US6069581A — High performance vehicle radar system

Claim 1

Independent Claim 179 words

An automotive radar capable of tracking and discriminating at least two Doppler shifted targets, said radar comprising: a radio frequency oscillator; a transmit pulse generator; a transmit antenna; a transmit switch, said transmit switch configured to connect said oscillator to said transmit antenna, said transmit switch operated by an output of said transmit pulse generator; a receive antenna configured to provide received signals to a downconverter; a programmable time delay; a programmable gain amplifier; a receive switch, an input of said receive switch connected to an output of said downconverter and an output of said switch connected, to an input of said programmable gain amplifier, said switch controlled by an output of said programmable time delay; and a controller operably connected to said transmit pulse generator, said programmable time delay, and said programmable gain amplifier, said controller configured to search for targets at a plurality of downrange regions, for each, downrange region, said controller configured to: set a time delay for said programmable time delay; set a gain for said programmable gain amplifier; and trigger said transmit pulse generator.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 179 words

An automotive radar capable of tracking and discriminating at least two Doppler shifted targets, said radar comprising: a radio frequency oscillator; a transmit pulse generator; a transmit antenna; a transmit switch, said transmit switch configured to connect said oscillator to said transmit antenna, said transmit switch operated by an output of said transmit pulse generator; a receive antenna configured to provide received signals to a downconverter; a programmable time delay; a programmable gain amplifier; a receive switch, an input of said receive switch connected to an output of said downconverter and an output of said switch connected, to an input of said programmable gain amplifier, said switch controlled by an output of said programmable time delay; and a controller operably connected to said transmit pulse generator, said programmable time delay, and said programmable gain amplifier, said controller configured to search for targets at a plurality of downrange regions, for each, downrange region, said controller configured to: set a time delay for said programmable time delay; set a gain for said programmable gain amplifier; and trigger said transmit pulse generator.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 22 words

The automotive radar of claim 1, further comprising a visual display configured to display downrange information about targets detected by said radar.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 24 words

The automotive radar of claim 2, wherein said visual display is configured to display information about the target which is closest to said radar.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 26 words

The automotive radar of claim 2, wherein said visual display is configured to display information about targets with a shortest time to impact to said radar.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 77 words

A radar system capable of tracking and discriminating multiple Doppler shifted targets in crossrange and downrange, said radar system comprising: a plurality of sensor units, each sensor unit comprising a radio frequency transmitter, a radio frequency receiver, a programmable time delay and a programmable gain amplifier; and a controller unit, said controller unit operably connected to each of said sensor units such that said controller unit cart program said programmable time delay and said programmable gain amplifier.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 77 words

A radar system capable of tracking and discriminating multiple Doppler shifted targets in crossrange and downrange, said radar system comprising: a plurality of sensor units, each sensor unit comprising a radio frequency transmitter, a radio frequency receiver, a programmable time delay and a programmable gain amplifier; and a controller unit, said controller unit operably connected to each of said sensor units such that said controller unit cart program said programmable time delay and said programmable gain amplifier.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 33 words

The radar system of claim 5 wherein said controller is further configured to use each of said sensor units to search downrange for targets within the field of view of that sensor unit.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 36 words

The radar system of claim 5 wherein said controller is further configured to obtain crossrange information by using each of said sensor units to search for targets within the field of view of that sensor unit.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 94 words

The radar system of claim 5 wherein said plurality of sensor units comprises a first sensor unit, a second sensor unit, and a third sensor unit, said first, second and third sensor units mounted to the rear of a vehicle such that each sensor unit has a field of view which extends behind said vehicle, said first function sensor unit mounted near the centerline of said vehicle, said second sensor unit mounted to the left of said first sensor unit and said third sensor unit mounted to the right of said first sensor unit.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 50 words

The radar system of claim 5 wherein said plurality of sensor units comprises a first sensor unit and a second sensor unit, said first and second sensor units having a first and second field of view respectively, said first field of view being different from said second field of view.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 24 words

The radar system of claim 9 wherein a portion of said first field of view overlaps a portion of said second field of view.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 72 words

The radar system of claim 5 wherein said plurality of sensor units comprises a first sensor unit and a second sensor unit, said first and second sensor units mounted to a vehicle, said vehicle having left and right side-object regions, said first sensor unit having field of view that substantially covers said left side-object region and said second sensor unit having a field of view that substantially covers said right side-object region.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 21 words

The radar system of claim 5 wherein said controller unit is configured to be operably connectable to a vehicle information bus.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 23 words

The radar system of claim 12 wherein each of said sensor units is configured to be operably connectable to a vehicle information bus.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 20 words

The radar system of claim 12 wherein said vehicle information bus carries radar data and data from other vehicle sensors.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 116 words

A method for searching for targets to provide downrange information from a pulsed radar system, comprising the steps of: selecting a range gate; programming a time delay into a programmable time delay based on said range gate; programming a gain into a programmable gain amplifier based on said range gate; transmitting a carrier pulse of radio frequency energy; receiving reflections of said carrier pulse of radio frequency energy, said reflections produced by said carrier pulse of radio frequency energy being reflected off of target objects; downconverting said reflections to produce an intermediate frequency (IF) signal; and supplying a portion of said IF signal to said programmable gain amplifier, said portion selected by said programmable time delay.

Claim 18

Independent Claim 116 words

A method for searching for targets to provide downrange information from a pulsed radar system, comprising the steps of: selecting a range gate; programming a time delay into a programmable time delay based on said range gate; programming a gain into a programmable gain amplifier based on said range gate; transmitting a carrier pulse of radio frequency energy; receiving reflections of said carrier pulse of radio frequency energy, said reflections produced by said carrier pulse of radio frequency energy being reflected off of target objects; downconverting said reflections to produce an intermediate frequency (IF) signal; and supplying a portion of said IF signal to said programmable gain amplifier, said portion selected by said programmable time delay.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 109 words

A radar sensor capable of tracking and discriminating one or more Doppler shifted targets in downrange distance, said radar sensor comprising: a radio frequency transmitter configured to transmit pulses of radio frequency energy; a radio frequency receiver configured to receive said pulses of radio frequency energy; a programmable time delay configured to select a selected portion of said pulses received by said radio frequency receiver; a programmable gain amplifier configured to amplify said selected portion; and a controller unit, said controller unit configured to program said programmable time delay and said programmable gain amplifier to detect targets with a field of view of said sensor at different downrange distances.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 109 words

A radar sensor capable of tracking and discriminating one or more Doppler shifted targets in downrange distance, said radar sensor comprising: a radio frequency transmitter configured to transmit pulses of radio frequency energy; a radio frequency receiver configured to receive said pulses of radio frequency energy; a programmable time delay configured to select a selected portion of said pulses received by said radio frequency receiver; a programmable gain amplifier configured to amplify said selected portion; and a controller unit, said controller unit configured to program said programmable time delay and said programmable gain amplifier to detect targets with a field of view of said sensor at different downrange distances.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 20 words

The radar sensor of claim 16, wherein said controller unit is further configure to compute a velocity of said targets.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 20 words

The radar sensor of claim 16, wherein said controller unit is further configured to compute an acceleration of said targets.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 15 words

The radar sensor of claim 16, wherein said sensor is connected to a information bus.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 23 words

The radar sensor of claim 19, wherein said sensor supplies information about said targets to an intelligent display connected to said information bus.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 19 words

The radar sensor of claim 19, wherein said sensor supplies information about said targets to an airbag deployment system.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 23 words

The radar sensor of claim 19, wherein said sensor supplies information about said targets to other vehicle systems connected to said information bus.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 13 words

The radar sensor of claim 16, wherein said sensor measures a throttle position.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 15 words

The radar sensor of claim 16, wherein said sensor provides information an active suspension system.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 57 words

The radar sensor of claim 16, further comprising an audible warning device configured to project an audible warning signal, said warning signal projecting a first sound when said radar sensor detects a target having a first downrange distance, said warning signal projecting a second sound when said radar sensor detects a target having a second downrange distance.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 59 words

The radar sensor of claim 16, further comprising an audible warning device configured to project an audible warning signal, said warning signal projecting a first sound when said radar sensor detects a closest target having a first downrange distance, said warning signal projecting a second sound when said radar sensor detects a closest target having a second downrange distance.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 55 words

The radar sensor of claim 16, further comprising an audible warning device configured to project an audible warning signal, said warning signal projecting a first sound when said radar sensor detects a target having a first velocity, said warning signal projecting a second sound when said radar sensor detects a target having a second velocity.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 59 words

The radar sensor of claim 16, further comprising an audible warning device configured to project an audible warning signal, said warning signal projecting a first sound when said radar sensor detects a target having a first time to impact, said warning signal projecting a second sound when said radar sensor detects a target having a second time to impact.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2003-05-30	2003-11-29	2004-05-30	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2007-05-30	2007-11-29	2008-05-30	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2011-05-30	2011-11-29	2012-05-30	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

High performance vehicle radar system

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