Valeo Raytheon Systems, Inc.

Valeo Radar Systems, Inc.

Stephen P Lohmeier

Wilson J Wimmer

Yong Liu

Nguyen D Nguyen

A blockage detection system and method for use in a sensor such as a side object detection (SOD) sensor in an automotive radar system is described. The sensor emits signals and receives return signals (i.e. reflected signals) from a passing object. If the passing object is within a virtual detection zone, the sensor uses the information from the passing object to determine if a blockage condition exists in the sensor. The technique utilizes statistics related to the passing object to determine whether a blockage condition exists within the sensor. In one embodiment, a SOD sensor mounted in a first vehicle uses information from a second passing vehicle (e.g. radar return information) to determine whether a blockage condition exists within the SOD sensor itself.

Automotive radar sensor blockage detection system and related techniques

The method and system provide provisions for generating a respective detection state value associated with each of a plurality of RF receive beams. A first state value is indicative of a detection. The method and system further provide provisions, for each of the detection state values equal to the first state value, for generating a respective detection range value. The method and system further provide provisions for selecting one of the detection state values equal to the first state value and verifying the selected detection state value to provide one of a positive verification and a negative verification associated with the selected detection state value. The method and system further provide provisions for setting the selected detection state value to be equal to the second state value in response to a negative verification.

System and method for verifying a radar detection

A method for generating a radar detection threshold includes computing a first plurality of percentile values associated with frequency domain values of frequency domain signals. The first plurality of percentile values is used to generate detection threshold values. Apparatus for generating a radar detection threshold includes a first percentile processor adapted to compute a first plurality of percentile values associated with frequency domain values of frequency domain signals. A threshold processor is adapted to use the plurality of percentile values to generate detection threshold values.

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Westford, MA, United States of America

Stephen P Lohmeier