US6404328B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Discrimination of detected objects in a vehicle path
Assignee: Aptiv Technologies Ltd
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Filing: 2000-10-24
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Granted: 2002-06-11
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Expires: 2020-10-24
Abstract
Abstract An object sensing system is capable of distinguishing an overhead roadway object, that is not in a host vehicle path, from a substantially motionless roadway object that is in the vehicle path. Initially, a plurality of sensor scan signals are provided into an anticipated path of a host vehicle. Next, a plurality of object return signals that correspond to reflections of the plurality of sensor scan signals from at least one detected stationary object are received. Then, an average amplitude slope of the return signals as a function of the range to the at least one detected stationary object is determined. A sufficiently positive amplitude slope identifies the detected stationary object as an overhead roadway object that is not in the vehicle path. A sufficiently negative amplitude slope identifies the detected stationary object as a substantially motionless roadway object that is in the vehicle path.
Inventors
- 👤 Stephen William Alland
- 👤 James Fredrick Searcy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 00:26
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S7/00; G01S7/02; G01S7/41; G01S7/411; G01S13/00; G01S13/88; G01S13/93; G01S13/931; G01S13/02; G01S13/06; G01S13/46; G01S2013/462; G01S2013/93185; G01S2013/9319; G01S2013/9325; G01S2013/9327; G01S2013/93271
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
151 words
A method for distinguishing an overhead roadway object that is not in a host vehicle path from a substantially motionless roadway object that is in the vehicle path, comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of sensor scan signals into an anticipated path of a host vehicle; receiving a plurality of object return signals that correspond to reflections of the plurality of sensor scan signals from at least one detected stationary object; and determining an average amplitude slope of the plurality of object return signals as a function of the range to the at least one detected stationary object, wherein a sufficiently positive amplitude slope identifies the at least one detected stationary object as an overhead roadway object that is not in the vehicle path and a sufficiently negative amplitude slope identifies the at least one detected stationary object as a substantially motionless roadway object that is in the vehicle path.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
151 words
A method for distinguishing an overhead roadway object that is not in a host vehicle path from a substantially motionless roadway object that is in the vehicle path, comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of sensor scan signals into an anticipated path of a host vehicle; receiving a plurality of object return signals that correspond to reflections of the plurality of sensor scan signals from at least one detected stationary object; and determining an average amplitude slope of the plurality of object return signals as a function of the range to the at least one detected stationary object, wherein a sufficiently positive amplitude slope identifies the at least one detected stationary object as an overhead roadway object that is not in the vehicle path and a sufficiently negative amplitude slope identifies the at least one detected stationary object as a substantially motionless roadway object that is in the vehicle path.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
87 words
The method of claim 1 , further including the step of: determining an average amplitude deviation in the plurality of object return signals as a function of the range to the at least one detected stationary object, wherein an overhead roadway object that is not in the vehicle path is indicated when the average amplitude deviation is above an amplitude deviation threshold and a substantially motionless roadway object that is in the vehicle path is indicated when the average amplitude deviation is below the amplitude deviation threshold.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the overhead roadway object is a bridge.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the overhead roadway object is a sign.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the motionless roadway object is a stopped vehicle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sensor scan signals are radar signals.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
193 words
An object sensing system that distinguishes overhead roadway objects that are not in a host vehicle path from substantially motionless roadway objects that are in the vehicle path, comprising: a processor; a memory subsystem coupled to the processor, the memory subsystem storing information; a sensor coupled to the processor; and processor executable code for causing the processor to perform the steps of: directing the sensor to provide a plurality of sensor scan signals into an anticipated path of a host vehicle; receiving a plurality of object return signals from the sensor, the plurality of object return signals corresponding to reflections of the plurality of sensor scan signals from at least one detected stationary object; and determining an average amplitude slope of the plurality of object return signals as a function of the range to the at least one detected stationary object, wherein a sufficiently positive amplitude slope identifies the at least one detected stationary object as an overhead roadway object that is not in the vehicle path and a sufficiently negative amplitude slope identifies the at least one detected stationary object as a substantially motionless roadway object that is in the vehicle path.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
193 words
An object sensing system that distinguishes overhead roadway objects that are not in a host vehicle path from substantially motionless roadway objects that are in the vehicle path, comprising: a processor; a memory subsystem coupled to the processor, the memory subsystem storing information; a sensor coupled to the processor; and processor executable code for causing the processor to perform the steps of: directing the sensor to provide a plurality of sensor scan signals into an anticipated path of a host vehicle; receiving a plurality of object return signals from the sensor, the plurality of object return signals corresponding to reflections of the plurality of sensor scan signals from at least one detected stationary object; and determining an average amplitude slope of the plurality of object return signals as a function of the range to the at least one detected stationary object, wherein a sufficiently positive amplitude slope identifies the at least one detected stationary object as an overhead roadway object that is not in the vehicle path and a sufficiently negative amplitude slope identifies the at least one detected stationary object as a substantially motionless roadway object that is in the vehicle path.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
97 words
The system of claim 7 , wherein the processor executable code causes the processor to perform the additional the step of: determining an average amplitude deviation in the plurality of object return signals as a function of the range to the at least one detected stationary object, wherein an overhead roadway object that is not in the vehicle path is indicated when the average amplitude deviation is above an amplitude deviation threshold and a substantially motionless roadway object that is in the vehicle path is indicated when the average amplitude deviation is below the amplitude deviation threshold.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 7 , wherein the overhead roadway object is a bridge.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 7 , wherein the overhead roadway object is a sign.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 7 , wherein the motionless roadway object is a stopped vehicle.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of sensor scan signals are radar signals.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
205 words
An automotive object sensing system that distinguishes overhead roadway objects that are not in a host vehicle path from substantially motionless roadway objects that are in the vehicle path, comprising: a processor; a memory subsystem coupled to the processor, the memory subsystem storing information; a front sensor coupled to the processor and located on a front of a host vehicle; and processor executable code for causing the processor to perform the steps of: directing the front sensor to provide a plurality of sensor scan signals into an anticipated path of the vehicle; receiving a plurality of object return signals from the front sensor, the plurality of object return signals corresponding to reflections of the plurality of sensor scan signals from at least one detected stationary object; and determining an average amplitude slope of the plurality of object return signals as a function of the range to the at least one detected stationary object, wherein a sufficiently positive amplitude slope identifies the at least one detected stationary object as an overhead roadway object that is not in the vehicle path and a sufficiently negative amplitude slope identifies the at least one detected stationary object as a substantially motionless roadway object that is in the vehicle path.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
205 words
An automotive object sensing system that distinguishes overhead roadway objects that are not in a host vehicle path from substantially motionless roadway objects that are in the vehicle path, comprising: a processor; a memory subsystem coupled to the processor, the memory subsystem storing information; a front sensor coupled to the processor and located on a front of a host vehicle; and processor executable code for causing the processor to perform the steps of: directing the front sensor to provide a plurality of sensor scan signals into an anticipated path of the vehicle; receiving a plurality of object return signals from the front sensor, the plurality of object return signals corresponding to reflections of the plurality of sensor scan signals from at least one detected stationary object; and determining an average amplitude slope of the plurality of object return signals as a function of the range to the at least one detected stationary object, wherein a sufficiently positive amplitude slope identifies the at least one detected stationary object as an overhead roadway object that is not in the vehicle path and a sufficiently negative amplitude slope identifies the at least one detected stationary object as a substantially motionless roadway object that is in the vehicle path.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
97 words
The system of claim 13 , wherein the processor executable code causes the processor to perform the additional the step of: determining an average amplitude deviation in the plurality of object return signals as a function of the range to the at least one detected stationary object, wherein an overhead roadway object that is not in the vehicle path is indicated when the average amplitude deviation is above an amplitude deviation threshold and a substantially motionless roadway object that is in the vehicle path is indicated when the average amplitude deviation is below the amplitude deviation threshold.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 13 , wherein the overhead roadway object is a bridge.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 13 , wherein the overhead roadway object is a sign.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 13 , wherein the motionless roadway object is a stopped vehicle.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of sensor scan signals are radar signals.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
149 words
A method for distinguishing an overhead roadway object that is not in a host vehicle path from a substantially motionless roadway object that is in the vehicle path, comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of sensor scan signals into an anticipated path of a host vehicle; receiving a plurality of object return signals that correspond to reflections of the plurality of sensor scan signals from at least one detected stationary object; and determining an average amplitude deviation in the plurality of object return signals as a function of the range to the at least one detected stationary object, wherein an overhead roadway object that is not in the vehicle path is indicated when the average amplitude deviation is above an amplitude deviation threshold and a substantially motionless roadway object that is in the vehicle path is indicated when the average amplitude deviation is below the amplitude deviation threshold.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
149 words
A method for distinguishing an overhead roadway object that is not in a host vehicle path from a substantially motionless roadway object that is in the vehicle path, comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of sensor scan signals into an anticipated path of a host vehicle; receiving a plurality of object return signals that correspond to reflections of the plurality of sensor scan signals from at least one detected stationary object; and determining an average amplitude deviation in the plurality of object return signals as a function of the range to the at least one detected stationary object, wherein an overhead roadway object that is not in the vehicle path is indicated when the average amplitude deviation is above an amplitude deviation threshold and a substantially motionless roadway object that is in the vehicle path is indicated when the average amplitude deviation is below the amplitude deviation threshold.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
89 words
The method of claim 19 , further including the step of: determining an average amplitude slope of the plurality of object return signals as a function of the range to the at least one detected stationary object, wherein a sufficiently positive amplitude slope identifies the at least one detected stationary object as an overhead roadway object that is not in the vehicle path and a sufficiently negative amplitude slope identifies the at least one detected stationary object as a substantially motionless roadway object that is in the vehicle path.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 19 , wherein the overhead roadway object is a bridge.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 19 , wherein the overhead roadway object is a sign.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 19 , wherein the motionless roadway object is a stopped vehicle.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 19 , wherein the plurality of sensor scan signals are radar signals.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4308536A
Cited
US5285207A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-06-10 | 2005-12-10 | 2006-06-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-06-10 | 2009-12-10 | 2010-06-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-06-10 | 2013-12-10 | 2014-06-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |