Apparatus for determining displacement of radar apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016266241-A1
Application number	US-201415031483-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 22, 2014
Priority date	Oct 23, 2013
Publication date	Sep 15, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A determination unit that determines a positional change of a radar apparatus mounted on a vehicle including a vehicle body is provided with a reference member, a displacement sensor and displacement determining means. The reference member is fixed to the vehicle body and disposed such that at least a part of the reference member is adjacent to the radar apparatus. The displacement sensor detects a displacement of the radar apparatus with respect to the reference member. The determining means determines whether or not a position of the radar apparatus has changed with respect to the vehicle body, based on the displacement detected by the displacement sensor.

First claim

1 . A determination unit that determines a positional change of a radar apparatus mounted on a vehicle including a vehicle body characterized in that the determination unit comprises:
a reference member fixed to the vehicle body and disposed such that at least a part of the reference member is adjacent to the radar apparatus; a displacement sensor that detects a displacement of the radar apparatus with respect to the reference member; and displacement determining means for determining whether or not a position of the radar apparatus has changed with respect to the vehicle body, based on the displacement detected by the displacement sensor.

2 . The determination unit according to claim 1 , characterized in that the radar apparatus is fixed to the vehicle body via a predetermined exterior part, and the reference member is fixed to the vehicle body other than at the exterior part.

3 . The determination unit according to claim 1 , characterized in that the reference member protrudes to the exterior part from the vehicle body.

4 . The determination unit according to claim 2 , characterized in that the exterior part is a bumper.

5 . The determination unit according to to claim 1 , characterized in that the displacement determining means is configured to determine that the position of the radar apparatus has changed with respect to the vehicle body, when the displacement detected by the displacement sensor is a predetermined threshold or more.

6 . A determination unit that determines a positional change of a radar apparatus mounted on a vehicle including a vehicle body characterized in that the determination unit comprising:
a connecting member that connects the vehicle body and the radar apparatus; a strain sensor that detects a strain of the connecting member itself; and strain determination means for determining whether or not a position of the radar apparatus is changed with respect to the vehicle body, based on the strain detected by the strain sensor.

7 . The determination unit according to claim 6 , characterized in that the connecting member extends to the radar apparatus from the vehicle body.

8 . The determination unit according to claim 6 , characterized in that the strain determination means is configured to determine that the position of the radar apparatus has changed with respect to the vehicle body, when the strain detected by the strain sensor is a predetermined threshold or more.

9 . The determination unit according to claim 1 , characterized in that the determination unit further comprises notification means for performing a process to notify a passenger of the vehicle, when it is determined that the position of the radar apparatus has changed with respect to the vehicle body.

10 . A determination method for determining a positional change of a radar apparatus mounted on a vehicle including a vehicle body characterized in that the determination method comprises steps of:
preparing a reference member and a displacement sensor that detects a displacement of the radar apparatus with respect to the reference member; arranging the reference member to be fixed to the vehicle body such that at least a part of the reference member is adjacent to the radar apparatus; detecting a displacement of the displacement sensor; and determining whether or not a position of the radar apparatus has changed with respect to the vehicle body.

Assignees

• Denso Corp

Inventors

• Yukumatsu Masanobu
• Goto Kenji
• Ando Takamasa

Classifications

• G01S7/4026 Primary

  Antenna boresight · CPC title

• G01S13/931

  of land vehicles · CPC title

• G01S2013/93275

  in the bumper area · CPC title

• G01S7/40

  Means for monitoring or calibrating · CPC title

• G01S2013/9324

  Alternative operation using ultrasonic waves · CPC title