Radar based inverse detection sensor system

Abstract

The present invention discloses radar sensor system, operating in 24 GHz to 300 GHz frequency band, and its method of operation, comprising utilization of the passive markers, reflecting radio wave in the direction of illumination advantageously in cross polarization manner. The proposed system can detect if on the vehicle seat a baby, kid or adult average size person is sitting. The proposed system can detect intrusion, non-occupied area, belt speed, rotation speed and if the package is filled with sufficient level of liquids.

Claims

1: The System operating in 24 GHz to 300 GHz frequency band comprising one apparatus 100 with HW radar functionality, and at least two apparatuses 2000 being placed physically at the distance from apparatus 100, where first apparatus 100 contains: At least one high-gain planar antenna for transmitting mm-wave radio signals 21, where the high-gain planar antenna has at least two radiation elements; At least one high-gain planar antenna for receiving mm-wave radio signals 110, where the high-gain planar antenna has at least two radiation elements; where at least one high planar antenna, operating in 24 GHz to 300 GHz frequency band, 110 has a cross polarization compared to at least one transmit antenna 21 Integrated radio front end 10, implemented in arbitrary semiconductor technology, having on-chip integrated voltage control oscillator, power amplifier, at least one IQ demodulator, digital control interface, power supply; Digital processing functionality 30 with arbitrary hard wired and SW digital processing capability, being able to digitally process the signal coming out of the entity 10, including controlling functionality and calculation and memory capacity for performing digital signal processing by arbitrary type of the realization options Wired communication interface 60 to connect first Apparatus 100 to the vehicle infrastructure entity 1000, being outside the apparatus 100, being released by the plurality of the technologies and communication protocols Supporting circuitry 50, including mechanical interface to vehicle environment 1000, where the first Apparatus 100 is connected to the infrastructure environment facing vehicle seat under observation, and supporting electronic circuitry for provide the power supply from the vehicle environment 1000 to the first apparatus 100. where the second apparatus 2000: is a passive, without power supply, and without capability of charging by the illumination of the mm-waves, being realized by plurality of realization options, having a key feature to reflect the incident waves coming from apparatus 100, in the same direction, with cross polarization, compared to the incident radio waves polarization, where radio waves are approaching the apparatus 2000. Where at least one apparatus 2000 is integrated in the vehicle seat 299, facing in the direct view apparatus 100, being integrated inside vehicle cabin facing the seat 299

2: System according to claim 1, where where apparatus 100 is connected to the fixed non-moving infrastructure with provided power supply where at least one apparatus 2000 is positioned at fixed non-moving infrastructure 300 with fixed distance to the apparatus 100 where both apparatus 100 and 2000 are not inside of the vehicle.

3: System according to claim 1, where where apparatus 100 is connected to the moving infrastructure 301 with provided power supply, where moving infrastructure 301 is vehicle where at least one apparatus 2000 is positioned at fixed non-moving infrastructure 302

4: System according to claim 1, where where at least one apparatus 100 is placed at the traffic infrastructure 503, with provided power supply where at least one apparatus 2000 is placed at the traffic infrastructure 503, at the same height as corresponding apparatus 100, with fixed distance to the apparatus 100, across the road 504

5: System according to claim 1, where where at least one apparatus 100 is placed in the industrial environment facing moving belt 304 where at least one apparatus 2000 is integrated in the moving belt 304

6: System according to claim 1, where where at least one apparatus 100 is placed in the industrial environment facing rotating platform 506 where at least one apparatus 2000 is integrated in the rotating platform 506

7: System according to claim 1, where where apparatus 100 is placed in the industrial environment facing apparatus 2000 at the same height positioned across the moving industrial belt 508, transporting packages 509, each containing 510 level of liquids inside of the package 509

8: Method of operation, utilizing the System being described in claim 1 where method of operation comprising three operation steps: detecting seat occupancy being declared as a first operation step, detection of apparatuses 2000, by apparatus 100 being declared as second operation step, to be executed after the first step is executed, and method for calculating human being classification, being declared as third operation step to be executed after the second step is executed, where the first operation step has following sub-set of operations: Detecting by apparatus 100, if the human being is on the seat by using plurality of the approaches where the second operation step has following sub-set of operations: Transmission of mm-wave signals generated in 10 using 21; Receiving radio signals reflected by apparatus 2000 area using at least one receiving antenna 110, having cross polarization compared to the antenna 21, operating in 24 GHz to 300 GHz frequency band; Signal processing and detection at least three classes of the information: Class one: no signal level detected above specific pre-defined threshold one Class two: signal level detected above specific pre-defined threshold one, and lower than pre-defined threshold two, where the predefined threshold two is larger than predefined threshold one Class three: signal level detected above specific pre-defined threshold three, where the predefined threshold two is larger than predefined threshold two where third operation step being executed after the second operation step, has following sub-set of operations: Mapping detected class of signal level to the event detection of the human being classification, according to the following rules: If Class one is detected: average size human being is on the seat If Class two is detected: smaller human being size, most probably a kid is on the seat If Class three is detected: smaller life being is on the seat, most probably baby Detected event is communicated to the vehicle environment 1000, by means of entity 60

9: Method of operation, utilizing the System being described in claim 2 where method of operation comprising three operation steps: detecting visibility of apparatuses 2000, by apparatus 100 being declared as a first operation step, observing cut in the visibility of apparatuses 2000, by apparatus 100 being declared as second operation step, to be executed after the first step is executed, and method for calculating signal is broken, being declared as third operation step to be executed after the second step is executed, where the first operation step has following sub-set of operations: Transmission of mm-wave signals generated in 10 using 21; Receiving mm-wave signals reflected by apparatus 2000 area using at least one receiving antenna 110, having cross polarization compared to 21 Detecting by apparatus 100, if the apparatus 2000 is visible where the second operation step has following sub-set of operations: Transmission of mm-wave signals generated in 10 using 21; Receiving mm-wave signals reflected by apparatus 2000 area using at least one receiving antenna 110; Detecting by apparatus 100, if the apparatus 2000 is starting to be not visible, which is defined by using pre-defined threshold; Memorising time of un-visibility detection where third operation step being executed after the second operation step, has following sub-set of operations: Detected event of un-visibility detection is reporting with time step of its calculation, by means of entity 60 to the world outside of apparatus 100

10: Method of operation, like in claim 9, related to the System described in claim 5, and claim 6 where the third operation step has additional sub-set of activities to calculate frequency of switching visibility and no-visibility, and sending this information over entity 60 to the world outside of apparatus 100.

11: Method of operation like described in the claim 9, related to the System described in claim 3, where the first operation step detecting visibility of apparatuses 2000, by apparatus 100 is initialized by the moving platform 301, when the moving platform 301 is approaching the area, where the load 504 should be placed by the moving platform 301, and where the moving platform 301 will off-load 504, if the apparatus 2000 is visible, and will not off-load the load 504 if the apparatus 2000 is not visible.

12: Method of operation, utilizing the System being described in claim 7 where method of operation comprising three operation steps: observing if the apparatus 2000 is visible, by apparatus 100 being declared as a first operation step, observing if the visibility of apparatuses 2000, by apparatus 100 appears being declared as second operation step, to be executed after the first step is executed, and method for calculating liquid level in not sufficiently large, being declared as third operation step to be executed after the second step is executed, where the first operation step has following sub-set of operations: Initialising Transmission of radio signals generated in 10 using 21; in the time slot when the package 509 is passing between apparatus 100 and apparatus 2000, operating in 24 GHz to 300 GHz frequency band Receiving radio signals reflected by apparatus 2000 area using at least one receiving antenna 110, operating in 24 GHz to 300 GHz frequency band Detecting by apparatus 100, if the apparatus 2000 is not visible where the second operation step has following sub-set of operations: Transmission of radio signals generated in 10 using 21, operating in 24 GHz to 300 GHz frequency band; Receiving radio signals reflected by apparatus 2000 area using at least one receiving antenna 110, having cross polarization compared to 21, operating in 24 GHz to 300 GHz frequency band; Detecting by apparatus 100, if the apparatus 2000 is starting to be visible, which is defined by using pre-defined threshold; Memorising time of visibility detection where third operation step being executed after the second operation step, has following sub-set of operations: Event of insufficient liquid level inside package 509 is mapped to the event the visibility of apparatus 2000 is detected in the time slot, where the package is regularly passing between apparatus 100 and apparatus 2000, and after the event is reported together with time step of its calculation, by means of entity 60 to the world outside of apparatus 100, where pre-defined actions are further initialized by the world outside if apparatus 100.

13: Method of operation, utilizing the Method of operation like in claim 8-11, where machine learning process by the plurality of the applied algorithms are used to optimise the decision making pre-defined thresholds in the second operation step.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0047] FIG. 1 presents first class of proposed system application scenarios:

[0048] FIG. 1a) empty vehicle seats with integrated apparatuses 2000 in the vehicle seat

[0049] FIG. 1b) empty vehicle seats with integrated apparatuses 2000 in the vehicle seat, lateral view

[0050] FIG. 1c) vehicle seat being occupied by average human size, with no apparatuses 2000 being seen by the apparatus 100.

[0051] FIG. 1d) vehicle seat being occupied by kid or smaller human size, with one apparatus 2000 being seen by the apparatus 100.

[0052] FIG. 1e) vehicle seat being occupied by baby, with two apparatuses 2000 being seen by the apparatus 100.

[0053] where the apparatus 100 is radar system operating in 24-300 GHz range illuminating the vehicle seat having known specific placed along the vehicle height apparatuses 2000 being integrated in the vehicle seat.

[0054] FIG. 2 presents second class of proposed system application scenarios:

[0055] FIG. 2a) Lateral intrusion control scenario

[0056] FIG. 2b) Industrial vehicle good placing in the controlled not occupied area

[0057] FIG. 3 presents third class of proposed system application scenarios:

[0058] FIG. 3a) Hight controlling system, where smaller class of vehicle is passing

[0059] FIG. 3b) Hight controlling system, where larger class of vehicle is passing

[0060] FIG. 4 presents fourth class of proposed system application scenarios:

[0061] FIG. 4a) Detecting speed of the belt being marked with apparatuses 2000

[0062] FIG. 4b) Detecting rotation with rotated platform being marked with apparatuses 2000

[0063] FIG. 5 presents fifth class of proposed system application scenarios:

[0064] Detecting if the package on the moving belt is sufficiently filled with the liquid.

[0065] FIG. 6 presents functional blocks of the proposed Apparatus 100

[0066] FIG. 7 presents possible realisation options of the Apparatus 2000, where:

[0067] FIG. 7a) presents planar passive printed structure changing polarization of reflecting waves in the same direction of incident waves arrival

[0068] FIG. 7d) planar passive printed structure realized by patch type of antennas changing polarization of reflected waves in the same direction of incident waves arrival

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0069] Radar based system, using frequency range of 24 GHz and 30-300 GHz comprising the one apparatus 100 with HW radar functionality, and at least two apparatuses 2000 being placed physically at the distance from apparatus 100, being integrated in the vehicle seat 299, like in FIG. 1. Apparatus 100 contains: [0070] At least one high-gain planar antenna for transmitting mm-wave radio signals 21, where the high-gain planar antenna has at least two radiation elements; [0071] At least one high-gain planar antenna for receiving mm-wave radio signals 110, where the high-gain planar antenna has at least two radiation elements; and has cross polarization, compared to antenna 21; [0072] Integrated radio front end 10, implemented in arbitrary semiconductor technology, having on-chip integrated mm-wave voltage control oscillator, mm-wave power amplifier, at least one mm-wave IQ demodulator, digital control interface, power supply; [0073] Digital processing functionality 30 with arbitrary hard wired and SW digital processing capability, being able to digitally process the signal coming out of the entity 10, including controlling functionality and calculation and memory capacity for performing digital signal processing by arbitrary type of the realization options [0074] Wired communication interface 60 to connect first Apparatus 100 to the vehicle infrastructure entity 1000, being outside the apparatus 100, being released by the plurality of the technologies and communication protocols [0075] Supporting circuitry 50, including mechanical interface to vehicle infrastructure environment 1000, where the first Apparatus 100 is connected to the infrastructure environment, and supporting electronic circuitry for provide the power supply from the vehicle environment 1000 to the first apparatus 100.

[0076] where the second apparatuses 2000 are a passive, without power supply, and without capability of charging by the Illumination of the radio waves being released by plurality of realization options, having a key feature to reflect the incident radio waves coming from apparatus 100 by changing its polariton to be cross polarized, in the same direction, where radio waves are approaching the apparatus 2000.

[0077] At least two apparatuses 2000, are integrated in the vehicle seat 299. The Method of operation related to the FIG. 1 where method of operation comprising three operation steps: detecting seat occupancy being declared as a first operation step, detection of apparatuses 2000, by apparatus 100 being declared as second operation step, to be executed after the first step is executed, and method for calculating human being classification, being declared as third operation step to be executed after the second step is executed,

[0078] where the first operation step has following sub-set of operations: [0079] Detecting by apparatus 100, if the human being is on the seat by using plurality of the approaches

[0080] where the second operation step has following sub-set of operations: [0081] Transmission of radio waves signals generated in 10 using 21; [0082] Receiving radio waves signals reflected by apparatus 2000 area using at least one receiving antenna 110; [0083] Signal processing and detection at least three classes of the information: [0084] Class one: no signal level detected above specific pre-defined threshold one [0085] Class two: signal level detected above specific pre-defined threshold one, and lower than pre-defined threshold two, where the predefined threshold two is larger than predefined threshold one [0086] Class three: signal level detected above specific pre-defined threshold three, where the predefined threshold two is larger than predefined threshold two

[0087] where third operation step being executed after the second operation step, has following sub-set of operations: [0088] Mapping detected class of signal level to the event detection of the human being classification, according to the following rules: [0089] If Class one is detected: average size human being is on the seat, like in FIG. 1c) [0090] If Class two is detected: smaller human being size, most probably a kid is on the seat, like in FIG. 1d) [0091] If Class three is detected: smaller life being is on the seat, most probably baby, like in FIG. 1e) [0092] Detected event is communicated to the vehicle environment 1000, by means of entity 60.

[0093] In FIG. 2 further proposed application scenarios are proposed. FIG. 2a) shows a case where apparatus 100 is connected to the fixed non-moving infrastructure with provided power supply. Apparatus 100 is facing apparatus 2000 connected to the wall or other fixed non-moving infrastructure 300. The distance between apparatus 100 and apparatus 2000 is known and does not change in the scope of the system operation. Apparatus 100 is constantly receiving reflected signals from the apparatus 2000. In the case when moving object, human, or life being defined as intruder 500 is passing in direction perpendicular or with direction having trajectory component 501, being perpendicular to radio connection between apparatus 100 and apparatus 2000 connection, the reflected signal coming from apparatus 2000, cannot be registered by the apparatus 100. In that case the system declares the event as intrusion and initialise related actions, such as communication the event with a specific time stamp to the world outside of the apparatus 100. Since the reflected waves from the apparatus 2000 are cross polarized, and intruder is reflecting radio ways in the same polarization, the falls alarms are small. The same principle can be used for people counting passing corridor, or to object counting passing controlled area. FIG. 2b) shows a case where apparatus 100 is connected to the moving platform 301 with provided power supply. This platform can be transportation vehicle, building machinery vehicle or production and logistic related small industrial vehicle. Apparatus 100 is connected on the moving part of the vehicle 301, transporting load 502. Load 502 is intended to be stored in the fixed infrastructure area 302 used for storage. Vehicle 301 is trying to off-load the load 502 in the free area. Coming close to the storage area the apparatus 100 is activated and the apparatus 100 is checking if the received signal from apparatus 200 being integrated at the end part of the storage area can be detected. If yes, the system decides that the area is free and load 502 can be off-loaded, if not like lower part of the storage area 302, the apparatus 100 cannot detect reflected waves from apparatus 2000, because apparatus 2000 is blocked by the load already been there. Today state of the art logistic systems with autonomous platforms, are offloading goods related to the data base, without checking if the related area is occupied or not. They are presuming that no one has access to the logistic area or that the date base has not mistakes and that the data base is up to date. In the proposed application scenario thy system can additionally improved the total safety and contribute to the full optimisation of the logistic process.

[0094] FIG. 3 shows application scenario related to the traffic infrastructure. Vehicles 303 are driving over the roads 504. We are prosing installation of the fixed infrastructure 503 across roads 504. On the Infrastructure 504 each pars of the apparatuses 100 and apparatuses 2000 on the same height are installed. At least one system in upper part of the structure is installed. In FIG. 3 b) Apparatus 100 is checking permanently the reflected signal from the associated apparatus 2000. If the signal is broken, the event that the vehicle excided the prescribed height is detected, and the apparatus 100 is sending an alert with the time stamp over entity 60 to the traffic infrastructure information system, which initialize related actions. FIG. 34) addresses applications where more sets of the sensors are used simultaneously, which allows to make categorization of the vehicles in the height classes, and their counting.

[0095] FIG. 4 shows application scenario related to system being capable to measure lateral and rotation speed. In the FIG. 4a industrial infrastructure 505 is having rolling belt 304, having more than two integrated apparatuses 2000, advantageously at the same distance. Apparatus 100 has a fixed position in the industrial environment and it is measuring if the reflected waves from apparatuses 2000 can be detected. Having information about two successive appearances of the apparatuses 2000 and knowing their distances on the belt 304, the lateral speed of the belt is calculated. This proposed principle can be applied for all moving object being marked by the apparatuses 2000, passing close to the controlling point with the installed apparatus 100. FIG. 4b) shows rotation platform 506, having rotation axes 507. Rotation platform 506 has at least one apparatus 2000 being integrated in 506. Apparatus 100 is measuring the time between two appearances from reflected signals coming from apparatuses 2000, and knowing their radial position, rotation speed can be calculated.

[0096] This system can be used for angular encoders.

[0097] This system can be used as a sensor for measuring liquids flow, where the rotation road 507 is fixed, and the moving platform has wings, influencing the rotation of the platform proportional to the speed of the moving liquids. The special case of water flow measurements is acknowledged.

[0098] FIG. 5 shows application scenario typical for food industry, where juices, water, wine, milk and other liquids are packed. There is a problem that due to the damages in the production line, the package, which should contain liquid, is not full according to the pre-defined liquid level. So special sensor is requested, to detected packages which are not filled properly. The proposed system for this application scenario consists of apparatus 100 and apparatus 2000 being on the same height and the specific predefined distances. Between them the rolling belt 508 with packages 509 are passing buy, each having liquid level 510. Apparatus 100 is observing reflected signals from apparatus 2000, and due to the known speed of the belt 508, the apparatus 100 is not receiving the reflected signals from apparatus 2000 when the package full of liquid is filled in the proper and prescribed ways. If apparatus 100 is receiving signals when non-receiving time is to be detected, that means reflected ways are passing though package because the liquid level is too small. Therefore, the information with the time stamp is sent by the entity 60 outside apparatus 100, to initialize specific actions, like omitting as quality measured delivering the package to the customers without prescribed level of the filled liquids.

[0099] Furthermore, to described applications, where proposed system, being defined through its apparatuses and method of operation, is used, the calculated information and events may be used for the statistical evaluation of the data.

[0100] This includes: [0101] Statistic evaluation what classes of the passengers and with which percentage are using dedicated seats, providing profiling of the seat occupancy [0102] Statistic evaluation of how many intruders passes control points, in specific merits of time. [0103] Statistic evaluation of the lateral or rotation speed profiles of the object under observation [0104] Statistic evaluation of the vehicle classes passing through roads [0105] Statistic evaluation of the large vehicle with the probability to endanger safety on the roads [0106] Statistic evaluation of the packages do not comply the quality standards of liquid filling level

[0107] By using artificial intelligence algorfthmics, with machine learning in the place, the proposed system, being defined by its apparatuses and methods of operations, can be advantageously used for Improving decision quality in the corner cases, close to toady hard and empiric hard pre-defined sets of decision thresholds, which may be exchanged with soft type of the thresholds.