Patent ID: 6329952
Filing Date: 2001-12-11
Classification: G01S,H01Q

Abstract:
A method of aligning an automotive radar antenna of a collision avoidance radar system installed in an automobile comprising the steps of:providing a first laser beam approximately perpendicular to an axle of the automobile;moving a transponder and determining when the light from the first laser beam is reflected from a first reflective material on an alignment fixture supporting the transponder;providing a second laser beam from the automobile aligned approximately parallel with the centerline of the radar antenna;removing translation errors by moving the alignment fixture and determining when light from the second laser beam is reflected from a second reflective material on the alignment fixture;transmitting a first RF signal from the radar antenna to a transponder antenna;transmitting a return RF signal from the transponder antenna in response to the first RF signal; andadjusting the boresite position of the radar antenna until a processor indicates, based on the receipt of the return RF signal, that the boresite of the radar antenna is aligned with the boresite of the transponder antenna.