Sweeping radar devices and methods of use thereof

Sweeping radar devices and methods for detecting objects in the vicinity of a vehicle are provided. The sweeping radar device includes a transmitting device, receiving device, and a processor. The method involves transmitting an electromagnetic wave, receiving the wave, converting the wave to an electromagnetic signal, processing the signal to generate an output criterion, interpreting the output criteria and triggering at least one response by a vehicle, which may be an affirmative response, such as a siren or flashing lights, or may be a passive response.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to sweeping radar devices and methods of use thereof. Specifically, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to sweeping radar devices and methods for detecting objects in the vicinity of a vehicle to promote safety.

BACKGROUND

Emergency vehicles, such as police cars, ambulances, and fire trucks often pull off to the side of the road when assisting others. An emergency vehicle will typically pull over behind the object at issue, positioned to shield the object (such as a car or person) from the approaching traffic when issuing a citation or assisting a vehicle involved in an accident. This places the emergency vehicle in a precarious position, as they are often forced to work quite close to oncoming traffic. An alarming number of emergency vehicles and emergency workers are involved in collisions each year by unassuming vehicles who fail to recognize the proximity of the emergency vehicle to the roadway until a collision is imminent.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, a need exists for a safety measure to prevent collisions with vehicles that are pulled over on the side of the road.

The embodiments of the present disclosure address these needs by providing radar devices to detect objects in the vicinity of a vehicle and methods for detecting objects in the vicinity of a vehicle to alert the approaching object and the vehicle of a probable collusion to promote and ensure vehicle safety.

In one embodiment, a sweeping radar device is provided that includes a transmitting device, receiving device, and a processor. The transmitting device transmits at least one electromagnetic wave in a sweeping fashion. The receiving device is coupled to the transmitting device and receives the electromagnetic wave and converts it into an electromagnetic signal. The processor is coupled to the receiving device and produces at least one output criterion that triggers a response by a vehicle. The response may be affirmative or passive, where an affirmative response activates one or more components selected from the group consisting of an internal light in the vehicle, an external light on the vehicle, an internal alarm in the vehicle, an external alarm on the vehicle, or combinations of these, and the passive response does not activate a component in the vehicle.

In another embodiment, a method for detecting objects in the vicinity of a vehicle is provided. The method involves transmitting an electromagnetic wave, receiving the wave, converting the wave to an electromagnetic signal, processing the signal to generate an output criterion, interpreting the output criteria and triggering at least one response by a vehicle. The response may be affirmative or passive, where an affirmative response activates one or more components selected from the group consisting of an internal light in the vehicle, an external light on the vehicle, an internal alarm in the vehicle, an external alarm on the vehicle, or combinations of these, and the passive response does not activate a component in the vehicle.

Additional features and advantages of the described embodiments will be set forth in the detailed description which follows, and in part will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from that description or recognized by practicing the described embodiments, including the detailed description which follows as well as the claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description of the embodiments is exemplary and illustrative in nature and is in no way intended to be limiting it its application or use. Unless otherwise expressly indicated, the disclosure of any ranges in the specification and claims are to be understood as including the range itself, any values subsumed therein, as well as endpoints.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are generally directed to radar systems and methods for detecting objects in the vicinity of a vehicle. In some embodiments, the radar system of the present disclosure includes a transmitting device that transmits an electromagnetic wave, a receiving device coupled to the transmitting device that receives the electromagnetic wave and converts it into an electromagnetic signal, and a processor coupled to the receiving device that interprets the electromagnetic signal and produces an output criterion that triggers a response by a vehicle, such as an alarm, light, or siren in or on the vehicle or a passive “no result” response. As used herein, “coupled” refers to a communicative connection between two or more components that may be directly or indirectly connected and may or may not be mechanically connected.

Specific embodiments will now be described with references to the figures. Whenever possible, the same reference numerals will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. As used throughout this disclosure, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a” component includes aspects having two or more such components, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

FIG. 1is a schematic cross-sectional illustration of an embodiment of a sweeping radar device101according to the present disclosure. The sweeping radar device101may utilize radar (radio detection and ranging) technology. The sweeping radar device101of the present disclosure may be used for vehicles301(shown with reference toFIG. 2A) to detect objects in the vicinity of the vehicle301to trigger an alarm in attempts to avoid collision. The sweeping radar device101may be coupled to the vehicle301, and in some embodiments, may be mounted on the vehicle301or may be freely movable. The vehicle301may, for instance, be an emergency vehicle, a police car, a fire truck, an ambulance, a boat, a personal watercraft, a piece of construction equipment, a piece of farm equipment, or a forklift. The sweeping radar device101shown inFIG. 1is depicted in a cross-sectional view to show one potential arrangement of the inner workings in a schematic representation. It should be understood that this is merely a generalized depiction of one embodiment of a sweeping radar device101.

As shown inFIG. 1, in some embodiments, the sweeping radar device101may include a transmitting device120that transmits at least one wave or other frequency, such as an electromagnetic wave110. The transmitting device120may be any device suitable of transmitting electromagnetic waves110. Non-limiting examples of suitable transmitting devices120may include a pulse generating device, a frequency-modulated oscillator, a transmitter antenna, a patch antenna, a transmitter oscillator, a satellite antenna, a linear antenna, or a parabolic antenna. While the transmitting device120is depicted as a satellite antenna inFIG. 1, the transmitting device120may be a linear or parabolic antenna, or any other suitable device that transmits electromagnetic waves110.

The electromagnetic waves110may include radio waves, infrared (IR) waves, ultraviolet (UV) rays, visible waves, microwaves, gamma rays or x-rays. In some embodiments, the electromagnetic wave110may include at least one of radio waves, ultraviolet waves, visible light waves, near infrared light waves, infrared light waves, or combinations of these. The electromagnetic waves110may be reflected or scattered and may be transmitted in a sweeping pattern. In some embodiments, the electromagnetic waves110may be generated by a signal generator (not shown). The electromagnetic waves110may be produced by any suitable device, such as, for example, a magnetron. In some embodiments, the signal generator may be coupled to the transmitting device120, the receiving device130, or both.

In some embodiments, the transmitting device120may rotate within a housing125to transmit the electromagnetic waves110in a sweeping pattern. In other embodiments, it may not be necessary for the transmitting device120to be mobile to transmit the electromagnetic waves110in a sweeping pattern. The transmitting device120may transmit electromagnetic waves110in a sweeping pattern that may vary anywhere from 1° to 360° in an arc, as measured from the centermost point of the transmitting device120of the sweeping radar device101. For instance, the transmitting device120may transmit electromagnetic waves110in an arc from 1° to 270°, or from 1° to 210°, or from 1° to 180°, or from 1° to 120°, or from 1° to 90°. In some embodiments, the transmitting device120may rotate within the housing125to transmit the electromagnetic waves110in a 180° arc, or a 270° arc, or a 90° arc. In some embodiments, the sweeping pattern of the electromagnetic waves110may be predetermined or may in some embodiments, may be random.

The sweeping radar device101may also include a receiving device130to receive the at least one electromagnetic wave110. InFIG. 1, the receiving device130is depicted as a linear antenna, however it should be understood that in some embodiments the receiving device130may be a satellite antenna, a parabolic antenna, or any other suitable receiving device130. In some embodiments, the transmitting device120, the receiving device130, or both, may be an antenna. The receiving device130may be the same device or a different device from the transmitting device120. In some embodiments, both the transmitting device120and the receiving device130may be part of one component in the sweeping radar device101.

In embodiments in which one component of the sweeping radar device101, such as an antenna, acts as both a transmitting device120and a receiving device130, the sweeping radar device101may further include a duplexer140coupled to the transmitting device120(depicted by dashed line142) and coupled to the receiving device130(depicted by dashed line132). The duplexer140may alternate the functionality of the component, such as an antenna, from a transmitting device120to a receiving device130and back from a receiving device130to a transmitting device120. Any suitable duplexer140may be used. Non-limiting examples of suitable duplexers140may include enhanced duplexers having a high dynamic range (HDR) amplifier and a signal cancellation topology, adaptive duplexers, antenna port duplexers, and the like.

The sweeping radar device101of the present disclosure may additionally include a processor150. The electromagnetic signals may be transmitted to a processor150. The receiving device130may interpret the one or more electromagnetic waves110and may process the electromagnetic waves110to generate electromagnetic signals (not shown). Any suitable processor150may be used. The processor150may interpret the electromagnetic signal to produce at least one output criterion. The processor150may utilize a variety of indicators in formulating the output criteria. For instance, in some embodiments the processor150may determine the speed of an object, the distance of the object to the vehicle301, the trajectory of the object, the size of the object, the location of the object, and other such indicators. This may allow for the sweeping radar device101to prevent or reduce the occurrence of false alarm triggers. For instance, the sweeping radar device101may be able to determine that based on the speed, distance, trajectory, size, or other indicators, the object detected may or may not be a threat to the vehicle301.

The processor150may receive the at least one output criteria and trigger at least one response by the vehicle301. The response by the vehicle301may be an affirmative response or a passive response. The passive response may be a “no result” response meaning that a component in or on the vehicle301is not triggered by a passive response. In contrast, an affirmative response may activate one or more components in the vehicle301. An affirmative response may activate any component in the vehicle301, which may vary based on the application of use and the vehicle301. In some embodiments, an affirmative response may activate, for instance, an internal light in the vehicle301, an external light on the vehicle301, an internal alarm in the vehicle301, an external alarm on the vehicle301, or other similar lights and/or alarms. The affirmative response may activate one or more components in the vehicle301. The affirmative response may determine the severity in activating one or more components, such as the brightness of the lights, the duration of the lights, the pattern of lights used, the decibel level of the alarm, the duration of the alarm, the sound pattern of the alarm used, and other similar measures. An affirmative response may also trigger one or more components in the vehicle301, or a sequence of components in the vehicle301as a response. In some embodiments, the processor150may interpret the output criteria to determine whether the affirmative response or the passive response should be generated, and, if the affirmative response is determined, the processor150may assign a severity level of the affirmative response based on the at least one of the speed of the object or the distance of the object to the vehicle301, or any of the other indicators, including those previously described. The severity level of the affirmative response may determine at least one of which of the one or more components in the vehicle301are activated, an amount of the one or more components in the vehicle301that are activated, an intensity of the one or more components that are activated, a duration of the one or more components that are activated, or combinations of any of these.

Referring now toFIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C, three different example embodiments of the placement of the sweeping radar device101on a vehicle301are shown. InFIG. 2A, the sweeping radar device101is positioned on a top surface of the vehicle301, which is a firetruck. In some embodiments, the sweeping radar device101may be mounted onto the vehicle301, or may be otherwise integrated into the vehicle301. InFIG. 2B, the sweeping radar device101is shown on the back bumper of the vehicle301, which is an ambulance. Again, the sweeping radar device101may be mounted, integrated, or otherwise secured to the vehicle301in any suitable fashion based on the desired use and application, vehicle301specifications and the like. Finally, inFIG. 2Cthe sweeping radar device101is located on the front bumper of the vehicle301, which is a police car. The sweeping radar device101may be positioned in any location on the vehicle301such that the sweeping radar device101is able to properly transmit and receive the electromagnetic waves110. The sweeping radar device101may be placed in a variety of locations, as shown, to prevent obstruction and to allow for a better, clearer and more precise reading of electromagnetic waves110based on whether the sweeping radar device101is detecting objects behind the vehicle301(such as the arrangement depicted in2A), to the front of the vehicle301(such as depicted in2B), or objects that have a long-range distance to the vehicle301(such as depicted in2C).

In other embodiments, the sweeping radar device101may be freely movable. In some embodiments, the sweeping radar device101may be placed in other locations than the vehicle301, such as, for instance, on a concrete construction barrier, construction cone, roadway barrier, on construction equipment, on farm equipment, on a flag or staking device, or on any other suitable object. The sweeping radar device101may still be able to detect objects within a specified vicinity to alert the user of dangerous conditions and, particularly, of the likelihood of a collision.

FIG. 3schematically depicts one embodiment of the present disclosure in which the vehicle301is a police car that has pulled over a car350, for instance, to issue a citation. The vehicle301is pulled over on the shoulder450of the road401. The sweeping radar device101is shown positioned on the back rear bumper of the vehicle301, as depicted inFIG. 2A. InFIG. 3, the electromagnetic waves110are being cast outwardly from the vehicle301in a sweeping pattern. In some embodiments, the sweeping radar device101may determine whether an object is within a dangerous proximity, such as a “danger range”650based on the proximity to the vehicle301. InFIG. 3, the danger range650would indicate that a car is traveling on or too close to the shoulder450of the road401. If an object is detected within the danger range650, the output criteria may signal an affirmative response in the vehicle301, triggering, for instance, the lights and/or siren of the police car to alert the driver to change its course. The sweeping radar device101may also be able to determine whether a car is in a “safe range”601which may cause the output criteria to trigger a passive response in the vehicle301which does not trigger an alarm or the sirens. In some embodiments, the dimensions112,114of the danger range650may be adjusted to additionally indicate a intermediary semi-dangerous range (not pictured) in which a lesser alarm is trigger, for instance, the lights of the vehicle301, to alert the driver of the presence of the vehicle301. If the driver corrects his or her course, the affirmative response may cease, whereas if the driver continues or ventures into the danger range650, the severity level of the affirmative response may be increased, for instance, activating both the lights and sirens of the vehicle301.

In some embodiments, the sweeping radar device101may receive (such as through the receiving device130) electromagnetic waves110that extend outwardly from the transmitting device120in a 180° arc from the horizontal plane of the rear bumper of the vehicle301. In other embodiments, such as the locations depicted inFIGS. 2A and 2C, the arc may be measured from the horizontal plane of the front bumper of the vehicle301, or from the horizontal plane of the rear-most point of the vehicle301, or from the horizontal plane of the front-most point of the vehicle301. In other embodiments, the sweeping radar device101may receive (such as through the receiving device130) electromagnetic waves110that extend outwardly from the transmitting device120in a 90° arc, a 120° arc, a 270° arc, or an arc from 90° to 120°, or from 90° to 180°, or from 90° to 270°, or from 180° to 120°, or from 180° to 270°. The sweeping radar device101may receive electromagnetic waves110that extend outwardly from the transmitting device120by at least 1000 feet as measured from the horizontal plane of the of the rear bumper of the vehicle301, the horizontal plane of the front bumper of the vehicle301, the horizontal plane of the rear-most point of the vehicle301, or from the horizontal plane of the front-most point of the vehicle301. In other embodiments, the sweeping radar device101may receive electromagnetic waves110that extend outwardly from the transmitting device120by at least 900 feet, or at least 600 feet, or at least 500 feet, or at least 300 feet, or at least 100 feet.

In some embodiments, the danger range650, the intermediary semi-dangerous range, or both the combined danger range650and intermediary semi-dangerous range, may extend from the transmitting device120of the sweeping radar device101in a 90° arc, a 120° arc, a 270° arc, or an arc from 90° to 120°, or from 90° to 180°, or from 90° to 270°, or from 180° to 120°, or from 180° to 270° Likewise, the danger range650, the intermediary semi-dangerous range, or both the combined danger range650and intermediary semi-dangerous range, may extend from the transmitting device120of the sweeping radar device101by at least 1000 feet, or at least 900 feet, or at least 600 feet, or at least 500 feet, or at least 300 feet, or at least 100 feet. In some embodiments, the danger range650, the intermediary semi-dangerous range, or both the combined danger range650and intermediary semi-dangerous range, may extend from the transmitting device120of the sweeping radar device101by from 0 to 1000 feet, or 0 to 900 feet, or 0 to 600 feet, or from 0 to 500 feet, or from 0 to 300 feet, or from 0 to 100 feet. It should be understood that any of these ranges may be combined, for example, a 90° to 120°, or from 90° to 180°, or from 90° to 270°, or from 180° to 120°, or from 180° to 270° arc that extends 1000 feet, or 900 feet, or 600 feet, or 500 feet, or 300 feet, or 100 feet.

In some embodiments, the transmitter, the receiver, or both, may utilize Lidar technology, Doppler technology, Sonar technology, Sodar technology, or combinations of these in transmitting the electromagnetic waves110, receiving the electromagnetic waves110, or both. Without being bound by any particular theory, Lidar refers to a surveying method that measures distance to a target by illuminating the target with a laser light. Similarly, Sonar technology refers to use of sound propagation by sending out sound waves and listening for echoes or other emitted pulses of sound. Sodar technology refers to using meteorological instruments, such as a wind profiler, to measure the scattering of sound waves by atmospheric turbulence using sound waves. Finally, Doppler technology refers to a specialized radar the utilizes the Doppler effect to produce velocity data regarding objects at a distance by bouncing microwave signals off of the desired target and analyzing how the object alters the frequency of the returned signal. Any combination of these or other known technologies may be used to determine characteristics about potentially hazardous objects in the path of the sweeping radar device101. For instance, these technologies may be used to determine the distance the object is from the sweeping radar device101, the velocity of the object, the trajectory path of the object, the likelihood of collision between the object and the vehicle301, the size and nature of the object, and other such characteristics. All of these factors may be evaluated in determining the output criteria, which determines whether an affirmative or passive response should be triggered.

FIG. 4is a block diagram of a method for detecting objects in the vicinity of a vehicle301in accordance with the present embodiments. As shown inFIG. 4, embodiments of the present disclosure also relate to methods for detecting objects in which the method includes transmitting at least one electromagnetic wave110with a transmitting device120, receiving the electromagnetic wave110with a receiving device130, and converting the electromagnetic wave110to an electromagnetic signal. The electromagnetic wave110may be transmitted in a sweeping arc pattern. The electromagnetic signal is then processed by a processor150to generate at least one output criteria, which triggers at least one response by a vehicle301coupled to the processor150. The response may be an affirmative response that activates a component in the vehicle301, such as the lights, alarms, of a combination of internal or external lights and alarms. Alternatively, the response may be a passive response that does not active a component but triggers a “no response.” The transmitting device120, receiving device130, electromagnetic waves110, electromagnetic signals, processor150, and vehicle301, may be in accordance with any of the embodiments previously described. In some embodiments, the method may further include generating the at least one electromagnetic wave110with a signal generator, which may be coupled to the transmitter. The signal generator may be in accordance with any of the embodiments previously described.

It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations may be made to the embodiments described within without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed subject matter. Thus, it is intended that the specification cover the modifications and variations of the various embodiments described within provided such modification and variations come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.