Radar sensing system for vehicle
AssigneeMagna Electronics Inc.
InventorNiall R. Lynam
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A radar sensing system for a vehicle includes a radar sensor device, a cover panel and a control. The radar sensor device is disposed at a pocket established at an upper edge of the vehicle windshield and having a forward transmitting and receiving direction that is not through the windshield. The cover panel is disposed at the radar sensor device and is substantially sealed at the vehicle windshield at or near the pocket at the upper edge of the vehicle windshield. The cover panel has a material that is substantially transmissive to radar frequency electromagnetic radiation waves. The radar sensor device emits radar frequency electromagnetic radiation waves that transmit through the cover panel. The control is responsive to an output of the radar sensor device.
Claims35
A forward facing sensing system for a vehicle, the vehicle having a windshield, said forward facing sensing system comprising:
- a radar sensor operable to detect an object ahead of the vehicle;
- a forward facing image sensor having a forward field of view in a direction of forward travel of the vehicle;
- wherein both said radar sensor and said image sensor are disposed behind or adjacent to an upper region of the vehicle windshield;
- a control responsive to said radar sensor and responsive to said forward facing image sensor;
- wherein said control at least one of (a) enhances detection of an object ahead of the vehicle by said radar sensor responsive to said forward facing image sensor and (b) enhances detection of an object ahead of the vehicle by said forward facing image sensor responsive to said radar sensor;
- and
- wherein said radar sensor comprises a silicon germanium radar sensor.
A forward facing sensing system for a vehicle, the vehicle having a windshield, said forward facing sensing system comprising:
- a radar sensor operable to detect an object ahead of the vehicle;
- a forward facing image sensor having a forward field of view in a direction of forward travel of the vehicle;
- a control responsive to said radar sensor and responsive to said forward facing image sensor;
- wherein said control at least one of (a) enhances detection of an object ahead of the vehicle by said radar sensor responsive to said forward facing image sensor and (b) enhances detection of an object ahead of the vehicle by said forward facing image sensor responsive to said radar sensor;
- wherein said radar sensor comprises a silicon germanium radar sensor;
- wherein said radar sensor comprises at least one of (a) digital beam forming and (b) digital beam steering;
- and
- wherein said radar sensor comprises at least one of (a) an array antenna and (b) a phased array antenna.
A forward facing sensing system for a vehicle, the vehicle having a windshield, said forward facing sensing system comprising:
- a radar sensor operable to detect an object ahead of the vehicle;
- a forward facing image sensor having a forward field of view in a direction of forward travel of the vehicle;
- wherein said forward facing image sensor is disposed to the rear of the windshield and has a forward field of view through the windshield;
- a control responsive to said radar sensor and responsive to said forward facing image sensor;
- wherein said control at least one of (a) enhances detection of an object ahead of the vehicle by said radar sensor responsive to said forward facing image sensor and (b) enhances detection of an object ahead of the vehicle by said forward facing image sensor responsive to said radar sensor;
- wherein said radar sensor comprises a silicon germanium radar sensor;
- wherein said radar sensor comprises at least one of (a) an array antenna and (b) a phased array antenna;
- wherein said control enhances detection of an object ahead of the vehicle by said forward facing image sensor responsive to said radar sensor;
- wherein said control enhances detection of the object ahead of the vehicle by said forward facing image sensor via algorithmic processing of a portion of an image captured by said forward facing image sensor;
- and
- wherein said portion of an image captured by said forward facing image sensor is spatially related to a location of a detected object in the forward field of view of said image sensor.
A forward facing sensing system for a vehicle, the vehicle having a windshield, said forward facing sensing system comprising:
- a radar sensor operable to detect an object ahead of the vehicle;
- a forward facing image sensor having a forward field of view in a direction of forward travel of the vehicle;
- wherein said forward facing image sensor is disposed to the rear of the windshield and has a forward field of view through the windshield;
- a control responsive to said radar sensor and responsive to said forward facing image sensor;
- wherein said control at least one of (a) enhances detection of an object ahead of the vehicle by said radar sensor responsive to said forward facing image sensor and (b) enhances detection of an object ahead of the vehicle by said forward facing image sensor responsive to said radar sensor;
- wherein said radar sensor comprises a silicon germanium radar sensor;
- and
- wherein said control at least in part controls an adaptive cruise control system of the vehicle.
A forward facing sensing system for a vehicle, the vehicle having a windshield, said forward facing sensing system comprising:
- a radar sensor operable to detect an object ahead of the vehicle;
- a forward facing image sensor having a forward field of view in a direction of forward travel of the vehicle;
- wherein said forward facing image sensor is disposed to the rear of the windshield and has a forward field of view through the windshield;
- a control responsive to said radar sensor and responsive to said forward facing image sensor;
- wherein said radar sensor comprises a silicon germanium radar sensor;
- wherein said control enhances detection of the object ahead of the vehicle by said forward facing image sensor via algorithmic processing of a portion of an image captured by said forward facing image sensor;
- and
- wherein said portion of an image captured by said forward facing image sensor is spatially related to a location of a detected object in the forward field of view of said image sensor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.