Raytheon Company

Valeo Radar Systems, Inc.

Mark E Russell

Michael Joseph Delcheccolo

Walter Gordon Woodington

H Barteld Van Rees

Joseph S Pleva

Delbert Lippert

John F Mara, Jr

John Michael Firda

Caroline Breglia

David C Miller

Stephen P Leblanc

William F Miccioli

James T Hanson

Luis M Viana

Thomas W French

Anthony M Donisi

David V Manoogian

Richard Paul Donovan

Gary K Montress

Clifford A Drubin

Russell W Hansen

Dean L Shollenberger

Henry J Nizko

Dominic V Restagno

Keith L Wansley

David A Marquis

I Shaun Carnes, Deceased

W Gordon Woodington

Gregory J Pietrangelo

Edward G Daly, Iii

Maurice J Toolin

Michael C Tipton

Jonathan H Walzer

John M Firda

A detection system includes a plurality of sensors including an entry sensor having a field of view oriented to detect object entry with respect to an entry portion of an occupancy volume, and an exit sensor having a field of view oriented to detect object exit with respect to an exit portion of the occupancy volume, the exit portion different than the entry portion. The detection system further includes at least one approach sensor having a field of view oriented to detect object approach relative to the entry portion of the occupancy volume, and at least one retreat sensor having a field of view oriented to detect object retreat relative to the exit portion of the occupancy volume.

System and method for occupancy detection

A radar system and method use a radar FMCW chirp having variable chirp characteristics.

Radar detection method and apparatus

A radar detection process includes computing a derivative of an FFT output signal to detect an object within a specified detection zone. In one embodiment, a zero crossing in the second derivative of the FFT output signal indicates the presence of an object. The range of the object is determined as a function of the frequency at which the zero crossing occurs. Also described is a detection table containing indicators of the presence or absence of an object within a respective radar beam and processing cycle. At least two such indicators are combined in order to detect the presence of an object within the detection zone and with changing range gates in each of the antenna beams the coverage of the detection zone can be varied.

Technique for changing a range gate and radar coverage

A video amplifier for a radar receiver includes a temperature compensating attenuator. The attenuator includes a temperature sensitive device, such as a thermistor, arranged in a voltage divider network and is coupled in cascade between two filter stages. Each of the filter stages has a bandpass characteristic in order to filter low-frequency leakage signals and provide sensitivity control based on frequency and thus range, while also filtering high frequency signals to reduce aliasing.

Video amplifier for a radar receiver

A back-up aid indication system includes a sensor for providing detection coverage in a predetermined coverage zone behind a vehicle. The sensor includes a transmit antenna adapted for transmitting an RF signal having a quasi-collimated antenna pattern in a near field. The system further includes a waveform generator which selectively provides one of a frequency modulated continuous wave FMCW Chirp signal and a pulse waveform signal as the transmitted RF signal.

Back-up aid indicator using FMCW chirp signal or a time domain pulse signal

A radar detection process includes computing a derivative of an FFT output signal to detect an object within a specified detection zone. In one embodiment, a zero crossing in the second derivative of the FFT output signal indicates the presence of an object. The range of the object is determined as a function of the frequency at which the zero crossing occurs. Also described is a detection table containing indicators of the presence or absence of an object within a respective radar beam and processing cycle. At least two such indicators are combined in order to detect the presence of an object within the detection zone.

A near object detection (NOD) system includes a plurality of sensors, each of the sensors for providing detection coverage in a predetermined coverage zone and each of the sensors including a transmit antenna for transmitting a first RF signal, a receive antenna for receiving a second RF signal and means for sharing information between each of the plurality of sensors in the NOD system.

Near object detection system

In accordance with the present invention, an adaptive cruise control system includes a radio frequency (RF) transmit receive (TR) sensor module (or more simply &ldquo;sensor&rdquo;) disposed such that a detection zone is deployed in front of a vehicle. The sensor includes a sensor antenna system which comprises a transmit antenna for emitting or transmitting an RF signal and a receive antenna for receiving portions of the transmitted RF signal which are intercepted by one or more objects within a field of view of the transmit antenna and reflected back toward the receive antenna. With this particular arrangement, a detection system that detects objects in a region about a front of a vehicle is provided. If the system determines that the vehicle is approaching an object or that an object is approaching the vehicle, then the sensor initiates steps that are carried out in accordance with a set of rules that control an accelerator of the vehicle. The accelerator is adjusted to maintain a safe trailing distance behind the detected object.

Safe distance algorithm for adaptive cruise control

A docking information system disposed on a ship provides navigational information to the operator of the ship. The system includes a short range radar system and a display to provide a range between the ship and a dock or an obstacle and, optionally, a relative velocity between the ship and the dock or the obstacle.

Docking information system for boats

A radar transmitter includes a digital ramp generator circuit for generating a VCO control signal. The ramp generator includes a digital signal processor and a digital-to-analog converter. In one embodiment, the VCO output signal is up-converted to provide the transmit signal and in another embodiment, the VCO operates over the transmit frequency. Also described is a VCO comprising a DR and a phase shifter. A temperature compensation feature includes detecting the transmit frequency and comparing the DSP output generating the detected frequency to a DSP output stored in association with the detected frequency. Also described is a technique for compensating for non-linear VCO operation in which the DSP output words are adjusted to provide a waveform complementary in shape to the non-linear VCO characteristic. Susceptibility of the radar to interference is reduced by randomly varying at least one parameter of the ramp signal, such as offset interval or voltage range, in at least one ramp signal cycle.

Radar transmitter circuitry and techniques

Technique for changing a range gate and radar for coverage

An auto-docking system has been provided that can automatically dock a ship. The auto-docking system provides a close in radar system and a secondary propulsion system that is under control of a docking processor.

Auto-docking system

There is disclosed herein a method for detecting objects in a predicted path of a host vehicle moving on a highway lane. The method is for use in a system including a forward looking sensor, preferably a radar system, for providing range, angle and velocity data for objects within a field of view in front of the host vehicle, measuring systems for providing velocity and yaw rate data for the host vehicle, and a processing system responsive to the forward looking sensor and the measuring systems. The method includes the unordered steps of (a) calculating an estimated path of the host vehicle based on its velocity and yaw rate; (b) calculating estimated paths for each of the objects; (c) determining the lateral distance of each object from the predicted path of the host vehicle; and (d) classifying each object as either in or out of the highway lane of the host vehicle. The method includes processes for detecting lane changes by the host vehicle and for generating alternative path hypotheses in response to target deviations from the predicted paths.

Path prediction system and method

Growing community of inventors

Westford, MA, United States of America

Mark E Russell