 26
and a second face 28. The first face 26 is disposed facing the
transmitting antenna section 12 and the receiving antenna section
14. The second face 28 is on an opposite side of the cover section
22 from the first face 26.
[0043] A transmitting opposing face 30 and a receiving opposing
face 32 are formed on the first face 26. The transmitting opposing
face 30 is located opposite the transmitting antenna section 12.
The receiving opposing face 32 is disposed opposite the receiving
antenna section 14. That is to say, the receiving opposing face 32
is formed at an upper side and the transmitting opposing face 30 is
formed at a lower side, with respect to the height direction of the
4-wheel automobile 80 (i.e., the vertical direction).
[0044] The thickness at the transmitting opposing face 30, along
the vehicle width direction (i.e., the horizontal direction) from
the transmitting opposing face 30 to the second face 28 decreases
in accordance with increased proximity to the upper side, with
respect to the vertical direction, and increases in accordance with
increased proximity to the lower side, with respect to the vertical
direction.
[0045] Specifically, the transmitting opposing face 30 is formed
with a curved second face along the vertical direction, with a
prescribed radius of curvature. Based on results of tests and
simulations, it has been found that the radius of curvature of the
transmitting opposing face 30 should be determined such that probe
waves which pass through cover member 20 and are refracted at the
second face 28 will be radiated within a prescribed detection
range. Furthermore the radius of curvature should be determined
such as to reduce the extent to which reflected waves which are
probe waves that are reflected by the cover member 20 will be
directed towards the transmitting antenna section 12 and the
receiving antenna section 14.
[0046] The radius of curvature of the transmitting opposing face 30
can be set, for example, within the range of 120 mm to 180 mm. The
reason for this is that it has been learned, from results of
simulations performed by the assignees of the present invention, as
shown in FIG. 3, that if the radius of curvature of the
transmitting opposing face 30 is within the range of 120 mm to 180
mm, the probe waves which pass through the cover member 20 will be
radiated within the detection range, and interference with the
probe waves that is caused by waves reflected from the cover member
20 can be held to within a desired extent.
[0047] The receiving opposing face 32 is a face that is continuous
with the transmitting opposing face 30, but is not parallel to the
transmitting opposing face 30. The thickness at positions on the
receiving opposing face 32, along the horizontal direction from the
receiving opposing face 32 to the second face 28, increases in
accordance with increased proximity to the upper end, along the
vertical direction, and decreases in accordance with increased
proximity to the lower end, along the vertical direction.
[0048] Specifically, the receiving opposing face 32 is formed with
a curved surface having a specified radius of curvature along the
vertical direction. Based on results of simulations, it has been
found that the reflection of probe waves from the cover member 20
to the radar apparatus 1 can be reduced, and the degree to which
incoming waves from outside the detection range of targets become
directed to the radar apparatus 1 can be reduced, by suitably
determining the radius of curvature of the receiving opposing face
32.
[0049] The second face 28 is formed as a planar surface that is not
parallel to the first face 26. With this embodiment, the planar
surface of the second face 28 is parallel to the vertical
direction.
[0050] The first face 26 and the second face 28 of this embodiment
are each formed to have a uniform cross-section along the vehicle
width direction of the 4-wheel automobile 80.
Action and Advantageous Effects of the First Embodiment
[0051] The radar apparatus 1 radiates probe waves from the
transmitting antenna section 12.
[0052] In the cover member 20, these probe waves are successively
refracted at the transmitting opposing face 30 of the first face 26
and at the second face 28. The probe waves which are then radiated
from the second face 28 pass through the bumper 6, to arrive in the
detection range ahead of the 4-wheel automobile 80. Reflected
waves, which are reflected from targets within the detection range,
are received as incoming waves by the receiving antenna section
14.
[0053] Based on these incoming waves and on the probe waves
generated by the transmitting section 10, the signal processing
section 18 detects each target that is a source of incoming waves,
and obtains the distances to the respective targets. If the
receiving antenna section 14 is formed with a plurality of antenna
elements, then it is possible for the signal processing section 18
to derive respective directions in which the targets are present.
Furthermore if the radar apparatus 1 is configured as a FMCW radar,
the signal processing section 18 may obtain the relative speed of
each target, in addition to measuring the distance to each
target.
[0054] Probe waves from the radar apparatus 1 are reflected at the
first face 26 and the second face 28 of the cover member 20. There
is a danger that these reflected waves which are reflected at the
first face 26 and the second face 28 may interfere with the probe
waves, as noise.
[0055] However the first face 26 and the second face 28 of the
cover member 20 are formed such as not to be parallel to one
another. As a result, a decreased is achieved in the extent to
which a first reflection noise that is reflected from the first
face 26 and a second reflection noise that is reflected from the
second face 28 are oriented in a same direction.
[0056] In particular, the transmitting opposing face 30 is formed
as a curved face such that the closer to the upper end, along the
vertical direction, the smaller becomes the thickness along the
longitudinal direction of the 4-wheel automobile 80, (i.e., along
the horizontal direction), and the closer to the lower end, along
the vertical direction, the greater becomes the thickness along the
horizontal direction. As a result, the closer the position to the
lower end of the transmitting opposing face 30, the greater becomes
the degree to which the reflected waves (reflected probe waves)
become oriented in different directions to those of the
transmitting antenna section 12 and the receiving antenna section
14.
[0057] Due to these facts, a reduction can be achieved in the
condition whereby the first reflection noise and the second
reflection noise become strengthened and cause interference with
the probe waves that are transmitted by the radar apparatus 1
itself. That is to say, the radar apparatus 1 can reduce the
effects of interference caused by reflection noise.
[0058] By reducing the effects of interference with the probe waves
by the reflection noise in that way, the radar apparatus 1 can
prevent a lowering of target detection accuracy.
Second Embodiment
[0059] The second embodiment of a radar apparatus differs from the
first embodiment mainly with respect to the configuration of the
cover member. Hence the configuration of the second embodiment will
be described using the same reference signs as for the first
embodiment, and the description is centered on points of difference
from the first embodiment.
[0060] As shown in FIG. 4, the radar apparatus 3 of this embodiment
includes a transmitting section 10, a transmitting antenna section
12, a receiving antenna section 14, a receiving section 16, a
signal processing section 18, and a cover member 50.
<Cover Member>
[0061] The cover member 50 is what is known as a radome, which
covers the transmitting antenna section 52 and the receiving
antenna section 54. The cover member 50 of this embodiment is
disposed facing the transmitting antenna section 52 and the
receiving antenna section 54, and is formed of a material that is
permeable to the probe waves.
[0062] The cover member 50 has a cover center section 52 formed as
a rectangular plate, and wall sections 54 extending upright in a
common direction from the rim of the cover center section 52.
[0063] The cover center section 52 is formed with a first face 56
and a second face 58. The first face 56 is disposed facing the
cover center section 52 and the receiving antenna section 54. The
second face 58 is on an opposite side of the cover section 52 from
the first face 56.
[0064] A transmitting opposing face 60 and a receiving opposing
face 62 are formed on the first face 56. The transmitting opposing
face 60 is located opposite the cover center section 52. The
receiving opposing face 62 is disposed opposite the wall section
54. That is to say, the receiving opposing face 62 is formed at an
upper side and the transmitting opposing face 60 is formed at a
lower side, with respect to the height direction of the 4-wheel
automobile 80 (i.e., the vertical direction).
[0065] The thickness at the transmitting opposing face 60, along
the vehicle width direction (i.e., the horizontal direction) from
the transmitting opposing face 60 to the second face 58 decreases
in accordance with increased proximity to the upper side, with
respect to the vertical direction, and increases in accordance with
increased proximity to the lower side, with respect to the vertical
direction. Specifically, the transmitting opposing face 60 is
formed as a planar face, which is inclined with respect to an axis
along the vertical direction.
[0066] The angle of inclination .theta. of the transmitting
opposing face 60, with respect to an axis parallel to the vertical
direction, should be determined such as to reduce the degree to
which reflected waves that are probe waves reflected by the cover
member 50 become directed towards the transmitting antenna section
12 and the receiving antenna section 14. Furthermore it has been
found, based on results from tests and simulations, that the angle
of inclination .theta. of the transmitting opposing face 60 should
be determined such that probe waves that pass through the cover
member 50 and are refracted at the transmitting opposing face 60
and the second face 58 will be radiated into the detection
range.
[0067] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, the angle of inclination
.theta. of the transmitting opposing face 60 is preferably
determined based on equation (1) below such that the angle of
inclination .theta.t of the probe waves, with respect to an axis
along the horizontal direction, comes within the detection
range.
[0068] [Math. 1]
{square root over (.di-elect cons.)} sin(.theta.-A)=sin
.theta..sub.t (1)
[0069] In equation (1), the symbol .di-elect cons. denotes the
dielectric constant of the cover member 50.
[0070] The angle of inclination .theta. of the transmitting
opposing face 60 can for example be set within the range 9
degrees.about.12 degrees. The reason for this is that, as shown in
FIG. 6, it has been learned as a result of experiments by the
assignee of the present invention that when the angle of
inclination .theta. is within the range 9 degrees.about.12 degrees,
the probe waves which pass through the cover member 50 become
radiated into the detection range, and interference with the probe
waves by reflected waves from the cover member 50 can be held
within a desired extent.
[0071] The receiving opposing face 62 is a face that is continuous
with the transmitting opposing face 60, and is formed such as not
to be parallel to the transmitting opposing face 60.
[0072] The receiving opposing face 62 is formed such that the
thickness in the horizontal direction increases in accordance with
increased proximity to the upper end, along the vertical direction,
and decreases in accordance with increased proximity to the lower
end, along the vertical direction. Specifically, the receiving
opposing face 62 is formed as a planar face, which is inclined with
respect to an axis along the vertical direction. It has been found
based on results from simulations that the angle of inclination of
the receiving opposing face 62 should be determined such as to
reduce the reflection of probe waves from the cover member 50 to
the radar apparatus 3, and to reduce the extent to which incoming
waves from targets outside the detection range become directed
towards the radar apparatus 3.
[0073] The second face 58 is formed as a planar surface that is not
parallel to the first face 56. With this embodiment, the planar
surface of the second face 58 is disposed parallel to the vertical
direction.
[0074] The first face 56 and the second face 58 of the cover member
50 of this embodiment are formed to have a uniform cross-sections
along the vehicle width direction of the 4-wheel automobile 80.
Advantageous Effects of the Second Embodiment
[0075] With the cover member 50 of this embodiment, as for the
cover member 20 of the first embodiment, a reduction can be
achieved in the degree to which the first reflection noise and the
second reflection noise become strengthened and interfere with the
probe waves that are transmitted by the radar apparatus 1 itself.
That is, the radar apparatus 3 can provide a decrease in the
effects of interference due to reflection noise.
[0076] Furthermore by reducing the effects of interference due to
reflection noise in that way, the radar apparatus 3 can curtail a
lowering of the accuracy of detecting targets.
Other Embodiments
[0077] The present disclosure has been described in the above
referring to embodiments, but is not limited to these embodiments
and can be implemented in various modes without departing from the
spirit of the invention.
[0078] For example with the cover member 20 of the first
embodiment, both the transmitting opposing face 30 and the
receiving opposing face 32 are formed as curved surfaces, however
it is only necessary that at least one of the transmitting opposing
face and receiving opposing face is a curved surface. Furthermore
with the second embodiment, both of the transmitting opposing face
60 and the receiving opposing face 62 are formed as planar
surfaces, however it is only necessary that at least one of the
transmitting opposing face and receiving opposing is a planar to
surface.
[0079] That is to say, with a cover member according to the present
disclosure, so long as the transmitting opposing face and the
receiving opposing face are not parallel to the second face, it is
possible for them to be formed as planar or curved surfaces.
[0080] Furthermore with the embodiments described above, the
installation location of the radar apparatus 1, 3 is in a forward
part of the 4-wheeled automobile 80, however the present disclosure
is not limited to this. That is to say, it would be equally
possible for the radar apparatus to be installed in a side part of
the 4-wheeled automobile 80, or in a rear part of the 4-wheeled
automobile 80, or at some other location.
[0081] With the first and second embodiments described above, the
front of the radar apparatus 1, 3 is covered by a bumper, however
the present disclosure is not limited to this, and it would be
equally possible for the bumper to be omitted. That is to say, it
would be equally possible for the radar apparatus 1, 3 not to be
covered by a bumper.
[0082] Furthermore with the first and second embodiments described
above, the radar apparatus 1, 3 is installed in a 4-wheeled
automobile 80. However a radar apparatus according to the present
disclosure is not limited to installation in a 4-wheeled automobile
80, and it would be equally possible for it to be installed in any
type of mobile body, i.e., a two-wheeled motor vehicle, a bicycle,
a ship, an aircraft, etc.
[0083] Moreover with the first and second embodiments described
above, probe waves consisting of electromagnetic waves in the
millimeter-wave band are used, however it would be equally possible
for the probe waves to be light waves. That is to say, it would be
equally possible for a radar apparatus according to the present
disclosure to be a laser radar apparatus.
[0084] Furthermore it would be equally possible for the probe waves
to be sound waves. That is to say, it would be equally possible for
a radar apparatus according to the present disclosure to be what is
called a sonar apparatus.
[0085] The cover members 20, 50 of the first and second embodiments
are disposed opposite both of the transmitting antenna section 12
and the receiving antenna section 14, such as to cover both of the
transmitting antenna section 12 and the receiving antenna section
14, however it is only necessary for a cover member 20, 50
according to the present disclosure to be configured to cover at
least one of the transmitting antenna section 12 and the receiving
antenna section 14.
[0086] Furthermore, configurations in which parts of the above
embodiments are omitted also constitute embodiments of the present
disclosure. Moreover, configurations which appropriately combine
modified forms of the above embodiments also constitute embodiments
of the present disclosure. Furthermore, all modes which can be
envisaged that do not depart from the spirit of the invention as
set out in the wording of the claims also constitute embodiments of
the present disclosure.
DESCRIPTION OF SIGNS
[0087] 1, 3 . . . Radar apparatus 6 . . . Bumper 10 . . .
Transmitting section 12 . . . Transmitting antenna section 14 . . .
Receiving antenna section 16 . . . Receiving section 18 . . .
Signal processing section 20, 50 . . . Cover member 22, 52 . . .
Cover center section 24, 54 . . . Wall section 26, 56 . . . First
face 28, 58 . . . Second face 30, 60 . . . Transmitting opposing
face 32, 62 . . . Receiving opposing face 80 . . . Four-wheel
automobile
* * * * *