US 2004/0104837 A1Published application

Obstacle detection device for vehicle

AssigneeDenso Corporation

InventorsYoshie Samukawa, Keiji Matsuoka, Hiroshi Ookata, Toyohito Nozawa

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Abstract

If the maximum time width Lt of the intensity of received light of reflected waves from a vehicle ahead is smaller than a reference time width, it is judged that the vehicle ahead is positioned in proximity to the detection limit distance of an obstacle detection device for vehicle. Thus, there is no problem, for example, even if a cut-in vehicle is present in reality between the vehicle ahead and the vehicle of interest and nevertheless, the distance to the cut-in vehicle cannot be detected. It can be judged whether the vehicle ahead is positioned in proximity to the detection limit distance of the device by judging the magnitude relation between Lt and the reference time width. As a result, the detecting capability of the device can be judged with accuracy.

Claims7

Dependent claims

An obstacle detection device for a vehicle comprising:

radar means which radiates transmitted waves around the vehicle and detects reflected waves of the transmitted waves;
sensing means which senses a distance to an obstacle around the vehicle based on a result of detection of the reflected waves by the radar means;
determining means which determines a limit distance within which sensing by the sensing means is possible;
and
judging means which compares the limit distance determined by the determining means with a preset sensing reference distance and thereby judges an operating state of the device,
wherein the sensing means includes signal level judging means which judges a signal level of the reflected waves, and
the determining means determines the limit distance based on a result of detection of reflected waves whose signal level is lower than a preset signal level.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.