US 12,066,523 B1
Systems and methods for communicating with vehicles using radar
Scott Bergen, New Canaan, CT (US)
Assigned to Spartan Radar Inc., Los Alamitos, CA (US)
Filed by DC-001, Inc., Los Alamitos, CA (US)
Filed on Sep. 20, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/479,629.
Int. Cl. G01S 13/00 (2006.01); B61L 25/02 (2006.01); G01S 13/75 (2006.01); G01S 13/931 (2020.01); G08G 1/095 (2006.01); H04W 4/021 (2018.01)
CPC G01S 13/755 (2013.01) [B61L 25/025 (2013.01); G01S 13/931 (2013.01); G08G 1/095 (2013.01); H04W 4/021 (2013.01); G01S 2205/002 (2013.01)] 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for communicating information to vehicles, comprising:
at least one spatially-encoded marker coupled to a traffic light; and
a vehicle having at least one controller and a radar, the radar configured to transmit a radar signal and receive returns of the radar signal from the at least one spatially-encoded marker, the at least one controller configured to determine a message comprising a radar signature encoded by the spatially-encoded marker based on the returns;
wherein the at least one spatially-encoded marker comprises a moveable element and an actuator coupled to the movable element, wherein the actuator is configured to move the moveable element, and wherein the at least one controller is configured to determine the message based on a frequency of rotation of the movable element;
wherein the at least one controller is configured to determine a value indicative of the frequency of rotation of the moveable element, and wherein the at least one controller is configured to determine the message based on the value;
wherein the message conveys an impending change in a traffic light signal of the traffic light.