IP Library Granted Patent US 10,578,713
Granted Patent B2
US 10,578,713 · App. 15/166,165 · Granted Mar 3, 2020

Radar axis displacement amount calculation device and radar axis displacement calculation method

Inventors: Hidekuni Yomo (Kanagawa, JP); Akihiko Matsuoka (Kanagawa, JP)
Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
G01S7/4026G01S13/931G01S2007/403G01S2007/4034G01S2007/4086G01S2013/9375G01S2013/9389
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,578,713
App. No.
15/166,165
Granted
Mar 3, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A processor generates first position information on a relative position between a camera and a radar, acquires, from the radar, second position information on a relative position between the radar and a reflector, the second position information being generated by using an arrival direction of the radar transmission wave, and calculates a displacement amount by comparing the first position information and the second position information with each other.

Claims (21)

1. A radar axis displacement amount calculation device comprising:

a reflector that, in operation, reflects a radar transmission wave in an arrival direction of the radar transmission wave, the radar transmission wave being transmitted by a radar attached to a first object;

a camera that, in operation, generates a first image including a portion of the first object to which the radar is attached, the camera having an optical axis aligned with a reflecting axis of the reflector; and

a processor that, in operation, calculates a displacement amount between a radar axis and a reference direction, the radar axis being an actual direction of the radar transmission wave transmitted by the radar, the reference direction being a desired direction of the radar transmission wave transmitted by the radar, wherein

the processor generates first position information on a relative position between the camera and the radar by using the first image; acquires, from the radar, second position information on a relative position between the radar and the reflector, the second position information being generated by using the arrival direction of the radar transmission wave; and calculates the displacement amount by comparing the first position information and the second position information with each other.

2. The radar axis displacement amount calculation device according to claim 1 , wherein the processor calculates a difference between the first position information and the second position information as the displacement amount.

3. The radar axis displacement amount calculation device according to claim 1 , wherein the reflector is a target simulator that delays the radar transmission wave or performs frequency conversion of the radar transmission wave.

4. The radar axis displacement amount calculation device according to claim 1 , wherein

when the first object is moving at a constant speed, the radar measures a Doppler frequency of the reflector, and

after calculating the displacement amount and adjusting the radar axis based on the displacement amount, the processor further determines based on the Doppler frequency whether the radar axis is aligned with the reference direction.

5. The radar axis displacement amount calculation device according to claim 1 , further comprising an unmanned aerial device, wherein the reflector and the camera are mounted on the unmanned aerial device.

6. The radar axis displacement amount calculation device according to claim 1 , wherein

the reflector is attached to a second object, and

the camera is attached to the second object.

7. A method of calculating a radar axis displacement amount comprising:

reflecting a radar transmission wave in an arrival direction of the radar transmission wave by a reflector, the radar transmission wave being transmitted by a radar attached to a first object;

generating a first image including a portion of the first object to which the radar is attached by using a camera, the camera having an optical axis aligned with a reflecting axis of the reflector; and

calculating a displacement amount between a radar axis and a reference direction by using a processor, the radar axis being an actual direction of the radar transmission wave transmitted by the radar, the reference direction being a desired direction of the radar transmission wave transmitted by the radar, wherein the calculating includes:

generating first position information on a relative position between the camera and the radar by using the first image;

acquiring, from the radar, second position information on a relative position between the radar and the reflector, the second position information being generated by using the arrival direction of the radar transmission wave; and

calculating the displacement amount by comparing the first position information and the second position information with each other.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 28, 2024
From: PANASONIC HOLDINGS CORPORATION
To: PANASONIC AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 066957/0984 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 21, 2024
From: PANASONIC CORPORATION
To: PANASONIC HOLDINGS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 066644/0600 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 8, 2016
From: YOMO, HIDEKUNI; MATSUOKA, AKIHIKO
To: PANASONIC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 038851/0255 →