Programmable microwave back-up warning system and method

Abstract

An object detection system adapted for use on a motor vehicle during backup operations is remotely programmable. Sensor parameters can be redefined at time of installation and can be made dependent on velocity. Alarm characteristics can also be determined through programming. The same unit can thus be adapted to operate with a wide variety of different vehicle platforms, and can be customized to individual drivers or types of drivers. The sensor includes a digital-to-analog converter used to tune the microwave oscillator. Such tuning control allows for automatic calibration at the time of final test and manufacturing.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A programmable microwave backup sensor for use with a motor vehicle, said sensor receiving and storing data from a source external to said sensor and using said received and stored data as at least one parameter for sensing object.  
     
     
         2 . A sensor as in  claim 1  wherein said parameter comprises the number of range gates.  
     
     
         3 . The sensor of  claim 1  wherein said parameter comprises the range of at least one range gate.  
     
     
         4 . The sensor of  claim 1  wherein said parameter comprises a range gate priority.  
     
     
         5 . The sensor of  claim 1  wherein said parameter comprises a velocity weighting factor.  
     
     
         6 . The sensor of  claim 1  wherein said parameter comprises warning duration.  
     
     
         7 . The sensor of  claim 1  wherein said parameter comprises warning distance.  
     
     
         8 . The sensor of  claim 1  wherein said parameter comprises visual urgency indication.  
     
     
         9 . The sensor of  claim 1  wherein said parameter comprises warning duration.  
     
     
         10 . The sensor of  claim 1  wherein said parameter comprises a self-test operation initiator.  
     
     
         11 . The sensor of  claim 1  wherein said parameter comprises an oscillator control command.  
     
     
         12 . The sensor of  claim 1  wherein said parameter comprises the number of range gates to be in effect.  
     
     
         13 . A method of programming a microwave sensing system comprises: 
 coupling a programming device to said microwave sensing system;    downloading control parameter information from said programming device to said sensor system;    storing said downloaded information within said sensor system; and    operating said sensor system in accordance with said downloaded information.    
     
     
         14 . A backup microwave sensing device for vehicular use, said device including a microwave oscillator and a Doppler shift detection arrangement, an improvement comprising a programmable memory within said device, said programmable memory being accessible via a programming port accessible externally of said device, said device performing at least certain sensing operations in response to information stored within said programmable memory.  
     
     
         15 . A microwave backup sensing system for vehicular use, said system including an auto-calibration function and a self-test function, said auto-calibration and self-test functions making use of a display/warning indication that is also used for normal operation of said system in detecting objects behind a vehicle.