Abstract: A method for selecting the operating state of a cruise control system for motor vehicles having a distance sensor and automatic blindness detection, in which at least one additional condition is checked for automatic shutdown of the cruise control when blindness of the distance sensor is detected, and a shutdown is performed only when this additional condition is also met.

Abstract: A speed controller for motor vehicles is provided, the vehicle having a distance regulating function, a locating system for detecting locating data for objects that are in front of the vehicle, and an evaluation device for determining whether a located object needs to be treated as a relevant target object in the vehicle's lane. The speed controller includes a monitoring module that is designed to detect, by reference to the locating data, a situation in which objects not detected by the locating system are within close range and, in this situation, issue a takeover prompt to the driver.

Abstract: A method for selecting the operating state of a cruise control system for motor vehicles having a distance sensor and automatic blindness detection, in which at least one additional condition is checked for automatic shutdown of the cruise control when blindness of the distance sensor is detected, and a shutdown is performed only when this additional condition is also met.

Abstract: A speed controller for motor vehicles is provided, the vehicle having a distance regulating function, a locating system for detecting locating data for objects that are in front of the vehicle, and an evaluation device for determining whether a located object needs to be treated as a relevant target object in the vehicle's lane. The speed controller includes a monitoring module that is designed to detect, by reference to the locating data, a situation in which objects not detected by the locating system are within close range and, in this situation, issue a takeover prompt to the driver.

Abstract: A method and a radar sensor for determining an elevation angle error of a multibeam radar sensor are described. In order to detect an elevation angle of the multibeam radar system with respect to a predefined target, a plurality of laterally arranged cutting planes at a predefined distance are formed. The values of the corresponding antenna diagrams in each plane are stored in a suitable form, for example, normalized and in a parametric form taking into account the elevation angle &agr;. In order to reduce the size of the memory, it is sufficient to store one symmetry half for reasons of symmetry if additional information, for example, road clutter values are added, so that the upward or downward direction of the angle can be recognized. By comparing the measured echo values obtained by normalization and application of a quality factor, a corresponding elevation angle &agr; is obtained for each cutting plane.

Abstract: A method is described for detecting moving and/or stationary objects in the path of a vehicle, where the distance and velocity of the reflecting object are determined by using a radar sensor, where the frequency of the signal transmitted is modulated in the shape of a ramp according to a multi-ramp method, and some ramps have a lower slope in the frequency curve. The higher spectral components of the mixed signals from the ramps having the lower slope, which are to be assigned to a distance range of the reflecting object which is greater than the distance range belonging to the ramps having the greater slope, are used to determine the distance, speed and angle of objects.

Abstract: In a lens arrangement for collimating radar waves for distance sensors, in particular for motor vehicles, several sublenses are arranged integrally next to one another. A lobe enlargement necessary for angular analysis is thereby achieved. The range is only slightly reduced as compared to a lens having a surface area of the same size.

Abstract: Method and device for determining an azimuth angle and/or an elevation angle, based on a multibeam radar system, in which the echo signals of each radar target are recorded over at least two beams. The amplitude of an echo signal recorded in each receiving beam is normalized. For each receiving beam, the normalized amplitude is compared to the pattern values of an antenna pattern stored and normalized for this beam in order to determine the angle of a radar target. The comparison results from at least two receiving beams are combined to form an angle-dependent analysis quantity, and the angle whose angle-dependent analysis quantity meets a minimum and maximum criterion is determined to be the angle of the radar target. Included in the angle-dependent analysis quantity is a phase angle of at least two recorded echo signals. This operation can also be performed on the basis of a complex normalization operation.

Abstract: A compact, multi-beam motor vehicle radar sensor is described, which is placed in a housing, with an antenna arrangement consisting of a dielectric lens (15) and at least two first antenna feeds (161 to 163, 181 to 183), which are arranged along a first straight line (20) and form a first row of antenna feeds, wherein at least one further antenna feed (164 to 165, 184 to 185) is provided, which is arranged in such a way that at least one further row of antenna feeds is formed along a further straight line (21), wherein this further row can be congruently represented on the first row by a rotation around an imagined point of rotation (M). Such a motor vehicle radar sensor can be very simply and cost-effectively adapted to different installed positions.

Abstract: In order to make the connecting lines from at least one transmitting antenna element and at least one receiving antenna element to a common oscillator as short as possible, the receiving antenna element is arranged outside the radiation pattern of the transmitting antenna element, the transmitting and receiving antenna elements being oriented in different directions. An arrangement deflects the reflected radar beams onto the receiving antenna element and/or deflect the radar beams emitted by the transmitting antenna element in a desired direction.

Abstract: A multi-beam automobile radar system includes at least one antenna that forms a total of at least two antenna lobes. At least one of these antenna lobes serves to transmit and receive radar signals. At least one other antenna lobe serves only to receive radar signals. An advantage of the automobile radar system is that with one antenna lobe which serves only for receiving radar signals, it is possible to eliminate duplexers, for example, in the form of double rat race arrangements.

Abstract: In a radar system, which is used particularly in motor vehicles, the angle at which a detected radar target is located are determined by providing that echo signals of the radar target are picked up via at least two reception channels, and their amplitudes are standardized and compared with standardized values, stored in memory, of a duplex antenna graph of the radar system.

Abstract: A multiple-beam radar system, in particular for motor vehicle applications. More transmission elements than reception elements are present. The transmission elements present can be activated both individually and also in any desired simultaneous combination. An observable angular region can thereby be widened, in economical fashion, as compared with known radar systems.

Abstract: A motor vehicle radar system in which the position of the transmission/reception elements of the radar system can be changed relative to a focusing element, such as an antenna lens, in order to adjust the principal beam direction.