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GB2139035A - Radar vehicle braking control - Google Patents

Radar vehicle braking control Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2139035A
GB2139035A GB08307656A GB8307656A GB2139035A GB 2139035 A GB2139035 A GB 2139035A GB 08307656 A GB08307656 A GB 08307656A GB 8307656 A GB8307656 A GB 8307656A GB 2139035 A GB2139035 A GB 2139035A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
output
vehicle
frequency
signal
antenna
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB08307656A
Other versions
GB8307656D0 (en
GB2139035B (en
Inventor
Alexander Boyd Love
Dennis Franceis Davey
Terence Malcolm Harry Hinch
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Ogden Electronics Ltd
BAE Systems Electronics Ltd
Original Assignee
Marconi Co Ltd
Ogden Electronics Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Marconi Co Ltd, Ogden Electronics Ltd filed Critical Marconi Co Ltd
Priority to GB08307656A priority Critical patent/GB2139035B/en
Publication of GB8307656D0 publication Critical patent/GB8307656D0/en
Publication of GB2139035A publication Critical patent/GB2139035A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2139035B publication Critical patent/GB2139035B/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • GPHYSICS
    • G01MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01SRADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
    • G01S13/00Systems using the reflection or reradiation of radio waves, e.g. radar systems; Analogous systems using reflection or reradiation of waves whose nature or wavelength is irrelevant or unspecified
    • G01S13/88Radar or analogous systems specially adapted for specific applications
    • G01S13/93Radar or analogous systems specially adapted for specific applications for anti-collision purposes
    • G01S13/931Radar or analogous systems specially adapted for specific applications for anti-collision purposes of land vehicles
    • GPHYSICS
    • G01MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01SRADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
    • G01S13/00Systems using the reflection or reradiation of radio waves, e.g. radar systems; Analogous systems using reflection or reradiation of waves whose nature or wavelength is irrelevant or unspecified
    • G01S13/02Systems using reflection of radio waves, e.g. primary radar systems; Analogous systems
    • G01S13/06Systems determining position data of a target
    • G01S13/08Systems for measuring distance only
    • G01S13/32Systems for measuring distance only using transmission of continuous waves, whether amplitude-, frequency-, or phase-modulated, or unmodulated
    • G01S13/34Systems for measuring distance only using transmission of continuous waves, whether amplitude-, frequency-, or phase-modulated, or unmodulated using transmission of continuous, frequency-modulated waves while heterodyning the received signal, or a signal derived therefrom, with a locally-generated signal related to the contemporaneously transmitted signal
    • GPHYSICS
    • G01MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01SRADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
    • G01S13/00Systems using the reflection or reradiation of radio waves, e.g. radar systems; Analogous systems using reflection or reradiation of waves whose nature or wavelength is irrelevant or unspecified
    • G01S13/88Radar or analogous systems specially adapted for specific applications
    • G01S13/93Radar or analogous systems specially adapted for specific applications for anti-collision purposes
    • G01S13/931Radar or analogous systems specially adapted for specific applications for anti-collision purposes of land vehicles
    • G01S2013/9317Driving backwards
    • GPHYSICS
    • G01MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01SRADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
    • G01S13/00Systems using the reflection or reradiation of radio waves, e.g. radar systems; Analogous systems using reflection or reradiation of waves whose nature or wavelength is irrelevant or unspecified
    • G01S13/88Radar or analogous systems specially adapted for specific applications
    • G01S13/93Radar or analogous systems specially adapted for specific applications for anti-collision purposes
    • G01S13/931Radar or analogous systems specially adapted for specific applications for anti-collision purposes of land vehicles
    • G01S2013/93185Controlling the brakes
    • GPHYSICS
    • G01MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01SRADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
    • G01S13/00Systems using the reflection or reradiation of radio waves, e.g. radar systems; Analogous systems using reflection or reradiation of waves whose nature or wavelength is irrelevant or unspecified
    • G01S13/88Radar or analogous systems specially adapted for specific applications
    • G01S13/93Radar or analogous systems specially adapted for specific applications for anti-collision purposes
    • G01S13/931Radar or analogous systems specially adapted for specific applications for anti-collision purposes of land vehicles
    • G01S2013/9327Sensor installation details
    • G01S2013/93272Sensor installation details in the back of the vehicles

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Radar, Positioning & Navigation (AREA)
  • Remote Sensing (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Radar Systems Or Details Thereof (AREA)

Abstract

In a vehicle braking control system, particularly for a giant earth moving vehicle, an F.M.C.W. radar feeds an antenna 1 at the rear of the vehicle. Reflections are received via the same antenna 1, mixed with transmitted energy to provide a difference frequency and submitted to a frequency selective receiver 5, the output of which will thereby be limited to responses within a given range behind the vehicle. Output from the receiver is passed into two channels. One channel contains a frequency-to-voltage convertor 7 followed by a threshold detector 9 which is set such that a signal is passed to an alarm output terminal 10 if a man-sized or larger target is detected. The other channel contains a narrow band-pass filter 8 followed by a frequency to voltage convertor 11 and a threshold detector 12 the output of which is connected to another output terminal 13. The settings of filter 8 and threshold detector in the second channel are such that targets constituted by discontinuities in the ground (such as tip edges) are detected. Both output terminals are connected to the vehicle braking system. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to presence detection This invention relates to presence detection systems and more specifically to a vehicle-borne detection system.
The invention is particularly applicable to presence detection systems for land vehicles in which an indication is provided or a control signal is generated whereby the braking system of the vehicle is operated if sensing means carried by the vehicle detects an obstruction to the rear whilst the vehicle is being backed. One example of vehicle referred to above is a giant earth moving vehicle such as finds use in the construction of motorways. The operator of such a vehicle has a poor view of the ground to the rear when backing the vehicle, as he is required to do from time to time. For example it is commonly necessary for the vehicle to back to the edge of a tip into which the load carried by the vehicle is to be tipped or dumped. An obstruction of the size of a human being, and even larger obstructions such as smaller vehicles, can easily be missed.It has therefore been recognised as desirable to provide some means for indicating the presence of such targets behind the vehicle and even automatically applying the brakes of the vehicle upon the detection of such a target.
However, systems as previously proposed have suffered from various defects. For example, one previously proposed system employing a continuous wave (CW) radar transmitter and receiver, generally similar to that commonly employed for intruder detection in security systems, suffers from the defect that false returns are commonly received from larger targets at a range greater than that of concern.
Apart from obstructions behind the vehicle there also exists the problem of the driver stopping the vehicle before it reaches a discontinuity in the ground such as the edge of a tip. So far as is known, systems as previously proposed do not address themselves to this last mentioned problem.
The present invention seeks to provide an im proved vehicle borne presence detection system in which one or more of the above defects are mitigated.
According to this invention a vehicle borne present detection system comprises a frequency modulated continuous wave transmitter, means for directing the output of said transmitter in a direction of travel of said vehicle, a frequency selective receiver provided to receive resulting reflections from targets and responsive to reflections whose frequencies indicate targets within a desired range in said direction of travel and means responsive to the output of said frequency selective receiver for providing a signal when the presence of a target of a certain character is detected.
Action, such as the application of the brakes of the vehicle, may be taken by an operator of the vehicle in response to said signal but preferably said signal is a control signal and means are provided for initiating automatic braking of said vehicle upon the generation of said signal.
The output of said frequency selective receiver may be connected via a frequency-to-voltage convertor and a threshold detector to an output terminal connected in operation to apply the brakes of the vehicle whereby said system is responsive to targets generally of the size of a human being or larger.
The output of said frequency selective receiver may be connected via a narrow bandpass filter, a frequency-to-voltage converter and a threshold detector to a signal output terminal whereby said system is responsive to a discontinuity in the ground in the direction of travel of said vehicle at a range, within the overall desired range determined by said frequency selective receiver, as determined by the pass-band of said narrow band pass filter.
Preferably the output of said frequency selective receiver is connected to two channels one of which contains said frequency-to-voltage converter and said threshold detector as first mentioned and the other of which contains said narrow band-bass filter, said frequency-to-voltage convertor and said threshold detector as last mentioned.
As an alternative, two separate transmitter/receiver combinations may be employed, one dedicated to the first mentioned detection of targets of the general size of a human being and one dedicated to the detection of discontinuities in the ground.
Preferably means are provided for mixing received reflections with the frequency modulated continuous wave from said transmitter to produce a difference signal which is applied as input to said frequency selective receiver.
Preferably said frequency modulated continuous wave radar transmitter is one operative at J-band.
Preferably in addition to said output terminal or output terminals being connected to initiate braking upon the detection of a target as aforesaid, said output terminal or output terminals are also connected at the same time to operate an aural or visual alarm.
A common antenna or separate antenna may be provided for transmission and reception.
Preferably said or each antenna is provided as an integral part of a box, for example a cast box, which box also acts as a housing for microwave and processing components of said system and the interconnecting circuitry therefor. Normally, where separate antennae are used for transmission and reception, each is integral with a common box.
Preferably the or each antenna and the box of which it forms an integral part, are of aluminium.
Preferably microwave components of said systems are mounted on the inner end of the or each antenna and said interconnecting circuitry is provided upon a printed circuit board.
Normally said direction of travel will be the rear of said vehicle.
The invention is illustrated in and further described with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a block schematic diagram of one embodiment of a vehicle-borne presence detection system in accordance with the present invention.
Referring to the drawing, the system comprises a radar horn antenna 1 connected via a circulator 2 to the output of a J-band microwave oscillator 3 and via a mixer 4, to the input of a J-band frequency selective receiver 5 so that, in this example, the one antenna acts both as a transmitting antenna and as a receiving antenna.
Connected to frequency modulate the continuous wave produced by microwave oscillator 3 is a modulation generator 6. The arrangement of modulation generator 6 and microwave oscillator 3 is such that applied to the circulator 2 is a frequency modulated continuous wave exhibiting a regular frequency deviation.
Reflected signals received at antenna 1 are routed via circulator 2 to mixer 4 where they are mixed with a sample of the transmitted frequency modulated continuous wave derived from microwave oscillator 3 to produce a difference frequency which is applied to selective receiverS. This difference frequency is proportional to the time delay between the antenna 1 and the target giving rise to the reflections and hence proportional-to the distance of that target from the antenna 1.
Antenna 1 is mounted on the rear of a giant earth moving vehicle. The frequency band of frequency selective receiver 5 is chosen in accordance with the desired range to the rear of the vehicle within which it is desired to detect targets.
Thus responses received from targets within, say, 20' of the antenna 1 will result in a response at the output of selective receiver 5 whereas reflections from targets at greater range will not.
The output of frequency selective receiver 5 is applied both to the input to a frequency-to-voltage convertor7 in one channel and to the input of a narrow bandpass filter 8 in a second channel. The output of frequency-to-voltage convertor 7 is applied via a threshold detector 9 to an output terminal 10.
The setting of threshold detector 9 is chosen so that targets which are generally of the size of a human being or larger cause a control signal to be applied to terminal 10.
The output of narrow pass band filter 8 in the second channel is connected to the input of a frequency-to-voltage convertor 11 the output of which is applied via a threshold detector 12 to an output terminal 13. The band-pass of narrow bandpass filter 8 and the setting of threshold detector 12 are so chosen that an output signal is applied to output terminal 13 when the reflections received by antenna 1 undergo a change due to a discontinuity in the ground behind the vehicle at a particular range, within the overall range set by the pass-band of frequency selective receiverS, as determined by the pass-band of filter 8. This discontinuity in practice may be the edge of a tip over which the load of the vehicle is to be tipped. Terminals 10 and 13 are connected to means (not shown) for actuating an aural orvisual alarm and means (not shown) for controlling the operation of the brakes of the vehicle.
Whilst not illustrated, antenna 1 is formed as an integral part of a cast aluminium box which box also acts as a housing for the microwave and processing components and circuitry described above with reference to and illustrated in Figure 1. The microwave components are bolted to the inner end of the antenna whilst the interconnecting circuitry is provided upon a printed circuit board also mounted with the box.

Claims (5)

1. Avehicle-borne presence detection system comprising a frequency modulated continuous wave transmitter, means for directing the output of said transmitter in a direction of travel of said vehicle, a frequency selective receiver provided to receive resulting reflections from targets and responsive to reflections whose frequencies indicate targets within a desired range in said direction of travel and means responsive to the output of said frequency selective receiver for providing a signal when the presence of a target of a certain character is detected.
2. A system as claimed in claim 1 and wherein said signal is a control signal and means are provided for initiating automatic braking of said vehicle upon the generation of said signal.
3. A system as claimed in claim 1 or 2 and wherein the output of said frequency selective receiver is connected via a frequency-to-voltage convertor and a threshold detectorto an output terminal connected in operation to apply the brakes of the vehicle whereby said system is responsive to targets generally of the size of a human being or larger.
4. A system as claimed in any of the above claims and wherein the output of said frequency selective receiver is connected via a narrow bandpass filter, a frequency-to-voltage convertor and a threshold detector to a signal output terminal, whereby said system is responsive to a discontinuity in the ground in said direction of travel of said vehicle at a range, within the overall desired range determined by said frequency selective receiver, as determined by the pass-band of said narrow bandpass filter.
5. Apparatus according to claim 1 and substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawing and substantially as illustrated therein.
5. A system as claimed in any of the above claims and wherein means are provided for mixing received reflections with the frequency modulated continuous wave from said transmitter to produce a difference signal which is applied as input to said frequency selective receiver.
6. A system as claimed in any of the above claims and wherein said frequency modulated continuous wave radar transmitter is one operative at J-band.
7. A system as claimed in any of the above claims and wherein in addition to said output terminal or output terminals being connected to initiate braking upon the detection of a target as aforesaid, said output terminal or output terminals are also connected at the same time to operate an aural or visual alarm.
8. A system as claimed in any of the above claims and wherein a common antenna is provided for transmission and reception.
9. A system as claimed in any of the above claims 1 to 7 and wherein separate antennae are provided for transmission and reception.
10. A system as claimed in claim 8 or 9 and wherein said or each antenna is provided as an integral part of a box, which box also acts as a housing for microwave and processing components of said system and the interconnecting circuitry therefor.
11. A system as claimed in claim 10 as dependent upon claim 9 and wherein each antenna is integral with a common box.
12. A system as claimed in claim 10 or 11 and wherein the or each antenna and the box of which it forms an integral part, are cast aluminium.
13. A system as claimed in any of claims 10 to 12 and wherein the or each antenna and the box of which it forms an integral part are of aluminium.
14. A system as claimed in any of claims 10 to 13 and wherein microwave components of said system are mounted on the inner end of said antenna and said interconnecting circuitry is provided upon a printed circuit board.
15. A system as claimed in any of the above claims and wherein said direction of travel is to the rear of said vehicle.
16. Avehicle-borne presence detection system substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
17. Avehicle-borne braking control system incorporating a detection system as claimed in any of the above claims.
New claims or amendments to claims filed on 18 Jun 1984.
Superseded claims All.
New or amended claims:
1. Apparatus for detecting the continuity for discontinuity of groun over which a vehicle is travelling comprising a transmitter for transmitting a signal in the direction of travel, a receiver for receiving signals derived from reflections of the transmitted signal from the ground, and a threshold detector connected to receive an output of the receiver and to produce an output indicative of the continuity or discontinuity of the ground.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the transmitter is designed to transmit a frequency modulated continuous wave signal and the receiver includes means for mixing the transmitted and received signals and a filter for passing to the threshold detector an output from the mixer within a particular frequency window and therefore indicative of a signal received from the ground at a particular range of distance from the vehicle.
3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 in which the output of the threshold detector is connected to control means for braking the vehicle when a discontinuity is detected.
4. Apparatus according to claim 1,2 or 3 including means for generating an audible or visual alarm in response to an output of the threshold detector indicative of a discontinuity.
GB08307656A 1983-03-18 1983-03-18 Radar vehicle braking control Expired GB2139035B (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB08307656A GB2139035B (en) 1983-03-18 1983-03-18 Radar vehicle braking control

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB08307656A GB2139035B (en) 1983-03-18 1983-03-18 Radar vehicle braking control

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB8307656D0 GB8307656D0 (en) 1983-04-27
GB2139035A true GB2139035A (en) 1984-10-31
GB2139035B GB2139035B (en) 1987-06-03

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Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7492306B2 (en) * 2006-03-24 2009-02-17 Tdk Corporation Boundary crossing object detection system

Citations (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB887622A (en) * 1959-05-12 1962-01-24 Nat Res Dev A frequency-modulation echo-sounder
GB892986A (en) * 1959-03-30 1962-04-04 Bendix Corp Selective range detecting system
GB1308102A (en) * 1970-06-02 1973-02-21 Bendix Corp Range-detecting doppler radar
GB1404634A (en) * 1971-11-26 1975-09-03 Messerschmitt Boelkow Blohm Apparatus for measuring and indicating distance between a motor vehicle carrying the apparatus and an obstacle
GB1420917A (en) * 1971-12-18 1976-01-14 Lucas Industries Ltd Headway control systems for road vehicles
GB1495387A (en) * 1973-12-22 1977-12-14 Lucas Ltd Joseph Road vehicle radar system
GB1509138A (en) * 1975-04-04 1978-04-26 Int Standard Electric Corp Anti-collision radar
GB2040639A (en) * 1979-01-11 1980-08-28 Int Standard Electric Corp Collision avoidance radar
GB2047405A (en) * 1979-03-29 1980-11-26 Craven G C Proximity warning devices for vehicles
GB2055745A (en) * 1979-08-15 1981-03-11 Illinois Tool Works Vessels with pouring spouts

Patent Citations (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB892986A (en) * 1959-03-30 1962-04-04 Bendix Corp Selective range detecting system
GB887622A (en) * 1959-05-12 1962-01-24 Nat Res Dev A frequency-modulation echo-sounder
GB1308102A (en) * 1970-06-02 1973-02-21 Bendix Corp Range-detecting doppler radar
GB1404634A (en) * 1971-11-26 1975-09-03 Messerschmitt Boelkow Blohm Apparatus for measuring and indicating distance between a motor vehicle carrying the apparatus and an obstacle
GB1420917A (en) * 1971-12-18 1976-01-14 Lucas Industries Ltd Headway control systems for road vehicles
GB1495387A (en) * 1973-12-22 1977-12-14 Lucas Ltd Joseph Road vehicle radar system
GB1509138A (en) * 1975-04-04 1978-04-26 Int Standard Electric Corp Anti-collision radar
GB2040639A (en) * 1979-01-11 1980-08-28 Int Standard Electric Corp Collision avoidance radar
GB2047405A (en) * 1979-03-29 1980-11-26 Craven G C Proximity warning devices for vehicles
GB2055745A (en) * 1979-08-15 1981-03-11 Illinois Tool Works Vessels with pouring spouts

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7492306B2 (en) * 2006-03-24 2009-02-17 Tdk Corporation Boundary crossing object detection system

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB8307656D0 (en) 1983-04-27
GB2139035B (en) 1987-06-03

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Date Code Title Description
732 Registration of transactions, instruments or events in the register (sect. 32/1977)
PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee