Object detection system for a vehicle having multiple sensor fields forming the sensor coverage area

摘要

A vehicular object detection system is disclosed comprising an object sensor (32, Fig 4) and a controller (30,Fig 4). The controller is configured to compare a sensed range of an object within a range gate 42 based on the azimuth angle of the object. The object sensor is switchable between a plurality of sensing fields 40, wherein a range gate 42 for each sensor sensing field is programmable to form a contiguous sensing region closely matching the shape of the desired detection zone 43. The object sensor may be a radar, ultrasonic, laser or infrared sensor. The range gate 42 and parameters of the sensing field 40 are each programmable through the controller (30,Fig4) and may be automatically varied based on vehicle parameters such as vehicle speed, steering wheel angle and steering wheel rate.