Abstract: A radar sensor module includes a substrate, at least one transmit antenna formed on a surface of the substrate, and at least one receive antenna formed on the surface of the substrate. A radome is disposed over the surface of the substrate and the at least one transmit antenna and the at least one receive antenna, such that a gap is located between the surface of the substrate and an underside of the radome in which a portion of radiation emitted from the at least one transmit antenna can propagate. At least one trench is formed in the underside of the radome and is electromagnetically coupled to the gap, the at least one trench being sized, shaped and positioned with respect to the gap such that the portion of radiation emitted from the at least one transmit antenna is substantially prevented from propagating toward the receiving antenna.

Abstract: An illumination system for a vehicle includes a light source to emit light along an optical path and into an environment. A lens is positioned along the optical path and configured to collimate the light to a light beam. An optical element, having a body comprising four sides and a reflective member within the body, is positioned along the optical path and configured to redirect the light beam. The optical element is configured to move around an optical element axis to change a direction the light beam is transmitted into the environment. The illumination system is configured to receive a target position within the environment and move the optical element to fixate the light beam onto the target position.

Abstract: A LiDAR system includes an optical source for generating a continuous wave (CW) optical signal. A control processor generates a pulse-position modulation (PPM) signal, and an amplitude modulation (AM) modulator generates a pulse-position amplitude-modulated optical signal, which is transmitted through a transmit optical element into a region. A receive optical element receives reflected versions of the pulse-position amplitude-modulated optical signal reflected from at least one target object in the region. An optical detector generates a first baseband signal. A signal processor receives the first baseband signal and processes the first baseband signal to generate an indication related to a target object in the region.

Abstract: A scanning assembly for a detection system for a vehicle has a scanning fixture including a first mirror. The scanning fixture is attached to a first pivot. A reflective surface of the first mirror provides a first field of view between the detection system and a surrounding environment. A central member has a first end attached to the first pivot and a second end attached to a second pivot to couple the first pivot to the second pivot. A base is configured to attach the scanning assembly to the vehicle. The base is further attached to the second pivot. The scanning fixture is coupled to the base exclusively through attachment of the first pivot to the second pivot via the central member, the second pivot in turn being attached to the base.

Abstract: Methods for manufacturing a vehicle sensor module, such as a RADAR sensor module. In some implementations, the method may comprise forming a sub-assembly comprising a plurality of stacked layers formed into a self-contained radome and adhering the sub-assembly to a first side of an antenna block, the first side comprising a plurality of waveguide grooves formed therein. The sub-assembly may be applied so as to provide a weatherproof seal to each of the plurality of waveguide grooves formed in the antenna block. A PCB layer may be applied to a second side of the antenna block opposite the first side and the antenna block may be seated within a cover such that the second side is protected by the cover and the first side is protected by the self-contained radome.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling the velocity of a vehicle includes a processor, a velocity sensor in communication with the processor, a throttle actuator in communication with the processor, and a brake actuator in communication with the processor. The processor is set either the throttle position of the vehicle via the throttle actuator or the brake pedal position of the vehicle via the brake actuator based whether the augmented acceleration is greater than or equal to a gear acceleration, whether the actual velocity is above a crawl speed, and a lookup table.

Abstract: A radar sensor includes a memory storing a model defining a relationship between a condition of the radar sensor and a plurality of features of radar detections, the model being generated by a machine learning approach and storing values of the plurality of features associated with the known states of the condition of the radar sensor. A radar detector transmits radar signals into a region, detects reflected returning radar signals from the region, and converts the reflected returning radar signals into digital data signals. A processor receives the digital data signals and processes the digital data signals to generate actual radar detections, each characterized by a plurality of the features of radar detections. The processor applies values of the features of the actual radar detections to the model to determine the state of the condition of the radar sensor.

Abstract: Antenna assemblies for vehicles, such as RADAR sensor antenna assemblies. In some embodiments, the assembly may comprise an antenna block defining a waveguide groove and an adapter portion comprising a ridge. The ridge may taper or otherwise transition in height and/or width to facilitate a transition between two adjacent elements of the assembly, such as two adjacent waveguide structures comprising ridges having different cross-sectional dimensions.

Abstract: A radar sensor module includes a substrate, at least one transmit antenna formed on a surface of the substrate, and at least one receive antenna formed on the surface of the substrate. A radome is disposed over the surface of the substrate and the at least one transmit antenna and the at least one receive antenna, such that a gap is located between the surface of the substrate and an underside of the radome in which a portion of radiation emitted from the at least one transmit antenna can propagate. At least one trench is formed in the underside of the radome and is electromagnetically coupled to the gap, the at least one trench being sized, shaped and positioned with respect to the gap such that the portion of radiation emitted from the at least one transmit antenna is substantially prevented from propagating toward the receiving antenna.

Abstract: A device for emitting radiation includes a reflector component and a clip. The reflector component has a top side, a bottom side, and a perimeter side. At least one aperture formed within the reflector component that extends from a top opening on the top side of the reflector component through to a bottom opening on the bottom side of the reflector component. The clip may be connected to the reflector component and has a flat side that is in contact with the bottom side of the reflector component. Portions of the substantially flat side of the clip are configured to be soldered to a circuit board having an emitter which extends at least partially through the aperture when the clip is soldered to the circuit board.

Abstract: A method of assembling an electronic control unit comprises assembling a printed circuit board (PCB) substrate with a terminal carrier holding a plurality of terminal pins comprising a right angle bend into a housing using a rotational motion. The terminal carrier generally extends perpendicularly from the PCB substrate. A first end of each of the plurality of terminal pins is inserted into the PCB substrate and a second end of each of the plurality of terminal pins extends through the terminal carrier. The second ends of the plurality of terminal pins generally extend into one or more connector openings in one of four sides of the housing and the terminal carrier interlocks with the housing to hold the PCB substrate with the terminal carrier and the plurality of terminal pins in place.

Abstract: An active power blocking circuit in series with a squib. The active power blocking circuit may include a logic circuit, a first switch, a second switch, and an amplifier. The first switch may have a first side connected to a positive connection and a second side connected to a negative connection. The second switch may have a first side connected to the positive connection and a second side connected to the negative connection through a diode. The amplifier may be connected the second side of the second switch and the output of the amplifier may be connected to the logic circuit.

Abstract: A mountable circuit assembly is provided. The mountable circuit assembly may be a remote sensor assembly for mounting on sheet metal of a vehicle assembly. The assembly may include a sensor circuit, a housing and a mounting portion. The housing may include a cavity for receiving the sensor circuit. The housing may include first and second locking features. The first locking feature may be on an opposite side of a lock opening from the second locking feature. The mounting portion may be configured to lock into the sheet metal opening in the sheet metal. The mounting portion may have a post such that a plurality of locking features engage the mounting portion. Each locking feature may engage the post at a different position along the longitudinal axis of the post to fasten the housing to the mounting portion.

Abstract: A system includes: a light emitting diode (LED); a switching circuit configured to: when in a first state, connect the anode of the LED to a positive potential and connect the cathode of the LED to a ground potential, thereby enabling current flow in a first direction through the LED; and when in a second state, one of: connect the ground potential to the anode of the LED; connect a negative potential to the anode of the LED; and connect the cathode of the LED to the positive potential and connect the anode of the LED to the ground potential, thereby enabling current flow in a second direction through the LED, where the second direction is opposite the first direction; and a driver module configured to selectively transition the switching circuit from the first state to the second state and from the second state to the first state.

Abstract: A mountable circuit assembly is provided. The mountable circuit assembly may be a remote sensor assembly for mounting on body panel of a vehicle assembly. The assembly may include a sensor circuit, a housing and a mounting portion. The housing may include a cavity for receiving the sensor circuit. The housing may include first and second locking features. The first locking feature may be on an opposite side of a lock opening from the second locking feature. The mounting portion may be configured to lock into the body panel opening in the body panel. The mounting portion may have a post such that the first locking feature and the second locking feature engage the mounting portion inside the one or more post openings to fasten the housing to the mounting portion. The first and second locking features may be aligned to reduce deflection of the post during insertion.

Abstract: A detection system and method for characterizing targets in an environment around vehicle. Signals are transmitted into the environment and return signals that have reflected off targets are received. The targets are initial characterized based on their return signals and the ego-motion of vehicle as determined from sensors on the vehicle. Corrections are determined based on the position of targets with respect to the azimuth range of the detection system and the side of the target with respect to a boresight. The initial characterizations are then adjusted to obtain a final target characterization.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling the steering of a vehicle includes a processor, a velocity sensor in communication with the processor a steering angle sensor in communication with the processor, accelerometer in communication with the processor and a steering angle controller in communication with the processor. The processor is configured to receive the acceleration of the vehicle from the accelerometer and the velocity from the velocity sensor, determine the estimated tie-rod force utilizing the lookup table tie-rod force estimation lookup table, and instruct the steering wheel angle controller to apply an additional force substantially equal to the estimated tie-rod force to the steering torque.

Abstract: A system includes: a light emitting diode (LED); a switching circuit configured to: when in a first state, connect the anode of the LED to a positive potential and connect the cathode of the LED to a ground potential, thereby enabling current flow in a first direction through the LED; and when in a second state, one of: connect the ground potential to the anode of the LED; connect a negative potential to the anode of the LED; and connect the cathode of the LED to the positive potential and connect the anode of the LED to the ground potential, thereby enabling current flow in a second direction through the LED, where the second direction is opposite the first direction; and a driver module configured to selectively transition the switching circuit from the first state to the second state and from the second state to the first state.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a transceiver, a processor and a memory. The transceiver may be configured to send/receive data messages to/from a plurality of vehicles. The processor may be configured to execute instructions. The memory may be configured to store instructions that, when executed, perform the steps of (A) generating signal distance calculations between the apparatus and at least three of the vehicles using the data messages, (B) calculating a plurality of potential positions of the vehicles using the signal distance calculations, (C) performing a scaling operation on the plurality potential positions of the vehicles to determine relative positions of the vehicles on a coordinate system, (D) implementing a procrusting procedure on the coordinate system to generate a corrected coordinate system and (F) determining changes of the relative positions using the corrected coordinate system.

Abstract: Antenna assemblies for vehicles, such as RADAR sensor antenna assemblies. In some embodiments, the assembly may comprise an antenna block defining an array of waveguide grooves on a first side of the antenna block. A slotted layer comprising a plurality of slots may be coupled with the antenna block with the slots at least partially aligned with the waveguide grooves of the antenna block. An adhesive layer may be positioned in between the antenna block and the slotted layer.