Compact vehicle based rear and side obstacle detection system including multiple antennae

A rear obstacle detection system for detecting obstacles around a vehicle, said system comprising:

• at least one radiation beam signal source that generates a frequency signal;
• a plurality of antenna responsive to the frequency signal, each of the plurality of antenna transmitting a radiation beam in a controlled manner to define a plurality of separate sensing regions around the vehicle, wherein a first sensing region is defined around a right side rear portion of the vehicle and a second sensing region is defined around a left side rear portion of the vehicle, said first and second sensing regions overlapping to define a rear detection zone directly behind the vehicle, said plurality of antenna further defining a third sensing region that extends behind and to a right side of the vehicle and overlaps the first sensing region and a fourth sensing region that extends behind and to a left side of the vehicle and overlaps the second sensing region, said plurality of antenna being responsive to radiation signals that are reflected off of obstacles within the first, second, third and fourth sensing regions so as to generate a signal indicative of a reflected intensity of the reflected signal;
• and
• a control device responsive to the signals from the plurality of antenna, said control device generating a rear obstacle detection signal if an object is detected in the first and second sensing regions at approximately the same position within the rear detection zone, and said control device preventing the rear obstacle detection signal from being generated if an object is detected in the third and fourth sensing regions outside of the rear detection zone.