RADAR SENSOR FOR DETECTION OF SEAT OCCUPANCY THAT OPERATES IN THE MILLIMETER WAVE FREQUENCY RANGE AND OPERATIONAL METHOD THEREOF

摘要

Invention herewith described refers to the radar sensor for detection of seat occupancy that operates in the millimeter wave frequency range and operational method thereof. The key components of the system are the use of the integrated radar, the use of high gain planar antennas with the specific radiation pattern, the analysis of the heart rate, optionally, at the same time the respiratory rate. The operational method calculates the probability of the seat occupancy relating to: the detection of a person in the seat, the detection of a baby or a child in the seat, the detection of the presence of a baby or a child in the vehicle after the driver got out of the vehicle, the detection of the presence of a person or an animal in certain parts of the vehicle. In the case that the probability is above the predetermined threshold, there is initiated the interaction with the vehicle control system, typically by using the standard car interfaces. In this case there are performed the predetermined actions. These actions can be one of, or a combination of the following actions: audio signals alerting the driver, change of the cabin lighting, change of the engine operating parameters, opening of the windows, the corresponding wireless communication with the outside world that can be realized in different ways. Optionally the system can utilize the additional information such as the cabin temperature and/or time elapsed since the interruption of the engine operation and/or from the moment when the driver got out of the vehicle. It is recommended that the system uses 60 GHz or 77-79 GHz integrated radar front end in the Doppler operating mode with a transmitting and receiving antenna consisting of 4x4 elements of physical dimensions typically 4x2x1 cm or less.