Abstract: A dielectric lens device for shaping a radar beam includes a first and a second plano-convex cylindrical dielectric lens member and a plane-parallel dielectric substrate. The two plano-convex cylindrical dielectric lens members are arranged with their plane surfaces towards a same surface of the plane-parallel dielectric substrate. The plano-convex cylindrical dielectric lens members are interconnected to the plane-parallel dielectric substrate in a material fit.

Abstract: A method and system for joint radar communication for automotive applications. The system carries out the method and includes a transmitter transmitting a radar signal, which signal has a phase-modulated continuous waveform and includes information encoded by phase modulation, a receiver, spaced from the transmitter, receiving the signal, and the receiver detecting the information from the received signal. In order to provide an efficient concept for joint radar-communication for automotive applications, the signal is a multi-carrier phase-modulated continuous waveform having a plurality of carrier frequencies and the information is encoded onto each carrier frequency.

Abstract: A method of detecting a hand positioning on a steering wheel using a sensing system having an electrically conducting signal line on a rim of the steering wheel with a priori knowledge about a relation between a distance of any portion of the signal line from a reference point and information on a position on the rim, and which further includes an electric impedance change of predefined magnitude that is permanently arranged at a predefined position along the signal line, a signal voltage source, and a control and evaluation unit. From a received measurement signal traveling along the signal line and having been reflected by the electric impedance change and by another portion or portions of the signal line, a reference travel time is determined. A position or positions on the rim of the other portion or portions of the signal line can then be determined.

Abstract: A sensing system and method of recognizing a hand gesture established by a sequence of hand touch positionings on an object. The method includes at least steps of: providing to a signal line a time-dependent measurement signal; receiving the measurement signal after being at least partially reflected by at least one portion of the signal line; determining positions on the object of the portions of the signal line that have reflected the measurement signal; comparing an obtained plurality of stored successively determined positions on the object with at least one predefined pattern of successive positions to derive a measure of similarity; and providing an output signal that is indicative of the predefined pattern of successive positions if the derived measure of similarity is lower than a predefined threshold value.

Abstract: A sensing system for hand or body part positioning detection on an object, particularly on a rim of a steering wheel, includes at least one electrically conducting signal line that is arrangeable on a surface of the object with a priori knowledge about a relation between a distance of any portion of the at least one signal line from a reference point and information on a position on the object, a signal voltage source for providing a time-dependent measurement signal to be traveling along the signal line, and a control and evaluation unit. From a received reflected measurement signal, the control and evaluation unit determines a position or positions on the object of a portion or portions of the signal line at least partially reflecting the measurement signal.

Abstract: A dielectric lens device for shaping a radar beam includes a first and a second plano-convex cylindrical dielectric lens member and a plane-parallel dielectric substrate. The two plano-convex cylindrical dielectric lens members are arranged with their plane surfaces towards a same surface of the plane-parallel dielectric substrate. The plano-convex cylindrical dielectric lens members are interconnected to the plane-parallel dielectric substrate in a material fit.

Abstract: An automotive spread MIMO-configured radar system has a plurality of transceiver antenna units for transmitting mutually orthogonal radar waves. Each transceiver antenna unit has a plurality of range gates to indicate a range detected by the transceiver antenna unit. At least one specific transceiver antenna unit (TRx1) is configured to transmit a reference signal received directly by at least one transceiver antenna unit (TRx2) that is separated by an a priori known distance from the specific transceiver antenna unit (TRx1). An evaluation and control unit is configured for reading out the plurality of range gates for the transceiver antenna unit (TRx2), and, based on the read-out range gate that indicates the received reference signal and based on the a priori known distance, for synchronizing the specific transceiver antenna unit (TRx1) and the transceiver antenna unit (TRx2) that received the reference signal and/or for correcting a measured Doppler shift.

Abstract: A method and system for joint radar communication for automotive applications. The system carries out the method and includes a transmitter transmitting a radar signal, which signal has a phase-modulated continuous waveform and includes information encoded by phase modulation, a receiver, spaced from the transmitter, receiving the signal, and the receiver detecting the information from the received signal. In order to provide an efficient concept for joint radar-communication for automotive applications, the signal is a multi-carrier phase-modulated continuous waveform having a plurality of carrier frequencies and the information is encoded onto each carrier frequency.

Abstract: A method of operating an automotive radar system that includes a radar transmitter unit for transmitting radar waveforms towards a scene, a radar receiving unit for receiving radar waveforms that have been reflected by a target in the scene, and an evaluation and control unit for decoding range-Doppler information from the received waveforms. The method includes: transmitting a first sequence of radar waveforms (xTx) and a second sequence of radar waveforms ({tilde over (x)}Tx,k) towards the scene that differs from the first transmitted sequence of radar waveforms (xTx) by predetermined phase shifts (?k) such that each radar waveform ({tilde over (x)}Tx,k) of the second sequence has a different predetermined phase shift (?k). First range-Doppler information and second range-Doppler information are decoded. Deviations of the second range-Doppler information from the first range-Doppler information are compared to at least one predetermined deviation value.

Abstract: A method of direction of arrival estimation with an automotive spread radar system. The automotive spread radar system includes a plurality of at least two transceiver antenna units, which are configured to work in a MIMO configuration, wherein the transceiver antenna units are arranged at a priori known positions. The automotive spread radar system is configured to determine, for each transceiver unit antenna unit of the plurality of transceiver antenna units, a range of a target reflecting radar waves that have been transmitted by at least the specific transceiver antenna unit by reading out a plurality of range gates assigned to a specific transceiver antenna unit. The method and radar system are capable of estimating a direction of arrival without the need of ensuring a synchronization of antennas on the scale of a radar carrier frequency.

Abstract: A method of operating an automotive radar system that includes a radar transmitter unit for transmitting radar waveforms towards a scene, a radar receiving unit for receiving radar waveforms that have been reflected by a target in the scene, and an evaluation and control unit for decoding range-Doppler information from the received waveforms. The method includes: transmitting a first sequence of radar waveforms (xTx) and a second sequence of radar waveforms ({tilde over (x)}Tx,k) towards the scene that differs from the first transmitted sequence of radar waveforms (xTx) by predetermined phase shifts (?k) such that each radar waveform ({tilde over (x)}Tx,k) of the second sequence has a different predetermined phase shift (?k). First range-Doppler information and second range-Doppler information are decoded. Deviations of the second range-Doppler information from the first range-Doppler information are compared to at least one predetermined deviation value.

Abstract: A method of direction of arrival estimation with an automotive spread radar system. The automotive spread radar system includes a plurality of at least two transceiver antenna units, which are configured to work in a MIMO configuration, wherein the transceiver antenna units are arranged at a priori known positions. The automotive spread radar system is configured to determine, for each transceiver unit antenna unit of the plurality of transceiver antenna units, a range of a target reflecting radar waves that have been transmitted by at least the specific transceiver antenna unit by reading out a plurality of range gates assigned to a specific transceiver antenna unit. The method and radar system are capable of estimating a direction of arrival without the need of ensuring a synchronization of antennas on the scale of a radar carrier frequency.

Abstract: An automotive spread MIMO-configured radar system has a plurality of transceiver antenna units for transmitting mutually orthogonal radar waves. Each transceiver antenna unit has a plurality of range gates to indicate a range detected by the transceiver antenna unit. At least one specific transceiver antenna unit (TRx1) is configured to transmit a reference signal received directly by at least one transceiver antenna unit (TRx2) that is separated by an a priori known distance from the specific transceiver antenna unit (TRx1). An evaluation and control unit is configured for reading out the plurality of range gates for the transceiver antenna unit (TRx2), and, based on the read-out range gate that indicates the received reference signal and based on the a priori known distance, for synchronizing the specific transceiver antenna unit (TRx1) and the transceiver antenna unit (TRx2) that received the reference signal and/or for correcting a measured Doppler shift.

Abstract: A method of operating a sensor system having at least one proximity sensor, with regard to generating a trigger signal indicative of an occurrence of an operator-intended event in the presence of noise. The method includes repetitive steps of: acquiring the sensor signal at specified sampling times, comparing a value obtained as a presently sampled sensor signal with a presently valid first threshold value, generating a trigger signal if the value obtained as the presently sampled sensor signal is as large as or exceeds the presently valid first threshold value, omitting to generate a trigger signal if the value obtained as the presently sampled sensor signal is less than or equal to the presently valid first threshold value, forming a subset out of the sampled sensor signals, determining an update value for the first threshold value, and replacing the presently valid first threshold value by the update value.

Abstract: A method of operating a sensor system having at least one proximity sensor, with regard to generating a trigger signal indicative of an occurrence of an operator-intended event in the presence of noise. The method includes repetitive steps of: acquiring the sensor signal at specified sampling times, comparing a value obtained as a presently sampled sensor signal with a presently valid first threshold value, generating a trigger signal if the value obtained as the presently sampled sensor signal is as large as or exceeds the presently valid first threshold value, omitting to generate a trigger signal if the value obtained as the presently sampled sensor signal is less than or equal to the presently valid first threshold value, forming a subset out of the sampled sensor signals, determining an update value for the first threshold value, and replacing the presently valid first threshold value by the update value.

Abstract: A method of determining the ventilatory threshold of a subject in real time during an exercise session wherein data relating to physiological parameters of said subject are acquired and stored in function of time during the exercise session, said data including at least data indicative of the respiration and of the heart beat rate.

Abstract: A method of determining the ventilatory threshold of a subject in real time during an exercise session wherein data relating to physiological parameters of said subject are acquired and stored in function of time during the exercise session, said data including at least data indicative of the respiration and of the heart beat rate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for differentiating between people and other objects on vehicle seats, by recording and evaluating the pressure distribution caused on the seat by said people and objects, the mean deviation of the signal at a certain position in relation to the mean signal of the adjacent region enabling the differentiation between people and other objects to be made. The invention is advantageous in that only few criteria are required and the criteria are not bound to any specific sensor structures (metrical, discrete etc.). Furthermore, where required, the individual criteria need only be combined in a simple manner.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for differentiating between people and other objects on vehicle seats, by recording and evaluating the pressure distribution caused on the seat by said people and objects, the mean deviation of the signal at a certain position in relation to the mean signal of the adjacent region enabling the differentiation between people and other objects to be made. The invention is advantageous in that only few criteria are required and the criteria are not bound to any specific sensor structures (metrical, discrete etc.). Furthermore, where required, the individual criteria need only be combined in a simple manner.

Abstract: A process for the location-resolved simultaneous detection of the adhesion and friction as well as possibly of other material properties of a sample surface to be examined by means of a raster probe microscope comprising a raster probe. The raster probe and/or the sample with sample surface are moved until at a point of the sample surface to be examined the raster probe interacts in a determined manner with this surface. The raster probe and/or the sample are subjected to a vertical oscillation, and a first measuring signal characterized by the deformation of the raster probe is recorded. A second measuring signal characterizing the deformation of the raster probe is recorded, wherein the raster probe and/or the sample are subjected to a horizontal and/or vertical oscillation. From these two measuring signals the desired material properties are determined.