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Automotive radar systemAutomotive radar system description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20090135050, Automotive radar system. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
I. Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to automotive radar systems and, more particularly, to such a system which identifies animate objects within a range of interest. II. Description of Material Art There are previously known automotive radar systems and such automotive radar systems are expected to become more prevalent in the future. These automotive radar systems typically comprise a high frequency radar transmitter which transmits a radar signal in a known direction. The transmitter may transmit the radar signal in either a continuous or pulse mode. These systems also include a receiver connected to the appropriate antenna system which receives echoes or reflections from the transmitted radar signal. Each such reflection or echo represents an object struck by the transmitted radar signal. To date, the use of automotive radar has been generally limited to collision avoidance systems. For example, in some radar systems, the system detects the distance between the vehicle immediately forward of the vehicle having radar. Whenever the distance between the two vehicles falls less than a predetermined amount, which may vary as a function of speed, the radar system either generates an alert to the driver or automatically slows the vehicle down to increase the spacing between the vehicle and the next forward vehicle. Still other automotive radar systems detect the distance of objects within the direction of travel of the automotive vehicle and take necessary steps to avoid collision with those objects. There are situations, however, where an object is outside the direction of travel of the vehicle but may move into the direction of travel of the vehicle and cause a collision. For example, animals, such as deer, as well as people may move suddenly into the path of travel of the vehicle and cause a collision. These previously known radar systems have been unable to discriminate between animate objects which may move into the path of travel of the vehicle and inanimate objects. The present invention provides an automotive radar system which overcomes the previously known disadvantages of the prior systems. In brief, the automotive radar system of the present invention comprises a high frequency radio transmitter which generates a radio signal in a known direction relative to the vehicle. The radio transmitter may generate the radar signal in either a pulse mode or continuous mode. The radar system further includes a radar receiver having two or more antennas that receive reflections or echoes of the radar signal resulting from impingement with an object. The position and distance for each such identified object is then provided as input data to a processor. The processor, by analyzing the received data for each object over a period of time, then discriminates between animate objects and inanimate objects. The identification of animate objects may be achieved in several different ways. First, all animate objects of interest, such as people and other mammals, continually exhibit certain movements. For example, such animate objects have a continuous heartbeat, respiration and the like, all of which results in amplitude modulation of the reflected signal back to the automotive vehicle. Consequently, identification of amplitude modulation in the reflected signal over a period of time is indicative that the object is animate. Similarly, the reflected radar signal may be compared to a matched set filter contained as data in the processor for the radar system. The filters may contain both animate as well as inanimate objects so that, once a match has been made, the identification of the object as an animate or inanimate object may be rapidly determined. Once the animate objects have been identified, the processor provides an alert signal to the operator of the vehicle. In one embodiment of the invention, the vehicle includes a video display screen and the alert signal comprises displaying video objects on the screen which correspond to the animate objects identified by the radar system. Other alert signals, such as an audible signal, may also be employed. A better understanding of the present invention will be had upon reference to the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which: Continue reading about Automotive radar system... Full patent description for Automotive radar system Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Automotive radar system patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Automotive radar system or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Running control system for vehicle Next Patent Application: Mobile millimeter wave imaging radar system Industry Class: Communications: directive radio wave systems and devices (e.g., radar, radio navigation) ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Automotive radar system patent info. 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