Patent ID: 6097332
Filing Date: 2000-08-01
Classification: B60R,G01S,H01Q

Abstract:
A radar detector for airbag triggering prior to a collision between a vehicle on a roadway and a target object, comprising:at least one set of transmitting and receiving antenna means, each said transmitting antenna being longitudinally spaced apart from said receiving antenna means, wherein said at least one set of transmitting and receiving antenna means is positioned adjacent said vehicle so as to provide a bistatic antenna pattern coverage of one or more sides of said vehicle, wherein said transmitting antenna means transmits radiation having an angular spread in a first plane of at least approximately 120 degrees, and wherein said receiving antenna receives radiation within a field of view having an angular spread in the first plane of at least approximately 120 degrees;at least one set of transmitter and receiver means, each said transmitter means being electrically connected to the respective transmitting antenna means, and each said receiver means being electrically connected to the respective receiving antenna means;means for detection of a signal out of said receiver means, said signal resulting from radiation from said transmitter antenna being reflected from an object adjacent the side of said vehicle;signal processing means for continuous tracking of the position of said target object relative to the side of said vehicle;computer means for determining a trajectory of the target object within the bistatic antenna pattern coverage so as to estimate an impact region of the vehicle where the target object will impact the vehicle; andmeans for controlling initiation of an airbag at a predetermined time before impact between said target object and the side of said vehicle.