초록 ▼

A transponder (200) is attached to a laser alignment fixture (210) and used to align an automobile collision avoidance radar antenna boresite with the thrust vector of the vehicle. The alignment fixture (210) has attached reflectors for alignment with two laser beams. To align the collision avoidanc

A transponder (200) is attached to a laser alignment fixture (210) and used to align an automobile collision avoidance radar antenna boresite with the thrust vector of the vehicle. The alignment fixture (210) has attached reflectors for alignment with two laser beams. To align the collision avoidance radar, the transponder (200) is positioned along the thrust vector of the automobile using a first laser beam (203) aligned perpendicular to a wheel axle. The first laser beam (203) is aligned when transmitted from the wheel axle onto a first piece of reflective material attached to the alignment fixture (210). A second laser (216) is provided parallel to the centerline of the collision avoidance radar antenna to remove azimuth and elevation translation errors between the transponder antenna centerline and the collision avoidance radar antenna centerline. The second laser beam (216) is aligned when transmitted from the automobile onto a second piece of reflective material attached to the alignment fixture (210). The transponder (200) is then used to zero an angle (.alpha.) between the electrical boresite of the collision avoidance radar antenna and the boresite of the transponder antenna. The angle (.alpha.) is set to zero by adjusting the automobile collision avoidance radar antenna until a processor in the collision avoidance radar indicates the angle a is zero.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.]1. A method of aligning an automotive radar antenna of a collision avoidance radar system installed in an automobile comprising the steps of:providing a first laser beam approximately perpendicular to an axle of the automobile;moving a transponder and determining when the

[ What is claimed is:] [1.]1. A method of aligning an automotive radar antenna of a collision avoidance radar system installed in an automobile comprising the steps of:providing a first laser beam approximately perpendicular to an axle of the automobile;moving a transponder and determining when the light from the first laser beam is reflected from a first reflective material on an alignment fixture supporting the transponder;providing a second laser beam from the automobile aligned approximately parallel with the centerline of the radar antenna;removing translation errors by moving the alignment fixture and determining when light from the second laser beam is reflected from a second reflective material on the alignment fixture;transmitting a first RF signal from the radar antenna to a transponder antenna;transmitting a return RF signal from the transponder antenna in response to the first RF signal; andadjusting the boresite position of the radar antenna until a processor indicates, based on the receipt of the return RF signal, that the boresite of the radar antenna is aligned with the boresite of the transponder antenna.