Patent ID: 6127965
Filing Date: 2000-10-03
Classification: G01S

Abstract:
A side-looking radar system for detecting presence of an object in the blind spot of a host vehicle upon which the radar system is mounted, wherein the object has an associated range and closing rate, comprising:(a) a radar transceiver for transmitting radar signals and for detecting reflected signals of the transmitted radar signals that are reflected off an object;(b) a processor block, coupled to the transceiver, for controlling timing of the signals transmitted by the transceiver, and for processing the reflected signals received by the transceiver, wherein the processor block determines a presence, range and closing rate of the object from which the reflected signals are reflected, and wherein the processor block determines whether the object is within a predetermined detection zone, wherein the predetermined detection zone has a first bounded range that is greater than a minimum range of the radar system and a second bounded range that is less than a maximum range of the radar system, and wherein the processor block also determines whether the object remains within the detection zone for a predetermined minimum period of time; and(c) an indicator, coupled to the processor block, the indicator receiving from the processor block an indication that the object remains within the detection zone for the predetermined minimum period of time, wherein the indicator warns an operator of the host vehicle that the object is present within the detection zone.