Radar Mounted On And Controls Land Vehicle Patents (Class 342/70)
  • Patent number: 9924391
    Abstract: In one example, a Wi-Fi client device may streamline a dynamic frequency selection check using a channel baseline measurement. The Wi-Fi client device may select a sampling size for a dynamic frequency selection check based on a channel baseline measurement for a dynamic frequency selection Wi-Fi channel. The Wi-Fi client device may execute the dynamic frequency selection check using the sampling size on the dynamic frequency selection Wi-Fi channel. The Wi-Fi client device may establish a Wi-Fi Direct connection based on the dynamic frequency selection check.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Billy Anders, Yatharth Gupta, Aaron Cunningham, Amer Hassan
  • Patent number: 9902395
    Abstract: An evacuation travel assist apparatus includes a stop lane determination section that determines a stop lane and an evacuation place in the stop lane in which an own vehicle should be urgently stopped when the vehicle drive is detected to be in a state of being not able to drive the own vehicle properly, and a transverse position determination section that determines, as a stop transverse position, a position in a transverse direction of the evacuation place in the stop lane so as to ensure a space for the vehicle driver and passengers to get in and out of the own vehicle safely at a side of the own vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takeshi Miura, Masao Oooka, Hiroaki Niino
  • Patent number: 9880003
    Abstract: A method to level an inertial reference system of a helicopter with reference to the local vertical frame is provided. The method includes powering up the helicopter; outputting sensor data from at least one gyroscope and at least one accelerometer to a mode-selecting processor; executing a fast Fourier transform algorithm on the sensor data at the mode-selecting processor; and selecting one of a plurality of operation modes of the helicopter as a current-operation mode based on the execution of the fast Fourier transform algorithm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Subhabrata Ganguli
  • Patent number: 9880278
    Abstract: A method for determining an object in a surroundings of a motor vehicle includes: scanning a far range, which extends as of a predetermined minimum distance from the radar sensor, using a radar sensor for scanning the far range; detecting objects in the far range based on reflections of a radar signal emitted by the radar sensor; and determining a crossing object in a close range, which lies between the radar sensor and the far range, if a previously detected object is no longer able to be detected in the far range using the radar sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Raphael van Uffelen, Alexander Steinmetz
  • Patent number: 9874627
    Abstract: In a radar apparatus, whether or not a second target candidate associated with second target information satisfying a first condition in relation to a first target candidate is present is determined. When determined that the second target candidate is present, the first target information corresponding to the first target candidate is compared with the second target information corresponding to the second target candidate. The “first condition” is that distances and relative speeds match. As a result of the comparison, when a difference between the power at a frequency peak corresponding to the subject target candidate and the power at a frequency peak corresponding to the comparison target candidate is greater than a prescribed threshold, the subject target candidate is determined to be a false image. Meanwhile, when determined that the difference is the prescribed threshold or less, the subject target candidate is determined to be a real image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Koji Shimizu
  • Patent number: 9869581
    Abstract: A detection device includes: a first sensor which detects, based on a captured image, whether a person is present in a first detection range; a plurality of second sensors which are disposed around the first sensor, and detect, based on infrared radiation, whether a person is present in respective second detection ranges each of which overlaps at least a portion of the first detection range; and at least one hood which blocks part of infrared radiation directed to at least one of the plurality of second sensors, to reduce a non-overlapping portion of a combined detection range of the first detection range of the first sensor and the second detection ranges of the plurality of second sensors, the non-overlapping portion being a portion in which the first detection range and the second detection ranges do not overlap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kei Miura, Tomoaki Sasaki, Koichiro Kui, Yoshitaka Kimura, Hirofumi Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 9857822
    Abstract: A continuous, always on, high accuracy AC reference signal is added to an AC voltage of interest to calibrate the AC voltage of interest. The AC reference voltage has a first frequency. The AC voltage of interest has a second frequency. A control system having calibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: BAE Systems Controls Inc.
    Inventors: Russell M. Petrosky, Stephen J. Gabaly, Patrick Nee
  • Patent number: 9846236
    Abstract: An optical scanner is provided including a light source configured to emit light, a light source driving device configured to drive the light source, a light deflector having at least one rotating reflection plane and configured to deflect the light emitted from the light source to a scanning area, and a light detector configured to output a signal to control a timing at which scanning of the scanning area by the light deflected by the light deflector starts, where the light detector and the scanning area are sequentially scanned in a single scanning by one reflection plane of the light deflector, and the light source driving device drives the light source using a first driving method when the light scans the light detector, and drives the light source using a second driving method that is different from the first driving method when the light scans the scanning area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeaki Imai, Masataka Uehira, Kohji Sakai, Tadashi Nakamura, Yukio Itami
  • Patent number: 9831881
    Abstract: An object detection system for autonomous vehicle, comprising a radar unit and at least one ultra-low phase noise frequency synthesizer, is provided. The radar unit configured for detecting the presence and characteristics of one or more objects in various directions. The radar unit may include a transmitter for transmitting at least one radio signal; and a receiver for receiving the at least one radio signal returned from the one or more objects. The ultra-low phase noise frequency synthesizer may utilize Clocking device, Sampling Reference PLL, at least one fixed frequency divider, DDS and main PLL to reduce phase noise from the returned radio signal. This proposed system overcomes deficiencies of current generation state of the art Radar Systems by providing much lower level of phase noise which would result in improved performance of the radar system in terms of target detection, characterization etc. Further, a method for autonomous vehicle is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Inventors: Yekutiel Josefsberg, Tal Lavian
  • Patent number: 9811741
    Abstract: An object detection circuit detects an object moving in a periphery of a vehicle by use of a shot image. A state judgment part changes a parameter relevant to a detection function so as to change whether the detection function of the object detection circuit is to be enabled or disabled while the object detection circuit is kept activated. Thus, even when the detection function of the object detection circuit is disabled, the object detection circuit is kept activated. Therefore, since there is no need to restart the object detection circuit in order to enable the detection function of the object detection circuit, a detection result by the object detection circuit is promptly obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: FUJITSU TEN LIMITED
    Inventor: Tetsuo Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 9811092
    Abstract: A vehicle traveling control device includes: a communication unit that communicate with preceding vehicles; a position information acquisition unit that acquires position information on the preceding vehicles and following vehicles around a host vehicle with which the host vehicle can carry out vehicle-vehicle communication; a number of vehicles calculation unit that calculates a reference number of vehicles and an estimated number of vehicles; and a traveling control unit that causes the host vehicle to travel at the traveling position behind the following vehicle if the estimated number of vehicles is larger than the reference number of vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masashi Obuchi, Koji Taguchi
  • Patent number: 9813846
    Abstract: This short-distance radio communication system for a vehicle includes an in-vehicle unit having more than one antenna and a portable unit performing radio communications with the in-vehicle unit. The in-vehicle unit transmits a first burst together with a call signal for calling the portable unit through a first antenna, and transmits a second burst subsequent to the first burst through a second antenna. The portable unit receives the signals transmitted from the in-vehicle unit, measures respective received signal strength indicators from the first burst and the second burst contained in the received signals, and responds to the in-vehicle unit according to results of comparing the respective indicators with given thresholds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masami Takigawa, Naoki Hayashi, Jun Fujiyama, Toru Nishimura
  • Patent number: 9802541
    Abstract: A driver assistance system suitable for use in a vehicle includes a forward-viewing camera mounted at a front windshield of the vehicle, and an event recorder having an image processor and memory. Based at least in part on processing by the image processor of image data captured by the camera, a lane departure warning is generated if, when a turn signal of the vehicle is not activated, at least one of (i) the vehicle is heading towards a lane marking and (ii) the vehicle is within a certain distance of an edge of a lane marking for a certain time. Based at least in part on processing by the image processor of image data captured by the camera, a forward collision alert is generated if the vehicle is heading towards a given object with the separation between the vehicle and the given object being less than a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Axel Nix
  • Patent number: 9789812
    Abstract: A new forward warning system includes one or more light sources (such as lasers) mounted on a vehicle and coupled to one or more of the vehicle's instruments, which control its motion. The vehicle's instrumentation is used to estimate the required stopping distance of the vehicle on which the light source is mounted. When the light source is moved quickly, it “draws” an image on the road surface. The image created on the road surface by the light is based on the vehicle's instrumentation and indicates to other motorists where a danger zone exists in front of the vehicle, just as brake lights warn motorists behind the vehicle that it is slowing or stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Inventor: Apu Mullick
  • Patent number: 9783196
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus for implementing inter-vehicle distance control of a vehicle carrying the apparatus behind a preceding vehicle. In the apparatus, an offset storage is configured to calculate an offset that is a difference between detected distances to first and second targets, and store the offset associated with the first target forward of the second target. The inter-vehicle distance control may be implemented based on a distance calculated by subtracting the offset from the detected distance to the first target. An offset updater is configured to determine whether or not a relative distance between the first and second targets has increased or decreased, and when the relative distance between the first and second targets has increased or decreased, update the offset stored by the offset storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignees: DENSO CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Tokimasa, Youhei Masui, Minoru Nakadori
  • Patent number: 9778356
    Abstract: An autonomous emergency braking system for performing emergency braking when a potential collision object is recognized during traveling of a vehicle, comprises a camera, a radar sensor and an electronic control unit. The camera is installed in the vehicle to acquire an image signal of a proximity of the vehicle. The radar sensor is configured to detect an object located in a preset detection region from the vehicle. The electronic control unit is configured to, when a counterpart vehicle is located adjacent to a pedestrian, generate a pedestrian detection signal that is not included in a detection signal acquired by the radar sensor, and recognize the pedestrian by fusing the generated pedestrian detection signal and a pedestrian detection signal detected by the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Soo Myung Jung
  • Patent number: 9766332
    Abstract: The present invention provides a non-contact monitoring system, including: a radar detection module, an infrared sensing module, a micro control unit and a communication module. The radar detection module transmits a radar detection signal via the radar antenna to an area, receives a radar reflection signal from the area, and transmits the radar reflection signal to the micro control unit. The infrared sensing module detects a heat source of an organism in the area, and transmits an infrared sensing signal to the micro control unit. The micro control unit receives and processes the radar reflection signal transmitted by the radar detection module and the infrared sensing signal transmitted by the infrared sensing module, and transmits an alarm signal to the communication module. The communication module receives the alarm signal transmitted by the micro control unit, and transmits the alarm signal to a remote monitoring end via the antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: HTC Corporation
    Inventors: Chien-Ting Ho, Yen-Liang Kuo
  • Patent number: 9768504
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing a terahertz frequency electromagnetic beam are disclosed. For example, the method receives the terahertz frequency electromagnetic beam via a metamaterial having a plurality of addressable magnetic elements, where a resonant frequency of each of the plurality of addressable magnetic elements is capable of being programmably changed via an adjustment, and activates selectively a subset of the plurality of addressable magnetic elements to manipulate the terahertz frequency electromagnetic beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: David Michael Britz, Robert Raymond Miller, II
  • Patent number: 9751531
    Abstract: When the object detection unit 10 detects the front vehicle X, the speed of the own vehicle 2 is controlled using a detection value of the state of the front vehicle (position, speed) detected by the front vehicle state detection unit 15, and, in the lost state where the front vehicle X is not detected, the speed of the own vehicle 2 is controlled using an estimation value of the state of the front vehicle by the lost front-vehicle state estimation unit 22 based on a condition that a length of the scheduled traveling route of the own vehicle 2 is shorter than a predetermined threshold in the detection target range by the object detection unit 10 as a necessary condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Daichi Kato, Toru Kokaki
  • Patent number: 9746554
    Abstract: A radar imaging system and technique is described in which the imaging system generates an image and transforms the image into world coordinates taking into account host position and heading. Once in world coordinates, successive radar images can be summed (integrated, averaged) to produce an integrated image having a resolution which is improved compared with an originally generated image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Valeo Radar Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Millar, David Insana
  • Patent number: 9733348
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling a radar system of a vehicle. Sensor information pertaining to an environment for the vehicle is received from a first sensor as the vehicle is operated. A beam of the radar system is adjusted by a processor based on the sensor information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Ran Y. Gazit, Igal Bilik
  • Patent number: 9731717
    Abstract: A method for operating a driver assistance apparatus includes: recognizing a driving environment of a vehicle; determining a driving mode based on the driving environment; determining whether the vehicle is driven using at least one sensor based on the driving mode; and controlling steering and braking of the vehicle based on whether the vehicle is driven using the at least one sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Eung Seo Kim, Dong Hyun Sung, Sang Min Lee, Suk Ki Min
  • Patent number: 9725088
    Abstract: A control system 9 according to the present invention is mounted on a moving object. The control system 9 includes: an observing device 92 which transmits observation result data indicating an observation result of surroundings of the moving object; a first control instruction device 91 which transmits first control data indicating the control contents determined based on the observation result data; a movement control device 93 which controls movement of the moving object; and a relay device 95 which relays the first control data transmitted from the first control instruction device 91, to the movement control device 93. When a second control instruction device 94 which transmits second control data indicating the control contents determined based on the observation result data is provided to the control system 9, the relay device 95 transmits the second control data instead of the first control data, to the movement control device 93.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Yamakoshi, Yukitoshi Tsuboi, Yutaka Igaku
  • Patent number: 9718468
    Abstract: Information identifying one or more conditions associated with a vehicle is collected. This information may include first data associated with the vehicle, second data associated with a driver of the vehicle, and third data associated with an environment around the vehicle. The information may be collected from a vehicle sensor, a telematics unit, a user device associated with the driver or a passenger, or a remote server. A likelihood of a collision involving the vehicle, a likelihood of avoiding the collision, and a risk associated with the collision may be determined based on the collected data. An appropriate response may be selected based on the likelihood of the collision, the likelihood of avoiding the collision, and the risk associated with the collision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: VERIZON PATENT AND LICENSING INC.
    Inventors: James Ronald Barfield, Jr., Stephen Christopher Welch
  • Patent number: 9716321
    Abstract: An antenna system for wireless communication of data includes at least two antenna modules constructed from a plurality of electrically-conductive layers and a first waveguide network configured to communicate data with the at least two antenna modules. Each antenna module includes at least two radiating elements. Each radiating element is configured to support communications at a first polarization and a second polarization that are orthogonal to one another. Each antenna module also includes a first microstrip line network configured to communicate with the at least two radiating elements at the first polarization and a second microstrip line network configured to communicate with the at least two radiating elements at the second polarization. At least one of the electrically-conductive layers is located between the first and second microstrip line networks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Lisa Draexlmaier GmbH
    Inventors: Joerg Oppenlaender, Michael Wenzel, Alexander Moessinger, Michael Seifried, Christoph Haeussler, Alexander Friesch
  • Patent number: 9704047
    Abstract: To provide a moving object recognition apparatus that earlier detects a moving object crossing a road, the moving object recognition apparatus includes a left imaging unit 101, a right imaging unit 102, a moving object detection unit that detects a moving object based on images imaged by the left imaging unit and the right imaging unit, wherein, suppose that non-overlap regions in which an imaging region of the left imaging unit 101 and an imaging region of the right imaging unit 102 do not overlap are first regions 203, 204 and an overlap region in which the imaging region of the left imaging unit and the imaging region of the right imaging unit overlap is a second region 205, the moving object detection unit uses different methods of detecting the moving object between the first regions and the second region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Shima, Haruki Matono, Hiroto Morizane, Tatsuhiko Monji
  • Patent number: 9689975
    Abstract: A radar apparatus is configured to set a first target to be a non-output object with respect to a control apparatus of a host vehicle in a case where the first target (1) has a fore-and-aft distance from the host vehicle that is larger than a fore-and-aft distance from the host vehicle of a second target and (2) has a predetermined dependency to be an accessory portion which belongs to a same vehicle as the second target. The radar apparatus includes a signal processor configured to: determine whether or not the second target is present in an own lane of the host vehicle; determine whether or not the second target is changing a lane; and set the first target to be an output object with respect to the control apparatus of the host vehicle in a case where the second target is changing the lane from the own lane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: FUJITSU TEN LIMITED
    Inventors: Jun Itoh, Hiroyuki Ishimori
  • Patent number: 9679474
    Abstract: An other-vehicle detection apparatus includes: a sound source device mounted on a first vehicle and configured to output a non-audible region sound of a predetermined frequency range set in advance; a sound collection device mounted on the first vehicle and configured to collect sound information around the first vehicle; and a distinction device configured to distinguish a second vehicle based on a non-audible region sound included in the sound information collected by the sound collection device of the first vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takuya Kaminade, Shinya Kawamata, Osamu Ozaki
  • Patent number: 9664775
    Abstract: A radar system includes a radar antenna and a controller. The antenna includes a reference element, an alpha element spaced apart from the reference element by one half-wavelength of the reflected signal, and a beta element spaced apart from the reference element by an even number of half-wavelengths of the reflected signal. The controller is configured to determine an alpha phase difference between detected signals from the reference element and the alpha element, determine a beta phase difference between detected signals from the reference element and the beta element, and determine a first virtual phase difference that corresponds to the reflected signal expected to be detected by a first virtual element located halfway between the reference element and the beta element. The first virtual phase difference is based on the beta phase difference divided by two.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Carlos A. Alcalde
  • Patent number: 9660352
    Abstract: An antenna system for wireless communication of data includes at least four horn antennas. Each horn antenna is configured to support communications at two mutually orthogonal linear polarizations. Each horn antenna includes an inner wall enclosing a space and geometric constrictions each protruding inwardly from the inner wall into the space along a corresponding polarization plane of one of the two linear polarizations. At least one of the inner wall or the geometric constrictions has a stepped structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Lisa Draexlmaier GmbH
    Inventors: Joerg Oppenlaender, Michael Wenzel, Alexander Moessinger, Michael Seifried, Christoph Haeussler, Alexander Friesch
  • Patent number: 9653796
    Abstract: Presently disclosed is a structure and technique for de-coupling a sensor (such as an automotive radar sensor), from a surrounding electrically conductive structure (such as a vehicle) on which the sensor is mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Valeo Radar Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph S. Pleva
  • Patent number: 9638794
    Abstract: Methods and systems for correcting leakage and/or distortion in radar systems include defining an integration time period, dividing the integration time period into a first sub-period and a second sub-period, at least partially transmitting a transmission radar signal during the first sub-period of the integration time period, not transmitting at all during the second sub-period of the integration time period, integrating the detected signal during both the first sub-period and the second sub-period, and subtracting a last sampled integrated value of the second sub-period from a last sampled integrated value of the first sub-period to generate a corrected integrated value for the integration time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventors: Xueru Ding, Walter Poiger, Jeff Schaefer
  • Patent number: 9623748
    Abstract: A method for operating a drive train of a motor vehicle includes the steps: detecting at least one variable; quantifying and/or influencing a movement of the motor vehicle; depending on the variable, switching on an all-wheel drive of the motor vehicle; wherein it is estimated on the basis of the at least one variable whether a relevant driving situation is impending and in this case the all-wheel-drive is switched on before occurrence of the relevant driving situation. A system for operating a drive train of a motor vehicle is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Sebastian Strasser, Michael Bär
  • Patent number: 9620855
    Abstract: Described embodiments include an electromagnetic beam steering apparatus. The apparatus includes a first electromagnetic beam deflecting structure including a first artificially structured effective media having at least two first electronically-selectable tangential refractive index gradients. Each electronically-selectable tangential refractive index gradient of the at least two first electronically selectable tangential refractive index gradients deflecting an incident electromagnetic beam at a respective first deflection angle. The apparatus includes a second electromagnetic beam deflecting structure including a second artificially structured effective media having at least two second electronically-selectable tangential refractive index gradients. Each electronically-selectable tangential refractive index gradient of the at least two second electronically selectable tangential refractive index gradients deflecting an incident electromagnetic beam at a respective second deflection angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Inventors: Tom Driscoll, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Jordin T. Kare, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Tony S. Pan, Clarence T. Tegreene, Yaroslav A. Urzhumov, Lowell L. Wood, Jr., Victoria Y. H. Wood
  • Patent number: 9610950
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle travel control apparatus, mounted on a host vehicle, which performs travel control of the host vehicle on the basis of a positional relationship between the host vehicle and a preceding vehicle traveling ahead of the host vehicle, the vehicle travel control apparatus including a millimeter wave sensor that acquires target data of the preceding vehicle by receiving a reflected wave of an emitted electromagnetic wave; and an ECU that determines the presence or absence of a preceding vehicle traveling directly ahead of the host vehicle on the basis of the target data acquired by the millimeter wave sensor and that performs acceleration and deceleration control of the host vehicle on the basis of the presence or absence of the preceding vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroki Goto
  • Patent number: 9594153
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for facilitating detection of interference data in association with radars are provided. In some embodiments, signal levels at a communication tower are monitored. In accordance with the monitored signal levels, a periodic interference associated with a radar remote from the communication tower is recognized based on a pattern of signal levels monitored. Interference data associated with the periodic interference is calculated. Such interference data may include, for example, an interference periodicity and an interference duration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Siddharth S. Oroskar, Maulik K. Shah, John William Prock, Jasinder P. Singh
  • Patent number: 9582886
    Abstract: An object recognition device includes: a radar that detects objects in the vicinity of a vehicle a camera that detects objects by capturing an image of the vicinity of the vehicle an identical object recognition unit configured to recognize that an object detected by the radar and an object detected by the camera are the same object when the objects are present within a predetermined position range. The identical object recognition unit determines whether the objects are the same object by reducing the predetermined position range when detection using the radar device or the camera is interrupted and then detection is started again.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoji Sasabuchi, Katsuya Mizutani
  • Patent number: 9575176
    Abstract: The target detecting device comprises a radar sensor, an imaging sensor, and an ECU. The target detected by the radar sensor is selected under certain conditions, for example, i) a reception intensity of the reflected radar waves is equal to or more than a predetermined value, or ii) the target is moving, to be outputted externally. When a stopped vehicle is detected on a road by the sensor, and a target, for example a pedestrian, present behind the stopped vehicle is detected from the image acquired by the imaging sensor by performing image recognition using predetermined patterns of a target, the ECU makes the selection condition less restrictive than the selection condition for targets other than the target present behind the stopped vehicle, or unconditionally selects the target present behind the stopped vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takahiro Baba
  • Patent number: 9557412
    Abstract: A radar sensor having multiple antenna elements for transmitting and receiving radar signals, an associated transmitting and receiving element and an evaluation device for determining the azimuth angle of located objects on the basis of a relationship between the signals received from different antenna elements, wherein the transmitting and receiving element is designed to supply to the antenna elements transmission signals in parallel, the frequencies of which are offset with respect to one another, and the evaluation device is designed to distinguish between signals that were transmitted by different antenna elements on the basis of the frequency offset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Joerg Hilsebecher, Wolf Steffens
  • Patent number: 9545923
    Abstract: An object-detection system for, e.g., a vehicle collision avoidance system, utilizes a metamaterial-based phase shifting element array to generate a scan beam by varying the effective capacitance of each metamaterial structure forming the array in order to control the phases of their radio frequency output signals such that the combined electromagnetic wave generated by the output signals is reinforced in the desired direction and suppressed in undesired directions to produce the scan beam. The metamaterial structures are configured to resonate at the same radio wave frequency as an incident input signal (radiation), whereby each metamaterial structure emits an associated output signal by way of controlled scattering the input signal. A variable capacitance is applied on each metamaterial structure, e.g., using varicaps that are adjusted by way of phase control voltages, to produce the desired output phase patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventors: Bernard D. Casse, Armin R. Volkel, Victor Liu, Alexander S. Tuganov
  • Patent number: 9543643
    Abstract: An antenna device according to an embodiment includes a dielectric substrate, a housing, and an interference prevention unit. On the top surface side of the dielectric substrate, a plurality of antennas is formed, and on the bottom surface side, a ground is formed, each as a conductive thin film pattern, respectively. The housing is formed of a conductive material, and formed to have a shape configured to function as a waveguide, and the top surface side of the housing is bonded to the bottom surface side of the dielectric substrate. The interference prevention unit is formed between the neighboring antennas to include at least a groove provided on the top surface side of the housing and a slit provided on the ground in the portion corresponding to the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignees: FUJITSU TEN LIMITED, NIPPON PILLAR PACKING CO., LTD
    Inventors: Eisuke Hayakawa, Takeshi Okunaga, Akira Nakatsu
  • Patent number: 9500742
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a vehicle radar system (2) arranged to detect objects outside a vehicle (1). The radar system (2) a radar detector (3) and a processing unit (4). The processing unit (4) is arranged to obtain values for detected target angle (?err) and detected target Doppler velocity (vd) relative the radar detector (3) for each detected object (10a?, 10b?, 10c?, 10d?, 10e?) during a certain time interval. If there is a zero crossing (14) for a derivative (13) of a function (12) describing the progression of detected target Doppler velocity (vd) as a function of detected target angle (?err), the processing unit (4) is arranged to detect the zero crossing (14). This zero crossing (14) is indicative of a radar system misalignment (?m). The present invention also relates to a corresponding method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT AB
    Inventors: Walter Poiger, Florian Trompeter, Dirk Klotzbuecher
  • Patent number: 9500745
    Abstract: A radar sensor for motor vehicles, having an antenna system that can be controlled by a control device so that it has a temporally varying directional characteristic, and having an evaluation device for evaluating the radar echoes received by the antenna system and for the location of objects using angular resolution, wherein the antenna system has at least two groups of antenna elements that differ in elevation in their effective direction, and the control device is fashioned to activate and deactivate the two groups in periodically alternating fashion, and the evaluation device is configured to estimate the elevation angle of the objects on the basis of a contrast between the radar echoes received by the various groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Binzer, Volker Gross, Raphael Hellinger, Andre Treptow
  • Patent number: 9501932
    Abstract: Disclosed is a vehicular environment estimation device capable of accurately estimating a travel environment around own vehicle on the basis of a predicted route of a mobile object or the like, which is moving in a blind area. A vehicular environment estimation device that is mounted in the own vehicle detects a behavior of another vehicle in the vicinity of the own vehicle, and estimates a travel environment, which affects the traveling of another vehicle, on the basis of the behavior of another vehicle. For example, the presence of another vehicle, which is traveling in a blind area, is estimated on the basis of the behavior of another vehicle. Therefore, it is possible to estimate a vehicle travel environment that cannot be recognized by the own vehicle but can be recognized by another vehicle in the vicinity of the own vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Katsuhiro Sakai, Hiromitsu Urano, Toshiki Kindo
  • Patent number: 9500748
    Abstract: In a target recognition apparatus, a candidate detection section detects a target candidate, provided that a target exists in a basic detection area. A candidate addition section adds, regarding each target candidate detected in a folding area, a target candidate determined provided that the target candidate detected in the folding area is a virtual image, and a corresponding real image exists in an additional detection area. A tracking section determines, regarding each detected and added target candidate, presence/absence of a history connection with the target candidate detected in a past measurement cycle. A combination determination section determines, regarding each target candidate, presence/absence of a combination with an image target, based on whether or not an image target associated with the target candidate exists. A likelihood calculation section sets and updates a likelihood of a virtual image of the image target by using a determination result of the combination determination section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Noda
  • Patent number: 9502760
    Abstract: An antenna section is housed in a housing space which is defined by a radome and a housing, and provided with a transmitting antenna that transmits radar waves composed of radio waves of a predetermined frequency and a receiving antenna that receives the radar waves. The radome has a transmission section that is a portion transmitting the radar waves and an attenuation section that is a portion attenuating the radar waves. The attenuation section includes a first attenuation layer formed of a material for attenuating the radar waves. The first attenuation layer has a thickness that is 2n?1 times (n is a natural number) of one-quarter of a wavelength of the radar waves in the first attenuation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akihisa Fujita, Koichi Hoshino
  • Patent number: 9478858
    Abstract: Electronically scanned arrays and multi-chip modules (MCMs) that may be used in such arrays are provided. One MCM may include a set of one or more first semiconductor components and a plurality of second semiconductor components. The first semiconductor component set is coupled to the plurality of second semiconductor components, and the first semiconductor component set is configured to control the plurality of second semiconductor components. Each of the plurality of second semiconductor components is accessible through a plurality of data strings providing communication between the first semiconductor component set and the plurality of second semiconductor components, each data string defining a unique path between the first semiconductor component set and the plurality of second semiconductor components, such that the plurality of data strings provide redundant data paths between the first semiconductor component set and the plurality of second semiconductor components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: James B. West, Lee M. Paulsen, Daniel L. Woodell, Michael L. Hageman, Russell D. Wyse, Adrian Hill
  • Patent number: 9470781
    Abstract: A radar device for transmitting and receiving a signal in a frequency band for target detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: HELLA KGAA HUECK & CO.
    Inventor: Thomas Hesse
  • Patent number: 9457809
    Abstract: A collision possibility determination apparatus includes: an identifying part configured to detect an object and identify a location of the object; a first analysis part configured to predict a future location of the object based on information relating to the object output from the identifying part and generate first information indicating a possibility of colliding with the object based on the predicted future location of the object; a second analysis part configured to generate second information indicating a possibility of colliding with the object based on the location of the object identified by the identifying part; and a determination part configured to determine a possibility of colliding with the object based on both of the first information and the second information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoji Sasabuchi
  • Patent number: 9461694
    Abstract: A controller area network (CAN) circuit includes a first switch section circuit, a second switch section circuit, a reception section circuit, a transmission section circuit, a power supply circuit, a CAN-low (CANL) line and a CAN-high (CANH) line. The first switch section circuit is connected between the power supply circuit and the transmission section circuit and the second switch section circuit is connected between the power supply circuit and the reception section circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jin Kim, June Kyu Park, Soon-Myung Kwon