JP2004069658A - Adjustment and inspection device of on-vehicle radar for aim and inspection method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an adjustment and inspection device of an on-vehicle radar for collimation and inspection method thereof that enable accurate adjustment and inspection in a space-saving and a short time by one worker. <P>SOLUTION: The device adjusts the collimation of the on-vehicle radar 34 and inspects it. The on-vehicle radar 34 includes the attachment part of a mirror 12 for the reflecting of laser light and an adjustment inspection board 14 at a position apart from a vehicle stoppage position 19 by a prescribed distance. The adjustment inspecting board 14 comprises a laser light-emitting part 24, a target 25 for the confirmation of the laser light with a specified area for reflecting the laser light reflected from a mirror 12 for the reflection of the laser light attached to the mirror attachment part for the reflection of the laser light, and a target 26 for a radar inspecting which reflects the radio waves emitted from the on-vehicle radar. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an aiming adjustment inspection apparatus and an aiming inspection method for an in-vehicle radar, and more particularly, to an aiming adjustment inspection of an in-vehicle radar that performs an aiming adjustment using a laser beam and a reflecting mirror and performs a performance inspection using a radio wave reflection target. The present invention relates to an apparatus and an aiming adjustment inspection method using the apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, a driving support system has been developed that aims to reduce the driving load on expressways, supplement comfort and reduce cognitive judgment due to driver fatigue, and contribute to safety as a technology to prevent collisions before they occur. Is coming. Driving assistance systems control the speed of the vehicle by detecting the preceding vehicle, control the direction of travel to maintain the distance between vehicles, and vehicles that detect the driving lane of the vehicle and maintain and support traveling along it. The control in the horizontal direction is performed comprehensively.
[0003]
The vehicle speed / inter-vehicle control system for controlling the traveling direction measures the inter-vehicle distance to the preceding vehicle with a millimeter wave radar, and detects the traveling state of the own vehicle. To narrow down. In addition, when the distance between the vehicle and the preceding vehicle decreases, the system mainly uses the deceleration by the throttle and the deceleration by the brake to maintain an appropriate inter-vehicle distance. Further, when approaching a dangerous inter-vehicle distance, the driver is alerted by an alarm device. In addition, this system functions as normal cruise control when the distance between the vehicle and the preceding vehicle increases.
[0004]
The lane keeping control system for controlling the lateral direction of the vehicle correctly recognizes the lane on the road by the image processing system. In addition, this system determines and evaluates whether or not the vehicle is a lane by processing the line width, length, continuity, etc. of the line segment detected from the image captured by the on-board camera. , As the traveling lane on the road. In addition, this system calculates the data obtained by the image processing system by the ECU, calculates the steering torque required to assist in maintaining the center of the lane, controls the electric power steering current, and assists in maintaining the lane. Do what you want to achieve. The system also issues a lane departure warning to warn the driver when there is a possibility of departure from the traveling lane.
[0005]
The accuracy of the orientation of the millimeter wave radar used in such a driving assistance system plays an important role in this system. For example, if the direction of the millimeter-wave radar attached to the vehicle deviates from just ahead, even if all vehicles are present, it will not be detected by the radar and will collide with the preceding vehicle, Different vehicles are recognized as all vehicles, and there is a high possibility that serious accidents may occur, such as unintended deceleration.
[0006]
Conventional on-board radar orientation adjustment, that is, aiming adjustment and inspection of the on-board radar, uses a millimeter-wave radar electric field strength measurement device in front of the vehicle in order to make the transmission beam correctly point to the axle of the car. The direction of the antenna axis is adjusted so that the measured radiation intensity of the electromagnetic wave of the antenna is maximized.
[0007]
In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-174540, as this adjustment method, an adjustment receiving antenna is arranged at a predetermined reference position at an interval in front of a vehicle, and a signal related to the output of the adjustment receiving antenna is displayed. The display means is arranged near the adjustment means, and the adjustment means is adjusted while observing the output of the display means. Further, an attenuating member that attenuates and transmits the beam intensity is interposed between the radar means and the adjustment receiving antenna.
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in such an aiming adjustment method and an inspection method of the vehicle-mounted radar, when the attenuation member is not used, the adjustment reception antenna is arranged at a predetermined reference position at a predetermined distance from the vehicle in front of the vehicle. There is a problem that the measurement takes time and a large work space is required. In addition, a damping member is required to reduce the working space, the number of facilities is increased, and a plurality of workers are required to install the damping member, and furthermore, the adjustment takes time. There was a point.
[0009]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problem by providing an aiming adjustment inspection apparatus and an aiming adjustment inspection method for an in-vehicle radar, which can perform adjustment inspection in a small space, and can perform adjustment inspection accurately and in a short time by one worker. To provide.
[0010]
Means and action for solving the problem
The aiming adjustment inspection device and the aiming adjustment inspection method for a vehicle-mounted radar according to the present invention are configured as follows to achieve the above object.
[0011]
A first on-vehicle radar aiming adjustment inspection apparatus (corresponding to claim 1) is an apparatus for performing on-vehicle radar aiming adjustment and inspection. The on-vehicle radar has a laser light reflection mirror mounting portion, and the vehicle stops. A sighting adjustment inspection board is provided at a position separated by a predetermined distance from the position, and the sighting adjustment inspection board is a laser light irradiation unit and a laser reflected from the laser light reflection mirror attached to the laser light reflection mirror mounting unit. It is characterized by having a target for laser beam confirmation having a predetermined area for reflecting light and a target for radar inspection for reflecting radio waves emitted from a vehicle-mounted radar.
[0012]
According to the first on-vehicle radar aiming adjustment inspection device, the on-vehicle radar has a laser light reflection mirror mounting portion, has an aiming adjustment inspection board at a position separated from the vehicle stop position by a predetermined distance, and has an aiming adjustment. The inspection board includes a laser beam irradiation unit, a laser beam confirmation target having a predetermined area for reflecting the laser beam reflected from the laser beam reflection mirror attached to the laser beam reflection mirror attachment unit, and a vehicle-mounted radar. Since the radar inspection target that reflects the radiated radio waves is provided, the adjustment inspection can be performed in a small space, and the adjustment inspection can be performed accurately and in a short time by one worker.
[0013]
In the above-mentioned configuration, the aiming adjustment inspection device of the second vehicle-mounted radar preferably has an aiming adjustment inspection board in which an area other than the area where the radar inspection target is provided has an absorptivity to radio waves. It is characterized by being formed of a high material.
[0014]
According to the second on-vehicle radar aiming inspection system, the aiming inspection board is formed of a material having a high radio wave absorption rate except for the area where the radar inspection target is provided. Since the radar is reflected only from the target, the adjustment inspection of the on-vehicle radar can be accurately performed.
[0015]
A third aiming adjustment inspection device for a vehicle-mounted radar (corresponding to claim 3) is characterized in that, in the above configuration, preferably, the radar inspection target is formed of a material having a high reflectance to radio waves.
[0016]
According to the third on-vehicle radar aiming adjustment inspection apparatus, since the radar inspection target is formed of a material having a high reflectance to radio waves, strong reflection is made from the radar inspection target. Adjustment inspection can be performed.
[0017]
A fourth aiming adjustment inspection device for a vehicle-mounted radar (corresponding to claim 4) is characterized in that, in the above configuration, preferably, the material of the radar inspection target is aluminum or aluminum-containing paper.
[0018]
According to the fourth vehicle-mounted radar aiming adjustment inspection device, since the radar inspection target is made of aluminum or aluminum-containing paper, strong reflection is made from the radar inspection target. It can be performed.
[0019]
In a fifth aspect of the present invention, the target for radar inspection is preferably a triangular pyramid-shaped depression having a bottom surface facing the on-vehicle radar. It is characterized by
[0020]
According to the fifth on-vehicle radar aiming adjustment inspection device, the shape of the radar inspection target is a triangular pyramid-shaped depression with the bottom surface facing the in-vehicle radar side, and strong reflection is made from the radar inspection target. In-vehicle radar adjustment inspection can be performed.
[0021]
A first on-vehicle radar aiming adjustment inspection method (corresponding to claim 6) is an aiming adjustment inspection method using an on-vehicle radar aiming adjustment inspection apparatus, wherein laser light from a laser irradiation unit of an aiming adjustment inspection board is provided. Is reflected by a mirror for laser light reflection attached to the on-vehicle radar, an aiming adjustment step of adjusting the angle of the on-vehicle radar so that the reflected light is irradiated on the target for laser light confirmation, and radiating radio waves from the on-vehicle radar, It is characterized in that it comprises a radar inspection step of confirming that there is reflection of radio waves from a radar inspection target provided on the aiming adjustment inspection board.
[0022]
According to the first on-vehicle radar aiming adjustment inspection method, the laser light from the laser irradiation part of the aiming adjustment inspection board is reflected by the laser light reflecting mirror attached to the on-vehicle radar, and the reflected light is reflected by the laser light confirmation target. Aiming adjustment process that adjusts the angle of the on-board radar so that light is irradiated, and radiates radio waves from the on-board radar, confirming that there is reflection of radio waves from the radar inspection target provided on the sighting adjustment inspection board Since the radar inspection process is performed, the adjustment inspection can be performed in a small space, and the adjustment inspection can be performed accurately and in a short time by one worker.
[0023]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0024]
The configurations, shapes, sizes, and arrangements described in the embodiments are merely schematically shown to the extent that the present invention can be understood and implemented, and the numerical values and the compositions (materials) of each configuration are exemplary. It's just Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below, and can be modified in various forms without departing from the scope of the technical idea described in the claims.
[0025]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an entire configuration of an aim adjustment inspection apparatus for a vehicle-mounted radar according to the present embodiment. The on-vehicle radar aiming adjustment inspection device 10 includes a target facility 11 and a mirror jig 12 attached to a radar unit. The target equipment 11 includes an aiming adjustment inspection board 14 movably mounted on the target elevating equipment 13, a target controller 15 for moving the aiming adjustment inspection board up and down, a display device 16, an input device 17, and an audio output device 18. Be composed. Reference numeral 3 denotes a facing device.
[0026]
The target elevating equipment 13 includes two pillars 20 and 21 installed at a predetermined distance from a stop position 19 of the vehicle 1, and the aiming adjustment inspection board 14 can be moved up and down on the pillars 20 and 21. It can be attached to. For example, a rail is attached to the two pillars 20 and 21, and a motor 22 is attached to the upper part of the pillar 21, and a rope 23 is wound around the motor 22. The aiming adjustment inspection board 14 attached to the rope 23 is moved up and down along the rail by operating the motor 22 to attach the aiming adjustment inspection board 14 to the rope 23.
[0027]
The aim adjustment inspection board 14 is attached to the target elevating equipment 13 and is installed at a position separated from the vehicle stop position 19 by a predetermined distance. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing the aim adjustment inspection board 14. FIG. 2A is a front view, and FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view. The aiming adjustment inspection board 14 includes a laser beam irradiation unit 24 and a laser having a predetermined area for reflecting laser light reflected from a laser beam reflection mirror attached to a laser beam reflection mirror attachment unit of the vehicle 1 described later. A target 25 for light confirmation and a target 26 for radar inspection that reflects radio waves emitted from the on-vehicle radar are provided. In addition, a laser radar target 27 is also provided.
[0028]
The sighting adjustment inspection board 14 is formed of a material having a high absorptivity for radio waves in an area other than the area where the radar inspection target 26 is provided. For example, as shown in FIG. 2B, the aiming adjustment inspection board 14 has a structure in which a radio wave absorber 28 is sandwiched between plastic material plates 29 and 30 which are millimeter wave transmitting materials, and has a size of 1135 mm in height. And a width of 3000 mm are appropriate. Further, a laser beam irradiation unit 24, for example, a laser pointer is provided at a position at a height of 680 mm from the ground of the board. This height is different depending on the vehicle in order to match the height of the mirror 12 attached to the vehicle-mounted radar of the vehicle 1, and is adjusted by changing the height of the board for each vehicle.
[0029]
The laser beam confirmation target 25 is an area drawn on the aiming adjustment inspection board. In order to distinguish this area from other areas, the target is distinguished by changing the color or drawing a frame. It is. Its size is a square with a side length of 730 mm, and the laser light irradiation unit 24 is provided at the center. Due to the size of this area, when the distance from the board 14 to the axle center of the front wheel 2 of the vehicle 1 is 6 m, if the laser beam reflected by the mirror is made to fall within this area, the mirror will be 2 ° from the front of the vehicle. Is within the range of deviation. In the adjustment, the angle of the radar may be adjusted so that the laser light is contained in this area.
[0030]
The radar inspection target 26 is located at a height of 550 mm of the board, and is preferably made of aluminum or aluminum-containing paper, whereby the reflection of millimeter waves can be increased. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a preferred shape of the radar inspection target 26, in which the bottom surface is a triangular pyramid-shaped depression facing the vehicle-mounted radar side. The size is such that one side of the bottom has a length of 120 mm. Thereby, the reflection intensity of the millimeter wave can be increased. This is to confirm that millimeter waves are emitted from the radar.
[0031]
The laser radar inspection target 27 is a reflector for reflecting from a vehicle-mounted laser radar. The operation of the laser radar can be confirmed by irradiating the on-board laser radar toward this reflector and confirming that it is reflected.
[0032]
The sighting adjustment inspection board 14 is formed of a material having a high absorptivity for radio waves in an area other than the area where the radar inspection target 26 is provided.
[0033]
The target controller 15 moves the aiming adjustment inspection board 14 up and down so that the height can be adjusted for each vehicle type. For example, the height of the board 14 corresponding to each vehicle type is stored in the storage device, and the input device inputs the vehicle type, whereby the motor 22 is operated to the height corresponding thereto and the board 14 is moved up and down. . The position of the mirror and the height of the laser irradiating section 24 match.
[0034]
The display device 16 is for inputting the result of the inspection by the input device, instructing the input at that time, and displaying the input data.
[0035]
The input device 17 is for inputting a vehicle type to the target controller and inputting an inspection result.
[0036]
The audio output device 18 is for notifying the operator of the procedure of the adjustment inspection by voice.
[0037]
Next, a laser light reflecting mirror to be attached to the laser light reflecting mirror mounting portion of the vehicle 1 will be described. FIG. 4 shows the mirror jig 12. The mirror jig 12 includes a mirror part 31 and a mirror mounting part 32. The mounting portion 32 has a center of gravity, and the radar is provided with a mounting portion, which is a recess into which the mounting portion fits. The mounting portion is mounted on the mirror mounting portion of the radar, so that the weight of the mounting portion is reduced. Thereby, it is satisfactorily fixed to the mounting portion of the radar. A level 33 is provided above the mirror.
[0038]
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a state where a mirror is attached to the radar. FIG. 5A is a plan view, and FIG. 5B is a front view. The radar 34 is held at three points 36, 37, and 38 on the substrate 35, and by adjusting the three screw positions, the angles in the vertical and horizontal directions can be adjusted. A gear is connected to the three screws, and adjustment can be performed by rotating the gear with a screwdriver through driver insertion holes 40 and 41 in the upper part of the grill cover 39. When the gear is rotated by the driver, the screw rotates to adjust the length, and the radar moves in the vertical and horizontal directions with the three points 36, 37, and 38 as fulcrums, and the angle of the radar can be adjusted. The grill cover 39 has a hole 42 for receiving the hood when the hood is closed, and the mirror jig 12 is attached to the mirror attachment portion of the radar 34 by using the hole 42. This allows adjustment without removing the grille cover.
[0039]
Next, an adjustment method when the radar aiming adjustment inspection device is used will be described.
[0040]
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a procedure of the embodiment of the present invention. It comprises an aim adjustment step (step ST10) and a radar inspection (step ST30).
[0041]
First, the vehicle is placed on the facing device 3 and faced, and the vehicle is positioned 6 m from the board.
[0042]
The aim adjustment step (step ST10) includes a mirror jig mounting step (step ST11) and a radar angle adjustment step by laser beam reflection (step ST20). First, the operator inputs from the input device 17 that adjustment is to be performed (step ST12). As a result, the sound is output from the sound output device 18 as a sound instructing to attach the mirror jig (step ST13). In the mirror jig mounting step (step ST11), the mounting part of the mirror jig 12 is inserted through the hole 42 of the grill cover 39 and fixed to the mounting part of the radar (step ST14). The operator inputs that the mirror jig 12 has been attached to the input device 17 (step ST15). Next, in the radar angle adjustment step (step ST20), after step ST15 is performed, a sound is output from the sound output device 18 so as to input a vehicle type (step ST21). Thereby, the operator specifies the vehicle type from the input device 17 of the target controller 15 (step ST22). Thereby, the target controller 15 is operated, and the board is moved to a height suitable for the vehicle type by the motor 22 (step ST23). After the board is moved, a sound of a laser irradiation instruction is played (step ST24). The operator inputs a laser irradiation command from the input device 17 (step ST25). Thereby, the laser is irradiated from the laser irradiation unit (step ST26).
[0043]
The laser light is reflected by the mirror part 31 of the radar part mounting mirror jig 12 attached to the radar, and the laser light reaches the direction of the aiming adjustment inspection board 14. The driver rotates the gears and turns the screws from the two holes 40 and 41 to adjust the angle of the radar 34 so that the spot falls within the laser beam confirmation target 25 of the aiming adjustment inspection board 14 (step ST27). . When the adjustment is completed so that the laser light falls within the laser light confirmation target 25, the completion of the adjustment is input by the input device 17 (step ST28).
[0044]
Next, in the radar inspection step (step ST30), the operator gets on the vehicle 1 and activates the millimeter wave radar (step ST31). Then, by looking at the display panel provided in the driver's seat, if a millimeter wave is emitted, it is reflected from the radar inspection target, received, and the display panel indicates that the millimeter wave has been received. If there is no millimeter wave, it is not displayed on the display panel. At this time, inspection results such as display and non-display are input to the input device 17 (step ST32). These steps are performed for each vehicle.
[0045]
With the above-described aim adjustment inspection process, the adjustment inspection can be performed in a small space, and the adjustment inspection can be performed accurately and in a short time by one worker.
[0046]
【The invention's effect】
As apparent from the above description, the present invention has the following effects.
[0047]
The on-vehicle radar has a laser light reflecting mirror mounting portion, and has an aiming adjustment inspection board at a position separated from the vehicle stop position by a predetermined distance. The aiming adjustment inspection board has a laser light irradiation portion and a laser light reflection portion. A target for checking laser light having a predetermined area for reflecting laser light reflected from a mirror for reflecting laser light attached to a mirror mounting portion for use, and a target for radar inspection for reflecting radio waves emitted from a vehicle-mounted radar. The adjustment inspection can be performed in a small space, and the adjustment inspection can be performed accurately and in a short time by one worker.
[0048]
Since the aiming adjustment inspection board is made of a material that has a high absorption rate for radio waves except for the area where the radar inspection target is provided, the radar is reflected only from the radar inspection target. Adjustment inspection can be performed.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an overall configuration of an aiming adjustment inspection device for a vehicle-mounted radar according to an embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing an aim adjustment inspection board 14; FIG. 2A is a front view, and FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view.
FIG. 3 is a view showing a preferred shape of a radar inspection target 26;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a radar part mounting mirror jig.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state where a mirror jig is attached to the radar.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a procedure of the embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vehicle 10 Aiming adjustment inspection device of on-vehicle radar 11 Target equipment 12 Mirror jig mounted on radar unit 13 Target elevating equipment 14 Aiming adjustment inspection board 15 Target controller 16 Display device 17 Input device 18 Audio output device 19 Stop position 24 Laser beam irradiation unit 25 Target for laser beam confirmation 26 Target for radar inspection 34 Radar

Claims (6)

A device that performs aiming adjustment and inspection of in-vehicle radar,
The on-vehicle radar has a mirror mounting portion for reflecting laser light,
Aiming adjustment inspection board at a position separated by a predetermined distance from the vehicle stop position,
The aiming adjustment inspection board has a laser light irradiation unit, a laser light confirmation target having a predetermined area for reflecting laser light reflected from the laser light reflection mirror attached to the laser light reflection mirror attachment unit, and And a radar inspection target for reflecting a radio wave emitted from the on-vehicle radar. 2. The aiming adjustment inspection device for a vehicle-mounted radar according to claim 1, wherein the aiming adjustment inspection board is formed of a material having a high absorptivity for radio waves in an area other than an area where the radar inspection target is provided. . The aiming adjustment inspection apparatus for a vehicle-mounted radar according to claim 1, wherein the radar inspection target is formed of a material having a high reflectance to radio waves. The aiming adjustment inspection apparatus for a vehicle-mounted radar according to claim 3, wherein the material of the radar inspection target is aluminum or aluminum-containing paper. The aiming adjustment inspection apparatus for a vehicle-mounted radar according to claim 1, wherein the shape of the radar inspection target is a triangular pyramid-shaped recess whose bottom face faces the vehicle-mounted radar. Aiming adjustment inspection method for in-vehicle radar,
The laser beam from the laser irradiating section of the aiming adjustment inspection board is reflected by a laser beam reflecting mirror attached to the vehicle-mounted radar, and the angle of the vehicle-mounted radar is set so that the reflected beam is irradiated on the laser beam checking target. Aiming adjustment process to adjust the
A radar inspection step of irradiating a radio wave from the on-vehicle radar and confirming that there is a reflection of a radio wave from a radar inspection target provided on the aiming inspection board. Method.

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