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Method for operation of a radar sensor

Method for operation of a radar sensor description/claims

The invention relates to a method for operation of a radar sensor in the near area for production of a detectable coverage field for the identification of people and/or stationary objects by means of an antenna.

In the case of conventional radar sensors, which generally also have associated stationary sensors as well as infrared transmitters and sensors, the coverage field is too complex to determine and to adjust. When it is intended to change the coverage field, then the position of the radar sensor, for example in the wall, must be inclined or changed manually.

This change in the position of the radar sensor about its position, for example with respect to a wall or with respect to a specific object, is highly complex and inaccurate.

In particular for the determination of stationary obstructions by means of a distance and phase measurement, a coverage field cannot always be set very accurately, and this is undesirable.

Corresponding radar sensors are used, for example, on automatic doors and gates, which are used to open and close the doors and gate and at the same time prevent people being jammed in them or injured. The sensors can be constructed on the basis of passive infrared, active infrared, ultrasound and radar. Motion sensors and presence sensors are frequently also combined in one appliance. For example, a radar motion sensor is frequently used in conjunction with an active infrared presence sensor.

This has the disadvantage that the coverage field must be aligned and adjusted on the doors manually during installation. This means that the specialist has to climb up to the sensor, for example by means of a ladder, and must reset the inclination angle of the sensor, in order to influence the coverage field, by using a trial and error process to change the inclination, for example by means of a complex adjustment mechanism.

In this case, the sensor and evaluation electronics are frequently separated from one another in the housing, thus necessitating an additional separate holder and further connectors, etc.

A further disadvantage is that conventional radar sensors require a large installation volume and an undesirable installation depth, and simple manual setting, or adjustment is impossible. In addition, infrared sensors may be provided, which can disadvantageously be influenced by stray light so that the sensors do not operate uniformly and continuously, particularly in the presence of sunlight. A further disadvantage is that conventional radar sensors with integrated infrared presence sensors cannot be used everywhere owing to the character of the ground or floor, and different ground or floor reflection levels. The reflection behavior in the case of conventional infrared presence sensors must be entered in the sensor and must be trimmed, and this is undesirable. The conventional system must itself be adjusted and regulated out over each type of ground or floor. Certain types of ground or floor do not provide adequate reflection, so that it is not possible to use conventional sensors or radar sensors. Air movements can undesirably influence the process, particularly in the case of ultrasound sensors.

Conventional passive infrared systems have the disadvantage that they respond only to heat differences, so that safety-relevant use is not ensured.

The present invention is based on the object of providing a method and a radar sensor for carrying out the method, which overcome the stated disadvantages and by means of which a coverage field can be set and changed easily in a simple and cost-effective manner. A further aim is that it should be continuously possible to check the serviceability of the radar sensor during operation. A further aim is to considerably reduce the manufacturing costs, installation costs and adjustment costs.

This object is achieved by the features of patent claim 1 and by the features of the other independent patent claims.

In the case of the present invention, it has been found to be particularly advantageous for a radar sensor to have a plurality of slot antennas, which are provided on a base surface, in order to change the coverage field electronically.

In this case, the dynamic radar sensor may additionally have an associated presence sensor, which is likewise provided with an electronically adjustable coverage field. In this case, the coverage field can be influenced by the number of corresponding slot antennas and by the arrangement of the corresponding slot antennas with respect to one another on the base surface. In this case, the coverage field can be adjusted for a specific type, for example by means of a remote control, which stores the values for one specific type and transmits them to the corresponding radar sensor. In this case, the slot antennas, the presence sensor and the evaluation electronics, possibly as well as an auxiliary antenna, are used in a form integrated in a base body, with the electronics being provided, for example, on a rear face of the base body.

In this case, it is also feasible to cover and compensate for widely different door types and installation situations by any desired combinations of presence and motion sensor modules using the same module systems.

The present invention also has the advantage that the size as well as the position of the coverage field that is produced, as well as the emission angle α, can be influenced by means of the selectable distance A and/or the distance B between two slot antennas which are arranged one above the other and/or two slot antennas which are arranged alongside one another. This makes it possible, in particular, to accurately detect moving objects in the dynamic field that is produced, as the coverage field.

It is also important that the size as well as the location of the dynamic field can be determined and aligned exactly.

Furthermore, a presence sensor may be associated with the radar sensor, in particular the dynamic radar sensor. However, it is also intended to be within the scope of the present invention for the presence sensor to be used autonomously and independently of the radar sensor, in order to identify static objects in a presence field.

In addition, the presence sensor can be aligned with a desired width and length and, in particular, by the use of one transmitter and one receiver, in particular by determining the angles of the phase-shifted received signals, to locate and determine the position and the size of the object. This is likewise intended to be within the scope of the present invention.

The presence sensor is preferably a radar sensor, in particular an FMCW radar sensor, with an integrated independent auxiliary antenna for carrying out self-tests. An identifiable output signal is produced at the receiving antenna by influencing the useful field energy. This makes it possible to check the entire signal path including the antennas within the sensor system.

The present invention has the advantage that suitable and selectable coverage fields can be produced in particular by the formation of different arrangements of slot antennas and can still be changed electronically, for example by means of a remote control. The slot antennas essentially form the motion sensor or dynamic sensor, with the presence sensor being used only for distance and phase measurement in order to identify a stationary obstruction. In this case, the position or size of the coverage field can also be adjusted electronically by means of a remote control, in which case these self-tests can be carried out by means of an integrated, independent auxiliary antenna.

These two sensor types, that is to say the presence sensor as well as the radar sensor, can be accommodated either individually or else in a combined form in a common radar sensor or combination sensor, and can be mounted on door frames, walls, in front of corresponding doors, gates or the like, without any corresponding mechanical adjustment mechanisms. In this case, any desired combinations of presence and motion sensors and/or radar sensors are possible. These are likewise intended to be within the scope of the present invention.

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• Utility Patent

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