Vehicle sensing system with 360 degree near range sensing

A sensing system for a vehicle, said sensing system comprising:

• a first radar sensor disposed at a forward portion of the side of the vehicle that is forward of a transverse centerline of the vehicle such that a principal axis of the first radar sensor's zone of sensing extends rearward and sideward at an angle less than 90 degrees and greater than 0 degrees relative to the side of the body, wherein a side boundary of the first radar sensor's zone of sensing that extends rearward is parallel to or intersecting the side of the body of the vehicle at which said first radar sensor is disposed;
• a second radar sensor disposed at a rearward portion of the side of the vehicle that is rearward of the transverse centerline of the vehicle such that a principal axis of the second radar sensor's zone of sensing extends forward and sideward at an angle less than 90 degrees and greater than 0 degrees relative to the side of the body, wherein a side boundary of the second radar sensor's zone of sensing that extends forward is parallel to or intersecting the side of the body of the vehicle at which said second radar sensor is disposed;
• a third radar sensor disposed at the side of the vehicle between said first radar sensor and said second radar sensor such that a principal axis of a zone of sensing of said third radar sensor is generally normal to the side of the body of the vehicle;
• wherein a zone of sensing for each of said first, second, and third radar sensors is created using at least one of (i) signal gain made on each radar sensor and (ii) signal threshold made on each radar sensor;
• wherein the zone of sensing for each of said first, second, and third radar sensors is adjusted to an adjusted zone of sensing using at least one of (i) signal gain adjustment made on each radar sensor and (ii) signal threshold adjustment made on each radar sensor;
• a control, wherein sensor data sensed by said first, second, and third radar sensors with the zone of sensing and sensor data sensed by said first, second, and third radar sensors with the adjusted zone of sensing are communicated to said control, and wherein said control, responsive to processing of the communicated sensor data sensed by said first, second, and third radar sensors, determines the presence of at least one object exterior the vehicle and within the zone of sensing and adjusted zone of sensing of at least one of said first, second, and third radar sensors;
• and
• wherein said first, second, and third radar sensors are part of a sensing system capable of providing object detection for at least one of an automated parking system of the vehicle, a blind spot detection system of the vehicle, a cross traffic alert system of the vehicle, a lane change and merge aid system of the vehicle, an automatic emergency braking system of the vehicle, a pedestrian detection system of the vehicle, a turn assist system of the vehicle, and an intersection collision mitigation system of the vehicle.

A sensing system for a vehicle, said sensing system comprising:

• a first ultrasonic sensor disposed at a forward portion of the side of the vehicle that is forward of a transverse centerline of the vehicle such that a principal axis of the first ultrasonic sensor's zone of sensing extends rearward and sideward at an angle less than 90 degrees and greater than 0 degrees relative to the side of the body, wherein a side boundary of the first ultrasonic sensor's zone of sensing that extends rearward is parallel to or intersecting the side of the body of the vehicle at which said first ultrasonic sensor is disposed;
• a second ultrasonic sensor disposed at a rearward portion of the side of the vehicle that is rearward of the transverse centerline of the vehicle such that a principal axis of the second ultrasonic sensor's zone of sensing extends forward and sideward at an angle less than 90 degrees and greater than 0 degrees relative to the side of the body, wherein a side boundary of the second ultrasonic sensor's zone of sensing that extends forward is parallel to or intersecting the side of the body of the vehicle at which said second ultrasonic sensor is disposed;
• a third ultrasonic sensor disposed at the side of the vehicle between said first ultrasonic sensor and said second ultrasonic sensor such that a principal axis of a zone of sensing of said third ultrasonic sensor is generally normal to the side of the body of the vehicle;
• wherein a zone of sensing for each of said first, second, and third ultrasonic sensors is created using at least one of (i) signal gain made on each ultrasonic sensor and (ii) signal threshold made on each ultrasonic sensor;
• wherein the zone of sensing for each of said first, second, and third ultrasonic sensors is adjusted to an adjusted zone of sensing using at least one of (i) signal gain adjustment made on each ultrasonic sensor and (ii) signal threshold adjustment made on each ultrasonic sensor;
• a control, wherein sensor data sensed by said first, second, and third ultrasonic sensors with the zone of sensing and sensor data sensed by said first, second, and third ultrasonic sensors with the adjusted zone of sensing are communicated to said control, and wherein said control, responsive to processing of the communicated sensor data sensed by said first, second, and third ultrasonic sensors, determines the presence of at least one object exterior the vehicle and within the zone of sensing and adjusted zone of sensing of at least one of said first, second, and third ultrasonic sensors;
• and
• wherein said first, second, and third ultrasonic sensors are part of a sensing system capable of providing object detection for at least one of an automated parking system of the vehicle, a blind spot detection system of the vehicle, a cross traffic alert system of the vehicle, a lane change and merge aid system of the vehicle, an automatic emergency braking system of the vehicle, a pedestrian detection system of the vehicle, a turn assist system of the vehicle, and an intersection collision mitigation system of the vehicle.