Blind-spot radar system with improved semi-trailer tracking

A system for detecting an object in a blind-spot zone of an operator of a vehicle, said system comprising:

• a radar sensor that emits a radar signal toward a blind-spot zone, detects a radar track reflected by an object in the blind-spot zone, and outputs a detection signal indicative of a detected object in the blind-spot zone;
• and
• a controller that
• receives the detection signal from the radar sensor,
• determines if the detected object is within a first portion of the blind-spot zone,
• determines if the detected object is greater than a size threshold, and
• reconfigures the system to detect objects within a second portion of the blind-spot zone different from the first portion if the detected object is within a first portion of the blind-spot zone and the detected object is greater than a size threshold.

A method of operating a radar system for detecting an object in a blind-spot zone of an operator of a vehicle, said method comprising:

• providing a system configured to detect radar tracks indicative of a detected object proximate to a vehicle using radar;
• detecting, by the system, a radar track within the blind-spot zone;
• activating an alert to indicate to the operator that the detected object is present in the blind-spot zone;
• deactivating the alert a first time-interval after the detected object exits the blind-spot zone when the detected object is not larger than the size threshold;
• and
• deactivating the alert a second time-interval after the detected object exits the blind-spot zone when the detected object is larger than the size threshold, wherein the second time-interval is greater than the first time-interval.

A method of operating a radar system for detecting an object in a blind-spot zone of an operator of a vehicle, said method comprising:

• providing a system configured to detect radar tracks indicative of a detected object proximate to the vehicle using radar;
• detecting, by the system, a radar track within a first portion of the blind-spot zone;
• determining that the detected object is larger than a size threshold;
• and
• reconfiguring the system to detect radar tracks within a second portion of the blind-spot zone different from the first portion when the detected object is larger than the size threshold.