Object detection system: zone matching and programmability
View Patent ↗The object detection system includes an object sensor and a controller. The controller is configured to compare a sensed range of an object with a range gate based on the azimuth angle of the object. The range gate for each azimuth angle is programmable and is selected to form a contiguous sensing region closely matching the shape of a desired detection zone. The object sensor is switchable between the plurality of sensing fields, wherein a range gate for each sensing field is programmable to form a contiguous sensing region. The object sensor may be a variety of range sensors including radar, ultrasonic, laser or infrared technologies. The range gate and parameters of the sensing field are each programmable through a controller. Further, the controller may automatically vary the range gate or sensing field based on vehicle parameters.
1. An object detection system for a vehicle, the object detection system comprising: an object sensor configured to sense a range of an object; a controller configured to compare the range to a range gate of a plurality of range gates, each range gate corresponding to an azimuth angle; and wherein the range gate for each azimuth angle is programmable to form a contiguous sensing region wherein the object sensor is switchable between a plurality of sensing fields and the controller is configured to determine an object azimuth angle based on a sensing field of the plurality of sensing fields.
2. The object detection System according to claim 1 , wherein each sensing field has a sensing angle of between 20 and 40°.
3. The object detection system according to claim 1 , wherein the object sensor is a radar sensor.
4. The object detection system according to claim 3 , wherein the radar sensor includes a patch array antenna.
5. The object detection system according to claim 3 , wherein the radar sensor includes a butler matrix.
6. The object detection system according to claim 4 , wherein the radar sensor includes a transmitter output and a receiver input, the transmitter output and receiver input are switched between a plurality of feed networks, each feed network having a fixed phasing length and being selectively connected to the patch array antenna.
7. The object detection system according to claim 1 , wherein the range gate for each sensing field is determined based on vehicle parameters.
8. The object detection system according to claim 7 , wherein the vehicle parameters include vehicle speed.
9. The object detection system according to claim 7 , wherein the vehicle parameters include a turn indicator.
10. The object detection system according to claim 7 , wherein the vehicle parameters include a steering wheel angle.
11. The object detection system according to claim 7 . wherein the vehicle parameters include a steering wheel angle rate.
12. The object detection system according to claim 7 , wherein the vehicle parameters include a navigation system output.
13. The object detection system according to claim 12 , wherein the navigation system output includes a road classification.
14. The object detection system according to claim 1 , further comprising a user interface.
15. The object detection System according to claim 1 , further comprising a transmitter receiver in communication with a remote programming device, such that the contiguous sensing region may be modified via the remote programming device.