The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 06, 2004
Filed:
Sep. 07, 2001
Mark E. Russell, Westford, MA (US);
Michael Joseph Delcheccolo, Westford, MA (US);
John M. Firda, Andover, MA (US);
Raytheon Company, Lexington, MA (US);
Abstract
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.