Smart-device-based radar system for vehicle operations
AssigneeGoogle Inc.
InventorsChih Yu Chen, YungSheng Chang, Ivan Poupyrev
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Techniques and apparatuses are described that implement a smart-device-based radar system capable of determining characteristics of objects external to a vehicle, occupants within a vehicle, and objects proximal to an open-air vehicle. In particular, the system enables a smart device to perform many vehicle operations such as collision avoidance, occupant detection, and parking assistance in vehicle and open-air vehicle environments without integrated radar technology. By using a smart device to perform such actions, existing vehicles and open-air vehicles without integrated radar functionality may be able to leverage radar-based vehicle operations.
Claims20
A mobile smart device comprising:
- a radar system comprising:
- one or more antennas;
- at least one transceiver coupled to the antennas and configured to:
- transmit, via one or more of the antennas, radar transmit signals;
- and
- receive, via one or more of the antennas, radar reflection signals;
- at least one processor;
- and
- at least one computer-readable storage media comprising processor-executable instructions that, responsive to execution by the processor, cause the mobile smart device to perform operations comprising:
- transmitting, via the radar system and while the mobile smart device is within an interior of a vehicle, one or more radar transmit signals;
- receiving, via the radar system:
- an internal radar reflection signal caused by a reflection of one of the radar transmit signals off a portion of the vehicle;
- and
- an external radar reflection signal caused by a reflection of one of the radar transmit signals off an object that is not the portion of the vehicle, another portion of the vehicle, or an occupant within the vehicle;
- estimating a position of the mobile smart device relative to the vehicle based on the internal radar reflection signal;
- analyzing the external radar reflection signal to determine a characteristic of the object;
- determining, based on the estimated position of the mobile smart device relative to the vehicle and the characteristic of the object, an enhanced characteristic of the object;
- and
- initiating an operation based on the enhanced characteristic of the object.
A mobile smart device configured to be mounted on or in an open-air vehicle, the mobile smart device comprising:
- a radar system comprising:
- one or more antennas;
- and
- at least one transceiver coupled to the antennas and configured to:
- transmit, via at least one of the antennas and at a time that the mobile smart device is mounted to the open-air vehicle, a radar transmit signal;
- and
- receive, via at least one of the antennas and at a time that the mobile smart device is mounted to the open-air vehicle, radar reflection signals, the radar reflection signals comprising:
- an external radar reflection signal caused by a reflection of the radar transmit signal off an object within a proximity of the open-air vehicle;
- and
- an open-air vehicle radar reflection signal caused by a reflection of the radar transmit signal off of the open-air vehicle, off of a rider of the open-air vehicle, or off of both the open-air vehicle and the rider of the open-air vehicle;
- at least one processor;
- and
- at least one computer-readable storage media comprising processor-executable instructions that, responsive to execution by the processor, cause the mobile smart device to:
- distinguish the external radar reflection signal from the open-air vehicle radar reflection signal;
- analyze the external radar reflection signal to detect at least one characteristic of the object;
- and
- initiate an operation based on the characteristic of the object.
A method performed by a mobile smart device comprising a radar system, the method comprising:
- transmitting, via the radar system, a radar transmit signal, the mobile smart device being within an interior of a vehicle at a time the radar transmit signal is transmitted;
- receiving, via the radar system:
- an internal radar reflection signal caused by a reflection of the radar transmit signal off a portion of the vehicle;
- and
- an external radar reflection signal caused by a reflection of the radar transmit signal off an object that is not the portion of the vehicle, another portion of the vehicle, or an occupant within the vehicle;
- estimating a position of the mobile smart device relative to the vehicle based on the internal radar reflection signal;
- analyzing the external radar reflection signal to determine a characteristic of the object;
- determining, based on the estimated position of the mobile smart device relative to the vehicle and the characteristic of the object, an enhanced characteristic of the object;
- and
- initiating an operation based on the enhanced characteristic of the object.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.