JP2008249630A - Error regulation member for radar system, radar system, error regulator for radar system, error regulation method for radar system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To precisely regulate an error of a radar system by constitution of the present invention, as a shift amount of a beam axis in the radar system is difficult to be finely regulated, because a space between a cut-out number of a disk-like regulation member and the next number is segmented, for example, in every of 0.3°, although a correcting direction and angle correspond to the cut-out number in Application number 2004-12183 official gazette. <P>SOLUTION: The error regulation member for the radar system has a first correction member having the first protrusion contacting with a level, and faced to a casing of the radar system, and a second correction member having the second protrusion contacting with the level, and of changing a distance between the first protrusion and the second protrusion, by its relative moving with respect to the first correction member. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an error adjustment member of a radar apparatus for adjusting an error of the radar apparatus, a radar apparatus, and an error adjustment method of the radar apparatus.

  Radar devices have been developed for driving safety of automobiles. The radar device is a device that emits a radio wave such as a millimeter wave or a laser beam, and detects a moving object such as another vehicle or a stationary object such as a delineator on a road. In order to detect these moving objects and stationary objects with high accuracy, it is required to accurately align the beam emission direction (beam axis) of the radar apparatus with the vehicle. However, as shown in FIG. 7, the radar apparatus generates or transmits a housing 13 on which each component is mounted, a substrate 71 on which an IC for performing signal processing and the like is provided, a scanner 72 that scans an antenna, and a modulated wave of radio waves. Since the high-frequency unit 73, the planar antenna 74 that efficiently transmits or receives radio waves to the space, and the radome 75 that transmits or receives radio waves that are transmitted or received, and a large number of parts, the radar apparatus is separated from the radar apparatus due to assembly errors. In some cases, the angle of the emitted beam axis is deviated. Further, not only such an assembly error but also a design error at the stage of designing each part, a dimensional error after manufacturing, and the like can cause the angle of the beam axis to shift.

  When the axis of the radar device is deviated, for example, when the axis of the beam emitted from the radar device is deviated upward, another vehicle traveling in the same traveling direction as the own vehicle in front of the own vehicle Not only can be detected, but also a guide sign installed on the upper side of the roadway that does not need to be detected is detected. In addition, if the beam axis is shifted downward, other vehicles traveling in the same traveling direction as the subject vehicle cannot be detected in front of the subject vehicle, and the beam is reflected on the road surface to be originally detected. There is an inconvenience that a target that does not exist is detected.

In this way, if a radar apparatus with the beam axis shifted is attached to the vehicle, there is a possibility that the target that should be detected cannot be detected. On the other hand, as a conventional technique, as shown in Patent Document 1, a technique is disclosed in which a disk-shaped adjustment member having a first bottom surface and a second bottom surface is provided on the top surface of a housing. The adjustment member has a first bottom surface inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the second bottom surface, and a plurality of notches are provided on the outer peripheral portion of the first bottom surface. The plurality of notches are numbered. Since this number corresponds to the angle and direction to be corrected, if the angle and direction to be corrected of the beam axis of the radar apparatus are known, the number of the notch is engaged with the locking portion on the upper surface of the housing, The amount of deviation of the beam axis of the radar apparatus corresponding to this number can be indicated by the inclination of the first bottom surface.
JP 2004-12183 A

  However, in Patent Document 1, the direction and angle to be corrected correspond to the notch number of the disk-shaped adjustment member, and this number and the next number are divided every 0.3 degrees, for example. For this reason, it is difficult to adjust the slight difference in the deviation amount of the beam axis of the radar apparatus.

  It is an object of the present invention to accurately adjust an error of a radar apparatus with the configuration.

  The present invention has a first protrusion that contacts the level, has a first correction member that faces the housing of the radar device, and a second protrusion that contacts the level, and the first It is an error adjustment member of a radar apparatus having a second correction member that changes the distance between the first protrusion and the second protrusion by moving relative to the correction member.

  In addition, the present invention includes an emission unit that emits a beam, a housing that includes the beam emission unit, a first protrusion that contacts the level, and a first correction member that faces the housing of the radar device. And a second protrusion that contacts the level and moves relative to the first correction member to change a distance between the first protrusion and the second protrusion. And a second correction member.

  According to the present invention, the change in the distance between the first protrusion and the second protrusion due to the relative movement is the same as the height of the first protrusion and the second protrusion. 2. The error adjusting member for a radar apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one of the two is higher than the other.

  According to the present invention, the change in the distance between the first protrusion and the second protrusion due to the relative movement is the same as the height of the first protrusion and the second protrusion. 3. The radar apparatus according to claim 2, wherein one side is higher than the other side.

  Further, the present invention provides means for reading an error stored in advance in the radar device, adjustment means for moving the second correction member relative to the first correction member facing the housing of the radar device, An error adjusting device for a radar apparatus, comprising: means for maintaining a state in which a distance between the first protrusion and the second protrusion that are in contact with the level is changed by the relative movement.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a first step in which a level for measuring an error of the radar apparatus is in contact with the first protrusion and the second protrusion, and a position where the level indicates an error of the radar apparatus. A second step of changing a distance between the first protrusion and the second protrusion by moving the second correction member relative to the first correction member; A radar apparatus error adjustment method comprising: a third step of maintaining a change in distance between the first protrusion and the second protrusion.

  According to the configuration of the present invention, the error of the radar apparatus can be adjusted with high accuracy.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows an upper surface of a radar apparatus provided with an error adjustment member (hereinafter referred to as an adjustment member) of the radar apparatus. An adjustment for representing the amount of deviation of the beam axis is provided on the upper portion of the housing 13 having a data processing system in which the beam emitted from the beam emitting unit 12 mounted on the in-vehicle radar device 11 is reflected by the target. A member 14 is installed. The adjustment member 14 includes a first correction member 15 having a first protrusion 15a, and a second correction member 16 mounted on the first correction member 15 and having a second protrusion 16a. Yes. In addition, the second correction member 16 has a slide mechanism 17 that can be adjusted steplessly by sliding in the direction of the arrow shown in the drawing on the first correction member 15. Then, the screw hole 18 provided on the second correction member 16 can be used to fix it in a predetermined position. In the following embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the case where the first protrusion 15 a is higher than the second protrusion 16 a when the adjustment member is installed on the housing 13 is described. However, the object of the present invention is also achieved when the first protrusion 15a is lower than the second protrusion 16a.

  FIG. 2A is a side view of the radar apparatus and shows that the adjustment member is adjusted according to the amount of deviation of the beam axis in the downward direction. FIG. 2B shows the mounting of the radar apparatus, which has been adjusted by the adjustment member, to the vehicle body. FIG. 8 more specifically shows the mounting of the radar apparatus of FIG. FIG. 2C is a side view of the radar apparatus, and shows that the adjustment member is adjusted in accordance with the amount of deviation of the upward beam axis. In FIG. 2A, the beam axis of the radar apparatus 11 is shifted downward by an angle θ1. In order to represent the amount of deviation of the beam axis, an adjustment member 14 is installed on the casing 13 of the radar apparatus 11, and a first level 21 is provided on the adjustment member 14. The first level 21 indicates that the angle is horizontal when installed on a horizontal plane, and indicates the angle of inclination when installed on an inclined surface, and is connected to the radar device 11 by a signal line. The detection result of the deviation amount of the beam axis is read from the storage unit 24 provided in the radar apparatus 11. Then, the first protrusion 15 a of the first correction member 15 of the adjustment member 14 and the second protrusion 16 a of the second correction member 16 are used as the installation surface of the first level 21, and the first It is possible to slide the second correction member 16 steplessly by the slide mechanism of the correction member 15.

  With this slide mechanism, the angle θ2 indicated by the reference plane C on which the first level 21 is installed on the first protrusion 15a and the second protrusion 16a becomes the same angle θ1 as the beam axis deviation amount. The second correction member 16 can be adjusted. In this way, the first level 21 is installed on the first protrusion 15a of the first correction member 15 and the second protrusion 16a of the second correction member 16, and the amount of deviation of the beam axis is set. After detecting the same angle θ2 as the angle θ1, the second correction member 16 is fixed on the first correction member 15 using a screw or the like.

  As described above, in the adjustment of the beam axis using the error adjusting member of the radar apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to move the correcting member while mounting the level on the adjusting member with the protruding portion of the correcting member as the installation surface. Since it can be fixed at an appropriate position, it is possible to represent the angle to be corrected with high accuracy.

  In FIG. 2B, the second level 22 is installed in the radar apparatus 11 in which the adjustment member 14 has been adjusted. The second level 22 has a function of reading the beam axis deviation stored in the radar device 11 with the first level 21 described in FIG. It is only necessary that the horizontal state can be detected without the need for. The radar apparatus 11 is mounted on the vehicle body 23 with the adjustment member 14 installed on the casing 13 and the second level 22 further installed on the adjustment member 14. The radar device in a state where the reference plane C is horizontal when attached to the vehicle body 23, that is, in a state where the second level 22 having the first protrusion 15a and the second protrusion 16a as the installation surface is horizontal. 11 is attached to the vehicle body 23. As shown in FIG. 8, the mounting to the vehicle body is performed in order to adjust the angle of the beam axis of the radar device provided in the bracket 81 and the bracket 81 for mounting the radar device to the vehicle body provided in the radar device 11. Aiming bolt 82 is used. In order to adjust the aiming bolt 82, a driver is inserted from the direction of the arrow to align the vertical or horizontal axis of the beam axis.

  FIG. 2C shows a state in which the beam axis of the radar apparatus 11 is shifted by an angle θ1 in the upward direction. In such a case, the adjustment member 14 provided on the housing 13 of the radar apparatus 11 is installed in the direction opposite to that shown in FIG. 2A, and the first protrusion 15a of the first correction member 15 is further provided. The second correction member 16 is adjusted after the first level 21 is installed using the second protrusion 16a of the second correction member 16 as an installation surface. That is, in FIG. 2A, the first protrusion 15a of the first correction member 15 is located near the rear end of the housing 13 when the beam emitting portion 12 of the radar apparatus 11 is in front. In this case, the installation is changed near the front end of the housing 13, and the second protrusion 16 a of the second correction member 16 is changed from the position near the front end of the housing 13 to the position near the rear end.

  Then, the second angle is set so that the angle θ2 indicated by the reference plane D on which the first level 21 is placed on the first protrusion 15a and the second protrusion 16a is the same angle θ1 as the beam axis deviation amount. The correction member 16 can be adjusted. After this adjustment, the second correction member 16 is screwed when the first level 21 indicates θ2 of the same angle as the beam axis deviation θ1.

  As described above, in the adjustment of the beam axis using the error adjusting member of the radar apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to move the correcting member while mounting the level on the adjusting member with the protruding portion of the correcting member as the installation surface. Since it can be fixed at an appropriate position, it is possible to represent the angle to be corrected with high accuracy.

  FIG. 3 shows an upper surface of the radar apparatus provided with an adjustment member that represents the amount of deviation of the beam axis of the radar apparatus. FIG. 3 shows a slide mechanism 17 that can be adjusted steplessly of the first correction member 15 described in FIG. 1 to a click mechanism 34 that can be adjusted stepwise. Corresponding to the change to the click mechanism 34, the second correction member 33 has a double structure, and the upper structure of the second correction member 33 is configured to be clickable. Then, when the second correction member moves, it is screwed using the screw hole 36 so that the upper structure and the lower structure of the second correction member having a double structure move in the same direction. To do. It is possible to adjust the approximate value of the angle to be corrected by the movement of the second correction member.

  Next, the screw of the screw hole 36 is removed, and the click mechanism 34 is screwed so as not to move. As a result, the upper structure of the second correction member having a double structure does not move, and only the lower structure can move. This lower structure can be moved by the slide mechanism 35 of the first correction member. As a result, it is possible to perform a more accurate adjustment from the approximate value of the angle to be corrected to the angle to be corrected. After this correction is completed, the second correction member 33 is fixed on the first correction member 32 by screwing the screw hole 36 provided in the second correction member 33.

  Next, the configuration and operation of the adjusting member in FIG. 3 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b). FIG. 4A is a side view of the radar apparatus described in FIG. 3 and shows that the adjustment member 31 is adjusted in accordance with the amount of deviation of the upward beam axis. FIG. 4B is also a side view of the radar apparatus, and shows that the adjustment member 31 is adjusted in accordance with the amount of deviation of the upward beam axis. Here, the amount of deviation of the beam axis indicates that the angle φ3 in FIG. 4B is larger than the angle φ1 in FIG. 4A, and the second deviation in FIGS. 4A and 4B. Correspondingly, the position of the correction member 33 is reversed. 2C is different from the configuration of FIG. 2C in that the second correction member has a double structure as the first correction member 32 is provided with the click mechanism 34 and the slide mechanism 35. The other configuration is the same as the configuration of FIG.

  As a result, the first correction member 32 is provided with the first correction member 32 by using the click mechanism 34 that can be moved stepwise, so that the first structure by the movement of the upper structure and the lower structure of the second correction member 33 having a double structure. After this adjustment, the second adjustment by moving the lower structure of the second correction member can be performed using the slide mechanism 35 of the first correction member 32. And by changing the position of the 2nd projection part 33a, according to the deviation | shift amount of a different beam axis, it can adjust accurately. Further, in the adjustment of the beam axis using the error adjustment member of the radar apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to move the correction member while mounting the level on the adjustment member with the protruding portion of the correction member as the installation surface. Since the position can be fixed at any position, the angle to be corrected can be expressed with high accuracy.

  FIG. 5 shows a configuration in which the second protrusion provided on the second correction member is switched steplessly by the slide mechanism, so that the inclined surface formed by the second protrusion 33a and the first protrusion 51a is formed. This is a configuration capable of showing a predetermined angle including horizontal. Specifically, when the beam axis is shifted upward by an angle θ3 as compared with the case where the beam axis is horizontal, the inclined surface formed by the first protrusion 51a and the second protrusion 33a is the reference plane E1. The second correction member 33 and the second protrusion 33a are adjusted so that the horizontal axis becomes the reference plane E2 when there is no deviation of the beam axis. The protrusion 33a is adjusted. In addition, when the beam axis is shifted downward by an angle θ4 as compared with the case where the beam axis is horizontal, the inclined surface formed by the first protrusion 51a and the second protrusion 33a becomes the reference plane E3. In this way, the second correction member 33 and the second protrusion 33a are adjusted.

  As described above, when the second correction member 33 or the second protrusion 33a is moved on the first correction member 51, the level is set with the first protrusion 51a and the second protrusion 33a as the installation surfaces. When mounted, it is possible to accurately represent the upward shift amount and the downward shift amount of the beam axis. Further, it is possible to represent a horizontal state in which there is no beam axis misalignment. In the adjustment of the beam axis using the error adjustment member of the radar apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to move the correction member while mounting the level on the adjustment member with the projection of the correction member as the installation surface, and the proper position. Therefore, the angle to be corrected can be expressed with high accuracy.

  FIG. 6 shows an adjusting device for an error adjusting member of the radar device. FIG. 6A shows the second correction member 16 installed on the first correction member 15 by the adjuster 54 driving the adjustment unit 56a in response to a drive command from the computer device 53 shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a part of the configuration of FIG. 6 showing that it can be moved to an arbitrary position. The radar apparatus 11 of FIG. 6 is provided on a horizontal pedestal 51, and the casing 13 of the radar apparatus 11 is in contact with a back plate 52 provided perpendicular to the horizontal pedestal 51. The radar apparatus 11 is connected to the computer apparatus 53, and the radar apparatus 11 transmits to the computer apparatus 53 the beam axis deviation amount stored in advance in the internal storage unit 24.

  The computer device 53 receives the information on the amount of deviation of the beam axis, and sends the adjustment device 54 connected to the computer device 53 to adjust the second correction member 16 installed on the first correction member 15. Then, a signal to adjust the second correction member 16 installed on the first correction member 15 is transmitted. Receiving this signal, the adjuster 54 drives the motor 55 provided therein, and expands and contracts the movable adjusting portion 56 a by the driving force of the motor 55. The second correction member 16 can be moved to an arbitrary position on the first correction member 15 by the expansion and contraction of the adjustment unit 56a.

  Here, a spring 57 is provided between the second correction member 16 and the first projecting portion 15a, and the first projecting portion 15a and the second projecting portion 16a are placed on the installation surface by expansion and contraction of the adjusting portion 56a. As described above, the second correction member 16 can be moved to an arbitrary position while the level 21 is mounted. When the amount of deviation of the beam axis coincides with the angle indicated by the level, the computer device 53 connects the second correction member 16 to the fixing device 58 that is connected to the computer device 53 and screws the correction member. Send a signal to screw. As a result, the second correction member 16 can be fixed at a position where the first protrusion 15a and the second protrusion 16a indicate the amount of deviation of the beam axis as the reference plane. By using the adjustment device for the error adjustment member of the radar device in this way, it is possible to automatically and accurately adjust the adjustment member in accordance with the amount of beam axis deviation.

  An example in which the adjustment unit 56a has a different configuration is shown in FIGS. 6B, 6C, and 6D. Other system configurations are the same as those shown in FIG. FIG. 6B shows the second correction member 16 provided with a pin hole 64. After inserting the pin portion 63 provided in the adjustment portion 56b into the pin hole 64, the second correction member 16 can be moved to an arbitrary position by expanding and contracting the adjustment portion 56b.

  FIG. 6C shows a screw type adjustment unit 56c. By rotating the adjustment unit 56c, the second correction member 16 can be moved to an arbitrary position. Further, FIG. 6D shows the adjustment portion 56d as a gear type. By rotating the adjustment unit 56d, the second correction member 16 can be moved to an arbitrary position.

  As described above, the mechanism of the adjusting portion 56a in FIG. 6 can be changed within a range in which the effect of the present invention is produced. Further, the invention of the present application is not limited to the configuration described in FIG. 6 (a) to FIG. 6 (d), and any configuration that produces the same effect is included in the technical scope of the present invention.

  In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the adjustment member is provided on the casing of the radar apparatus is shown. However, this is an example, and the adjustment member may be provided at a position other than on the casing of the radar apparatus. Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, it has been described that the second correction member or the second protrusion moves with respect to the first correction member by a slide mechanism or the like. The correction member or the first protrusion may be moved by a slide mechanism or the like.

  Moreover, although the structure which provided the slide mechanism and the click mechanism was described for the movement of a correction | amendment member, it is not restricted to this, It is good also as another structure in the range which produces the effect of this invention. Furthermore, although the fixing of the correction member has been shown as being screwed, it is not limited to screwing, and any configuration that can maintain the distance between the adjusted first protrusion and the second protrusion may be used. .

FIG. 1 is a top view of a radar apparatus provided with an adjusting member that represents the amount of beam axis deviation of the radar apparatus. FIG. 2A is a side view of the radar apparatus, and shows that the adjustment member is adjusted in accordance with the amount of deviation of the downward beam axis. FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrating a state in which the radar device that has been adjusted by the adjustment member is attached to the vehicle body. FIG. 2C is a side view of the radar apparatus, and shows that the adjustment member is adjusted in accordance with the amount of deviation of the upward beam axis. FIG. 3 is a top view showing that the adjustment member is provided on the casing of the radar apparatus. FIG. 4A is a side view of the radar apparatus described in FIG. 3, and shows that the adjustment member is adjusted in accordance with the amount of deviation of the upward beam axis. FIG. 4B is also a side view of the radar apparatus, and shows that the adjustment member is adjusted in accordance with the amount of deviation of the upward beam axis. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration in which a second protrusion provided on the second correction member is switched steplessly by a slide mechanism. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an adjustment device for an error adjustment member of the radar device. FIGS. 6A to 6D are diagrams in which a part of the configuration of the adjustment device is changed. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing each component constituting the radar apparatus. FIG. 8 is a diagram specifically showing attachment of the radar apparatus of FIG. 2B to the vehicle body.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Radar apparatus 12 ... Beam emission part 13 ... Case 14 ... Adjustment member 15 ... 1st correction member 15a ... 1st projection part 16 ... 2nd Adjustment member 16a ... second protrusion 17 ... slide mechanism 18 ... screw hole 21 ... first level 22 ... second level 23 ... car body 24 ... Storage unit 31... Adjustment member 32... First correction member 32 a... First projection 33. Second correction member 33 a. 35 ... Slide mechanism 36 ... Screw hole 51 ... First correction member 51a ... First protrusion 52 ... Back plate 53 ... Computer device 54 ... Adjuster 55- ..Motor 56... Adjustment unit 57... Spring 58... Fixing device 71. · High frequency unit 74 ... planar antenna 75 ... radome 81 ... Bracket 82 ... aiming bolt

Claims (6)

A first correction member having a first protrusion in contact with the level and facing the housing of the radar device;
A second protrusion that contacts the level and moves relative to the first correction member, whereby the distance between the first protrusion and the second protrusion changes. An error adjustment member of a radar apparatus having a second correction member. An exit for emitting the beam;
A housing including the beam emitting unit;
A first correction member having a first protrusion in contact with the level and facing the housing of the radar device;
A second protrusion that contacts the level and moves relative to the first correction member, whereby the distance between the first protrusion and the second protrusion changes. A radar apparatus having a second correction member.   The change in the distance between the first protrusion and the second protrusion due to the relative movement is that the height of the first protrusion and the second protrusion is the same or one is compared to the other. The error adjusting member of the radar apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the error adjusting member is high.   The change in the distance between the first protrusion and the second protrusion due to the relative movement is that the height of the first protrusion and the second protrusion is the same or one is compared to the other. The radar apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the radar apparatus becomes higher. Means for reading out errors stored in advance in the radar device;
Adjusting means for moving the second correction member relative to the first correction member facing the housing of the radar device;
An error adjusting device for a radar apparatus, comprising: means for maintaining a state in which a distance between the first protrusion and the second protrusion contacting the level is changed by the relative movement. A first step in which a level for measuring an error of the radar device is brought into contact with the first protrusion and the second protrusion;
By moving the second correction member relative to the first correction member at a position where the level indicates an error of the radar device, the first protrusion and the second protrusion A second step in which the distance between and changes,
An error adjustment method for a radar apparatus, comprising: a third step of maintaining a change in the distance between the first protrusion and the second protrusion.

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