JPH0781490A - Radar device for automobile - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To adjust an antenna mounting angle of a radar device with high accuracy by providing a means for displaying the electric field strength of received reflected wave on a adjusting mode setting means provided in a receiving circuit and a mechanical means for adjusting controllably an antenna mounting angle. CONSTITUTION:An antenna shared means 1 provided with an antenna 1a, transmitting circuit 2, receiving circuit 3 and display 5 and provided. Changeover switches 3d, 3e of a receiving circuit 3 are set to the adjusting mode side by a mode converting switch 6 to transmit electromagnetic waves from the transmitting circuit 2 to a reflection plate 4 through the antenna shared means 1 and antenna 1a. The electromagnetic waves are reflected from the reflection plate and incident on the antenna 1a to be further transmitted from the antenna shared means 1 to the receiving circuit 3. The electromagnetic waves are demodulated in a receiving demodulation circuit 3a and outputted to a receiving level detecting circuit 3c through the change-over switch 3d to detect the field strength of the reflected wave and sent to the display 5 through the change-over switch 3e. Hence, the direction of the antenna 1a is adjusted to maximize the display numerical value of the electric field strength.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is mounted on an automobile, emits electromagnetic waves in the traveling direction of the automobile, receives reflected waves of the electromagnetic waves, and measures and displays the distance to an object in front of the automobile. Used in automotive radar systems. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is used for a radar device that measures an inter-vehicle distance to another vehicle traveling ahead and gives an alarm and other indications. The present invention is
The present invention relates to adjustment of an attachment angle of an antenna of an automotive radar device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An automotive radar device is a device mainly for measuring a distance between a vehicle and a preceding vehicle. Therefore, its antenna has a sharp directivity so as not to misidentify another object. And in order to operate this radar device effectively,
The mounting angle of the antenna on the car body must be set so that the electromagnetic wave beam is correctly oriented in the traveling direction of the car. In the conventional device, the mounting angle of this antenna is such that when the electric field strength measuring device is installed at a distant position in front of the vehicle and the radar device is operated to emit electromagnetic waves, It was adjusted to maximize the intensity of the radiated electromagnetic waves that reach it.

[0003]

This conventional method is not suitable for mass production. That is, when a large number of automobiles are equipped with an automobile radar device, the antenna mounting angle of this radar device must be accurately adjusted with a small number of steps in the automobile manufacturing line.

On the other hand, the receiving circuit of the automotive radar device is constructed so as to accurately measure the time from the transmission timing of the electromagnetic wave to the reception timing of the reflected wave thereof, and measures the reception electric field strength. It is not configured like this.

The present invention has been made against such a background, and an object of the present invention is to provide a method and an apparatus capable of accurately adjusting an antenna mounting angle of an automotive radar device with a small number of steps. .

[0006]

The first feature of the present invention is:
The automotive radar device is provided with an adjustment mode that can be set by operation, and in this adjustment mode, the receiving circuit displays the received electric field strength of the reflected wave. The second feature is that an electromagnetic wave reflecting object is installed in front of the adjusted radar device antenna in order to effectively and constantly generate this reflected wave. It is desirable that the electromagnetic wave reflecting object be composed of a metal plate. The electromagnetic wave reflecting object is preferably arranged at a distance of about 3 to 50 m in front of the adjusted radar device antenna.

A first aspect of the present invention is a radar apparatus for an automobile, which is provided with an antenna for transmitting an electromagnetic wave so as to radiate to the front of the automobile and receiving a reflected wave of the electromagnetic wave, and an output to this antenna. Means for providing a display corresponding to the distance to a reflecting object in front by comparing a transmission signal and a reception signal of the electromagnetic wave with a transmission circuit and a reception circuit having an input coupled to the antenna. In a radar device for automobiles including, the receiving circuit,
A machine for adjusting the mounting angle of the antenna with respect to the vehicle body by means of operation, including means for setting the adjustment mode and means for displaying the electric field strength of the received reflected wave instead of the distance in the adjustment mode in the adjustment mode. It is characterized in that it is equipped with an objective means.

The comparison between the transmission signal and the reception signal is made based on the time phase, the frequency and the like.

The display of the electric field intensity may be any of digital display such as numerical display, analog display on the display screen, and acoustic display. It is also possible to connect another display device such as a display meter only in the adjustment mode.

A second aspect of the present invention is a method of adjusting an antenna mounting angle of a radar device for an automobile, wherein a reflecting object for reflecting the electromagnetic wave is installed in a radiation direction of the electromagnetic wave of the radar device attached to the automobile. The receiving circuit of the radar device is set to a mode for displaying the electric field intensity of the reflected wave of the electromagnetic wave transmitted by the transmitting circuit, and the mounting angle of the antenna of the radar device is adjusted to maximize the electric field intensity. To do.

A third aspect of the present invention is an automobile assembly line, wherein a reflecting object that reflects electromagnetic waves and means for automatically establishing the reflecting object in front of a vehicle to be assembled when the vehicle to be assembled approaches. It is characterized by having and. Further, it is desirable to provide means for automatically removing the reflecting object from the passage when the vehicle to be assembled passes through after adjustment.

[0012]

A radar antenna is attached to the front of an automobile, an electromagnetic wave reflecting object is placed in front of the antenna, and the antenna attachment angle is adjusted by operation while operating the radar device. At this time, the radar device is set to the adjustment mode so that the electric field intensity of the reflected wave of the electromagnetic wave emitted by the receiving circuit can be displayed. The antenna mounting angle is adjusted by operating the mechanical means so that the displayed value shows the maximum value.

Such adjustment can always be performed under constant conditions. Such adjustments are largely operator-independent, such adjustments require only reflective objects for adjustments, and tools for adjustments are drivers and spanners. This adjustment method is suitable for mass production because it requires a small number of steps and can be performed uniformly.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a receiving circuit in the embodiment of the present invention.

In the embodiment of the present invention, an antenna duplexer 1 equipped with an antenna 1a for transmitting a pulsed electromagnetic wave so as to radiate to the front of an automobile and receiving a reflected wave of the electromagnetic wave, and an output is supplied to this antenna 1a. And a receiving circuit 3 whose input is coupled to the antenna 1a,
The receiving circuit 3 is provided with a display 5 for performing a display corresponding to a distance to a reflecting object in front according to a time from the transmission of the electromagnetic wave to the reception of the reflected wave. Further, as a feature of the present invention, the receiving circuit 3 is provided. Includes a mode changeover switch 6 for setting the adjustment mode by operation, and means for displaying the electric field intensity of the received reflected wave on the display 5 in the adjustment mode instead of the distance, and determines the mounting angle of the antenna 1a with respect to the vehicle body. It is provided with mechanical means for adjusting by operation.

As shown in FIG. 2, the receiving circuit is a receiving demodulation circuit 3 for demodulating the electromagnetic wave sent from the antenna duplexer 1.
a, a timing detection circuit 3b that receives the signal demodulated by the reception demodulation circuit 3a and detects the timing from the timing signal from the transmission circuit 2, and the reception demodulation circuit 3
The reception level detection circuit 3c which receives the signal from the a and detects the reception level, and the reception demodulation circuit 3a and the timing detection circuit 3b or the reception level detection circuit 3c are switched according to the mode conversion signal from the mode conversion switch 6. A changeover switch 3d and a changeover switch 3e for switching between the timing detection circuit 3b or the reception level detection circuit 3c and the display 5 are provided.

Next, the structure of mechanical means for adjusting the mounting angle of the antenna 1a with respect to the vehicle body will be described. 3 is a front view showing the structure of mechanical means in an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a left side view thereof, FIG. 5 is a right side view thereof, and FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion A (adjustment portion) shown in FIG. Is.

In this mechanical means, the adjusting plates 11a, 11b, 11c and 11d are fixed at four positions on both sides of the antenna 1a mounted in front of the antenna duplexer 1, and the adjusting plates 11a, 11b and 11c are fixed to the adjusting plates 11a, 11b and 11c. , Each adjusting screw 1
2a, 12b, 12c are connected with a predetermined play. The adjusting screws 12a, 12b and 12c are respectively screwed into brackets 13a and 13b fixed to the vehicle body side, and the adjusting plate 11d is in a state of being tensioned by the spring 14. The antenna duplexer 1 is fixed to the bumper 15.

Next, the operation of the apparatus of the present invention thus constructed will be described.

When the assembled vehicle to which the radar device 10 is attached is sent out on the adjustment line, the reflector 4 is automatically installed in front of the vehicle as shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, an example of a rotary type is shown, but a configuration that moves up and down or another configuration can be used.

In this state, the mode changeover switch 6 is operated, and the changeover switches 3d and 3e shown in FIG. 2 are set to the adjustment mode side. When pulsed electromagnetic waves are transmitted from the transmission circuit 2 to the reflector 4 via the antenna duplexer 1 and the antenna 1a, the electromagnetic waves are reflected from the reflector 4 and enter the antenna 1a. The antenna duplexer 1 sends the incident electromagnetic wave to the receiving circuit 3.

The receiving circuit 3 receives the electromagnetic wave and receives the demodulating circuit 3.
The signal is demodulated by a and output to the reception level detection circuit 3c via the changeover switch 3d. The reception level detection circuit 3c receives this output, detects the electric field strength of the reflected wave, and changes the switch 3
It is sent to the display 5 via e. The display on the display 5
In order to make adjustment easier, a numerical value of 10
It is determined that "0" is the maximum electric field strength and "0" is the minimum electric field strength.
The numerical value is displayed on the display unit 5a as shown in.

When the displayed numerical value does not reach the predetermined value, there is a difference between the incident angle and the reflection angle as shown in FIG.
Adjust the direction of to maximize the displayed value of the electric field strength.

The adjustment is performed by the adjusting screw 12 shown in FIGS.
It can be performed by turning a, 12b, and 12c to the left or right. For example, when the adjusting screw 12a is turned clockwise, the antenna 1a moves so that the upper left side shown in FIG. 3 approaches the vehicle body side, and when turned counterclockwise, the antenna 1a moves away from the vehicle body side. When the other adjusting screws 12b and 12c are turned, the same movement is shown, and the mechanical movement of the adjusting plates 11a, 11b, 11c and the adjusting screws 12a, 12b, 12c caused when the antenna 1a is tilted by this movement. The gap is absorbed by the play provided in each and the spring 14 attached to the adjusting plate 11d.

Since the present invention utilizes the reflection of electromagnetic waves as described above, there is a relationship of (incident angle)-(reflection angle) = (error) × 2, and the direction of the antenna 1a can be adjusted with high accuracy. You can

After the antenna direction is adjusted in this manner, the mode changeover switch 6 is operated to change over the changeover switches 3d and 3e of the receiving circuit 3 shown in FIG. 4 rotates in the exclusion direction shown in FIG. 7, and the vehicle moves to the next process.

In the operation in the normal mode, similarly, a pulsed electromagnetic wave is transmitted from the transmission circuit 2 to the front of the vehicle through the antenna duplexer 1 and the antenna 1a, and a reflected wave reflected by a reflecting object such as a preceding vehicle is transmitted to the antenna. The signal is received by 1a and sent from the antenna duplexer 1 to the receiving circuit 3. The reception circuit 3 demodulates the reflected wave received by the reception demodulation circuit 3a and sends it to the timing detection circuit 3b via the changeover switch 3d. Based on the demodulated signal and the timing signal from the transmission circuit 2, the timing detection circuit 3b displays on the display 5 a numerical value corresponding to the road separation to the front reflecting object according to the time from the transmission of the electromagnetic wave to the reception of the reflected wave. It is displayed on the part 5a.

The display of the display 5 is not limited to the numerical display showing the electric field strength as described above, but if the antenna adjustment angle is within the allowable range as shown in FIG.
“K” may be displayed, and “NG” may be displayed if it is outside the allowable range. Further, as shown in FIG.
Use "yellow" and "green" lamps, turn on "blue" if it is within the allowable range, turn on "red" if it is outside the allowable range. You may use the display method which makes "yellow" light. In the case of such a display method, the adjustment work can be performed without paying attention to the reference value in the case of numerical display.

[0029]

As described above, according to the present invention, the mounting angle of the antenna of the radar device can be accurately adjusted with a small man-hour in the manufacturing line or repair of the automobile without causing a difference among workers. effective.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a receiving circuit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing the configuration of mechanical means in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a left side view showing the configuration of mechanical means in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a right side view showing the configuration of mechanical means in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of an A section (adjustment section) shown in FIG. 4 of the mechanical means in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of establishing a reflective object on an adjustment line according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a display example of a display according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining incident and reflected states of electromagnetic waves on a reflecting object according to the embodiment of the present invention.

10A and 10B are views showing another display example of the display device in the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 antenna duplexer 1a antenna 2 transmission circuit 3 reception circuit 3a reception demodulation circuit 3b timing detection circuit 3c reception level detection circuit 3d, 3e changeover switch 4 reflector 5 indicator 5a display section 6 mode conversion switch 10 radar device 11a to 11d adjustment Plates 12a to 12c Adjustment screws 13a, 13b Brackets 14 Springs 15 Bumpers

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An antenna for transmitting an electromagnetic wave so as to be radiated to the front of an automobile and receiving a reflected wave of the electromagnetic wave, a transmitting circuit for supplying an output to the antenna, and a receiving circuit having an input coupled to the antenna. The receiving circuit is provided with a means for performing a display corresponding to the distance to the reflecting object in front by comparing the transmission signal and the reception signal of the electromagnetic wave, the receiving circuit, And a means for setting an adjustment mode by operation, and a means for displaying the electric field strength of the received reflected wave instead of the distance in the adjustment mode in the adjustment mode, and adjusting the mounting angle of the antenna with respect to the vehicle body by operation. An automotive radar device comprising a mechanical means. 2. A reflected object electric field intensity of an electromagnetic wave transmitted from a transmitting circuit of a receiving circuit of the radar device is installed by installing a reflecting object that reflects the electromagnetic wave of a radar device mounted on an automobile. Set the mode to
An antenna mounting angle adjusting method for an automotive radar device, characterized in that the mounting angle of the antenna of the radar device is adjusted so that the electric field strength is maximized. 3. An automobile assembly line comprising: a reflective object that reflects electromagnetic waves; and means for automatically establishing the reflective object in front of a vehicle to be assembled when the vehicle to be assembled approaches the vehicle. 4. The assembly line according to claim 3, further comprising means for automatically removing the reflecting object from the passage when the vehicle to be assembled passes through after being adjusted.