Automotive drive assistance system and method

In an automobile, a collision avoidance system, comprising:

• a substrate having a radius of curvature, wherein the radius of curvature corresponds to a field of view;
• at least two radiation elements coupled to the substrate, wherein the at least two radiation elements are coupled to directionally transmit and receive electromagnetic radiation over the field of view;
• and
• a lens coupled to focus the electromagnetic radiation transmitted and received from the at least two radiation elements, wherein the lens is multi-lobed so as to create a desired radiation pattern for transmitting and receiving the electromagnetic radiation.

In an automobile, an adaptive cruise control system, comprising:

• a substrate having a radius of curvature, wherein the radius of curvature corresponds to a field of view substantially in a direction of travel of the automobile;
• at least two radiation elements coupled to the substrate, wherein the at least two radiation elements are coupled to directionally transmit and receive electromagnetic radiation over the field of view;
• and
• a lens coupled to focus the electromagnetic radiation transmitted and received from the at least two radiation elements.

In an automobile, a method of detecting an object, comprising:

• providing a substrate having a radius of curvature, wherein the radius of curvature corresponds to a field of view;
• at least two radiation elements coupled to the substrate emitting electromagnetic radiation directionally over the field of view;
• a lens focusing the electromagnetic radiation emitted from the at least two radiation elements over the field of view;
• the electromagnetic radiation reflected from an object;
• the lens focusing the electromagnetic radiation reflected from the object back to the at least two radiation elements;
• and
• computing a positional element of the object.

A method of adaptive cruise control in an automobile, comprising:

• providing a substrate having a radius of curvature, wherein the radius of curvature corresponds to a field of view;
• at least two radiation elements coupled to the substrate emitting electromagnetic radiation directionally over the field of view;
• a lens focusing the electromagnetic radiation emitted from the at least two radiation elements over the field of view;
• the electromagnetic radiation reflected from an object;
• the lens focusing the electromagnetic radiation reflected from the object back to the at least two radiation elements;
• and
• computing a positional element of the object.

A method of collision avoidance in an automobile, comprising:

• providing a substrate having a radius of curvature, wherein the radius of curvature corresponds to a field of view;
• at least two radiation elements coupled to the substrate emitting electromagnetic radiation directionally over the field of view;
• a lens focusing the electromagnetic radiation emitted from the at least two radiation elements over the field of view;
• the electromagnetic radiation reflected from an object;
• the lens focusing the electromagnetic radiation reflected from the object back to the at least two radiation elements, wherein the lens is multi-lobed so as to create a desired radiation pattern for transmitting and receiving the electromagnetic radiation;
• and
• computing a positional element of the object.

A computer-readable medium containing computer instructions for instructing a controller to perform a method of detecting an object, the instructions comprising:

• providing a substrate having a radius of curvature, wherein the radius of curvature corresponds to a field of view;
• at least two radiation elements coupled to the substrate emitting electromagnetic radiation directionally over the field of view;
• a lens focusing the electromagnetic radiation emitted from the at least two radiation elements over the field of view;
• the electromagnetic radiation reflected from an object;
• the lens focusing the electromagnetic radiation reflected from the object back to the at least two radiation elements;
• and
• computing a positional element of the object.