Method and device for detecting objects, especially used as a parking assistance device in a motor vehicle

• US 20040218471A1
• Filed: 08/22/2003
• Published: 11/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Axel Schoft, Ernst Lissel, Stephanus Buettgenbach, Ulrich Bahr
• Original Assignee: Axel Schoft, Ernst Lissel, Stephanus Buettgenbach, Ulrich Bahr
• Inventors: Schoft, Axel, Lissel, Ernst, Buettgenbach, Stephanus, Bahr, Ulrich
• Granted Patent: US 7,027,356 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 367/99
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/87 Combinations of sonar systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2015/938 in the bumper area
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/521 Constructional features
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 367/909 Collision avoidance

Abstract

A device for detecting objects, especially used as a parking assistance device in a motor vehicle, includes a plurality of distance sensors, at least one microcontroller configured to control the distance sensors and an output unit. The distance sensors emit a signal in accordance with an identifier that is modified over time by the microcontroller.

Claims

1. A device for detecting objects, comprising:

at least one distance sensor configured to emit a transmitting signal and to receive returned transmitting signal;

at least one microcontroller configured to control each distance sensor; and

an output unit;

wherein the microcontroller is configured to apply to the transmitting signal an identifier and to distinguish between returned transmitting signal output and other signals received by the device based on the identifier.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the identifier is changeable with time.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device is a parking assistance device for a motor vehicle.

4. The device according to claim 2, wherein the change of the identifier with time is generated in accordance with a random function.

5. The device according to claim 2, wherein the change of the identifier with time is generated in accordance with a random number generator.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the microcontroller is configured to control the distance sensors individually in accordance with variable identifiers.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the microcontroller is configured to control the distance sensors in groups in accordance with variable identifiers.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein each distance sensor includes an ultrasonic transducer.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein each distance sensor includes an ultrasonic foil transducer.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the ultrasonic foil transducer includes an ultrasonic foil sandwich transducer.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the microcontroller is configured to interrupt emission of the transmission signal from the distance sensor for a predetermined amount of time when the other signals are received by the same distance sensor.