Vehicle radar sensor and method of operation
A radar sensor for use in a vehicle is described. The radar sensor comprising: at least one transmitter and at least once receiver to transmit and receive radar signals of the radar sensor; an acceleration sensor to measure the acceleration of said radar sensor or the chassis of said vehicle; a processor coupled to said acceleration sensor to calculate a tilt in a radar signal projected from said vehicle using said measured acceleration; a memory for storing said calculated radar tilt.
1. A radar sensor for use in a vehicle comprising:
at least one transmitter and at least once receiver to transmit and receive radar signals of the radar sensor;
an acceleration sensor to measure the acceleration of said radar sensor or the vehicle;
a processor coupled to said acceleration sensor to calculate a beam tilt of a radar signal projected from said vehicle using said measured acceleration;
a memory for storing said calculated beam tilt;
wherein said processor processes said measured acceleration and either adjusts the beam tilt of said radar signal in response to said measured acceleration or classifies the measured data;
a beam corrector configured to compare said calculated beam tilt with a pre-set reference tilt and adjust said beam tilt to a pre-set value if the difference between the pre-set value and the reference value exceeds a set threshold, and one of the processor and the beam corrector dynamically adjusts the threshold based on driving conditions.
2. The radar sensor according to claim 1 wherein said acceleration sensor is coupled to said transmitter of said radar sensor.
3. The radar sensor according to claim 1 wherein said acceleration sensor measures the acceleration of said radar sensor in a direction that is at an angle between 30° to 150° to the direction of travel in the vehicle.
4. The radar sensor according to claim 3 wherein the direction of the acceleration sensor is at angle between 75° and 105° to the direction of travel.
5. The radar sensor according to claim 1 wherein said beam corrector is a beam steerer or a phase rotator.
6. The radar sensor according to claim 5 wherein said beam corrector is within said at least one transmitter.
7. The radar sensor according to claim 1 wherein the beam tilt of the radar signal is adjusted via software control.
8. The radar unit according to claim 1 wherein said processor processes the classified data from said radar signal in combination with said calculated beam tilt.
9. A method for adjusting a radar signal transmitted from a radar sensor in a vehicle comprising:
transmitting a radar signal from said radar sensor using a transmitter;
measuring the acceleration of said vehicle using an acceleration sensor;
using said measured acceleration to calculate a beam tilt of said radar signal;
comparing said calculated tilt with a stored reference tilt;
adjusting the beam tilt of said radar signal if said comparison of the calculated and reference tilt exceeds a predetermined value;
comparing said calculated beam tilt with a pre-set reference tilt and adjust said beam tilt to a pre-set value if the difference between the pre-set value and the reference value exceeds a set threshold;
dynamically adjusting the threshold based on driving conditions using one of a processor and a beam corrector.
10. The method according to claim 9 wherein said radar signal is adjusted using a phase rotator.
11. The method according to claim 9 wherein said radar signal is adjusted using software within an automotive radar microcontroller.
12. The method according to claim 9 wherein said acceleration sensor is coupled to said transmitter of said radar sensor.
13. The method according to claim 9 wherein the acceleration of said radar sensor is measured in a direction that is at an angle between 30° to 150° to the direction of travel in the vehicle.
14. The method according to claim 13 wherein the direction of the acceleration sensor is at angle between 75° and 105° to the direction of travel.