초록 ▼

A method of aligning a sensor device attached to an automobile includes the steps of positioning a first detection object relative to the automobile and generating a plurality of beams at the sensor device. A beam crossing point common to first and second adjacent beams is selected, and the sensor a

A method of aligning a sensor device attached to an automobile includes the steps of positioning a first detection object relative to the automobile and generating a plurality of beams at the sensor device. A beam crossing point common to first and second adjacent beams is selected, and the sensor alignment is verified by determining whether the beam crossing point is coincident with the first detection object.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method of aligning a sensor device attached to an automobile, the method comprising the steps of:positioning a first detection object relative to the automobile;generating a plurality of beams at the sensor device;selecting a beam crossing point common to a pair of first and second adjacent bea

1. A method of aligning a sensor device attached to an automobile, the method comprising the steps of:positioning a first detection object relative to the automobile;generating a plurality of beams at the sensor device;selecting a beam crossing point common to a pair of first and second adjacent beams; anddetermining whether the beam crossing point is coincident with the first detection object. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of adjusting the sensor device to shift the plurality of beams until the beam crossing point is coincident with the first detection object. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of positioning a first detection object relative to the automobile comprises the steps of:determining an aligned bore site of one of the plurality of beams; andpositioning the first detection object relative to the aligned bore site. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of adjusting the sensor device to shift the plurality of beams until the beam crossing point is coincident with the first detection object comprises the steps of:incrementally steering the plurality of beams; anddetermining after each increment whether the beam crossing point is coincident with the first detection object. 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of determining after each increment whether the beam crossing point is coincident with the first detection object comprises the steps of:determining a first signal level in the first beam, the first signal level corresponding to the first detection object; anddetermining a second signal level in the second beam, the second signal level corresponding to the first detection object. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of determining after each increment whether the beam crossing point is coincident with the first detection object further comprises the steps of:determining the difference between the first signal level and the second signal level; anddetermining that the beam crossing point is coincident with the first detection object when the difference between the first signal level and the second signal level is less than a first threshold value. 7. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of determining after each increment whether the beam crossing point is coincident with the first detection object further comprises the steps of:determining a power ratio of the first signal level to the second signal level; anddetermining that the beam crossing point is coincident with the first detection object when the power ratio of the first signal level to the second signal level is less than a first threshold value. 8. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of incrementally steering the plurality of beams comprises the step of electronically steering the plurality of beams. 9. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of incrementally steering the plurality of beams comprises the step of manually steering the plurality of beams. 10. The method of claim 6, wherein the first beam is a center beam of the plurality of beams. 11. The method of claim 5, further comprising the steps of:defining a sensor axis; andpositioning the first detection object coincident with the sensor axis. 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the steps of:positioning a second detection object relative to the automobile and vertically displaced from the sensor axis; anddetermining a third signal level in a third beam, the third signal level corresponding to the second detection object. 13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of:determining the difference between the first signal level and the third signal level; anddetermining the sensor device is in elevation alignment when the difference between the first signal level and the third signal level is less than a first threshold value. 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the steps of:determining the difference between the first signal level and the second signal level; anddetermining that the beam crossing point is coinci dent with the first detection object when the difference between the first signal level and the second signal level is less than a second threshold value. 15. The method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of:determining the difference between the second signal level and the third signal level; anddetermining that the sensor device is in elevation alignment when the difference between the second signal level and the third signal level is less than a first threshold value. 16. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor device is a radar antenna array. 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the first detection object is a radar reflector. 18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of placing a radar absorbing material behind the radar reflector. 19. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining whether the beam crossing point is coincident with the first detection object comprises the steps of:determining a first signal level in the first beam, the first signal level corresponding to the first detection object; anddetermining a second signal level in the second beam, the second signal level corresponding to the first detection object. 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of determining whether the beam crossing point is coincident with the first detection object further comprises the steps of:determining a power ratio of the first signal level to the second signal level; anddetermining that the beam crossing point is coincident with the first detection object when the power ratio of the first signal level to the second signal level is less than a first threshold value. 21. The system of claim 19, wherein the step of generating a plurality of beams at the sensor device comprises the step of simultaneously generating a plurality of beams to form a beam pattern. 22. The system of claim 19, wherein the step of generating a plurality of beams at the sensor device comprises the steps of:selecting a set of phase delays for a corresponding beam of the beam pattern to be generated; andgenerating the corresponding beam based on the phase delays. 23. The system of claim 19, wherein the step of generating a plurality of beams at the sensor device comprises the step of mechanically steering the sensor device across a plurality of bore sites. 24. A method of aligning a sensor device attached to an automobile, the method comprising the steps of:defining a sensor axis;positioning a first detection object relative to the automobile and coincident with the sensor axis;positioning a second detection object relative to the automobile and vertically displaced from the sensor axis;generating a plurality of beams at the sensor device;determining a first signal level in a first beam, the first signal level corresponding to the first detection object;determining a second signal level in a second beam, the second signal level corresponding to the second detection object; anddetermining whether the sensor device is aligned based on the first and second signal levels. 25. The method of claim 24, further comprising the step of adjusting the sensor device to shift the plurality of beams into alignment based on the first and second signal levels. 26. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of determining whether the sensor device is aligned based on the first and second signal levels comprises the steps of:determining the difference between the first signal level and the second signal level; anddetermining that the sensor is aligned when the difference between the first signal level and the second signal level is less than a threshold value. 27. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of determining whether the sensor device is aligned based on the first and second signal levels comprises the steps of:determining a power ratio of the first signal level to the second signal level; anddetermining that the sensor is aligned when the power ratio of the first signal level to the second signal level is less than a threshold value. 28. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of positioning a first detection object relative to the automobile and coincident with the sensor axis comprises the steps of:determining an aligned bore site of one of the plurality of beams; andpositioning the first detection object relative to the aligned bore site. 29. The method of claim 28, wherein the first beam and the second beam are nonadjacent beams. 30. The method of claim 29, wherein the first beam and the second beam are on opposite sides of a center beam of the plurality of beams. 31. A system for aligning a sensor device attached to an assembly, the sensor device operable to generate a plurality of beams, the system comprising:a first positioning fixture operable to place the assembly in a first location; anda second positioning fixture operable to place a first detection object in a second location and relative to the assembly such that the first detection object is positioned at a beam crossing point of a first and second adjacent beam when the sensor device is aligned. 32. The system of claim 31, further comprising:a third positioning fixture operable to place a second detection object in a third location and relative to the assembly, the third location vertically displaced from the second location. 33. The system of claim 32, wherein the second location is horizontally displaced from an aligned bore site of a center beam of the plurality of beams. 34. The system of claim 33, wherein the second location and the third location are on opposite sides of the aligned bore site of the center beam. 35. The system of claim 31, wherein the first positioning fixture is an automobile alignment fixture. 36. The system of claim 35, wherein the sensor device is a radar antenna array. 37. The system of claim 36, wherein the first detection object is a radar reflector. 38. The system of claim 37, further comprising a radar absorbing material positioned behind the first detection object.