Automotive radar detecting lane mark and frontal obstacle

摘要

A radar apparatus for automotive vehicles is provided which is designed to emit laser beams to scan a forward zone for detecting moving object such as preceding vehicles and a downward zone for detecting lane marks printed on a road surface for defining a traffic lane. The downward zone is wider than the forward zone horizontally. Each zone has a minimum width required for assuring desired accuracy of radar detection of an object, thereby minimizing the number of emissions of the laser beams, resulting in an increase in lifetime of a laser diode and production of unwanted data on roadside objects having a low probability that the vehicle will collide them. The apparatus also includes a light focusing mechanism which focuses the laser beam on a given area in the downward zone to increase the power density of a return of the laser beam.