OBSTACLE SENSOR HAVING SUPERSONIC SENSOR

• US 20080165620A1
• Filed: 07/06/2006
• Published: 07/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Sugiura, Makiko
• Granted Patent: US 7,420,876 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 367/99
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0134 responsive to imminent contact with an obstacle , e.g. using radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/42 Simultaneous measurement of distance and other co-ordinates indirect measurement G01S15/46
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/86 Combinations of sonar systems with lidar systems; Combinations of sonar systems with systems not using wave reflection
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/876 Combination of several spaced transmitters or receivers of known location for determining the position of a transponder or a reflector G01S15/872 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/86 Combinations of lidar systems with systems other than lidar, radar or sonar, e.g. with direction finders
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/89 for mapping or imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2015/938 in the bumper area radar in bumper area G01S2013/93275; bumper with obstacle sensor of electric or electronic type B60R19/483
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52004 Means for monitoring or calibrating short-range imaging G01S7/5205
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52006 with provision for compensating the effects of temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/521 Constructional features
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 367/909 Collision avoidance

Abstract

An obstacle sensor includes: a supersonic sensor for detecting an obstacle in a first range, the supersonic sensor including a substrate, a transmission device and a reception device disposed on the substrate; a detection element for detecting the obstacle in a second range; and a case. The reception device includes multiple reception elements. At least a part of the first range of the supersonic sensor is different from the second range of the detection element. The supersonic sensor and the detection element are disposed in the case.

Claims

1. An obstacle sensor for detecting an obstacle comprising:

a supersonic sensor for detecting the obstacle in a first range, wherein the supersonic sensor includes a semiconductor substrate, a transmission device for transmitting a supersonic wave by converting an electric signal, and a reception device for receiving the supersonic wave and for converting the supersonic wave to an electric signal, and wherein the transmission device and the reception device are disposed on the substrate;

a detection element for detecting the obstacle in a second range; and

a case, wherein

the reception device includes multiple reception elements,

at least a part of the first range of the supersonic sensor is different from the second range of the detection element,

the supersonic sensor and the detection element are disposed in the case, and

the detection element is disposed on the substrate of the supersonic sensor.

3. The obstacle sensor according to claim 1, wherein the reception device includes at least three reception elements.

4. The obstacle sensor according to claim 3, wherein the reception device includes four reception elements.

5. The obstacle sensor according to claim 1, wherein the transmission device transmits multiple supersonic waves, each of which has a different frequency, so that the supersonic sensor has a humidity correction capability.

6. The obstacle sensor according to claim 5, wherein the transmission device includes multiple transmission elements, each of which corresponds to the different frequency, respectively.

7. The obstacle sensor according to claim 6, wherein the transmission device includes two transmission elements.

8. The obstacle sensor according to claim 1, wherein

the substrate includes multiple membranes, each of which corresponds to the transmission device or the reception device, and

each of the transmission device and the reception device is disposed on the membrane, respectively.

9. The obstacle sensor according to claim 8, wherein

each of the transmission device and the reception device is a piezo-electric vibrator having a predetermined resonant frequency in a supersonic frequency range, and

the piezo-electric vibrator together with the membrane resonates at the predetermined resonant frequency.

10. The obstacle sensor according to claim 8, wherein the detection element includes at least a part, which is disposed on the membrane.

11. The obstacle sensor according to claim 1, wherein

the detection element is an image sensor including multiple optical detection elements and a lens,

the optical detection elements are arranged to be a predetermined two dimensional pattern so that each optical detection element provides a picture cell,

each optical detection element is capable of generating an electric signal corresponding to an intensity of a light, which is entered into the optical detection element, and

the lens introduces the light into the optical detection clement, the light entered into the lens with a predetermined angle range.

12. The obstacle sensor according to claim 11, wherein

the case includes an, opening, and

the lens is connected to the case in such a manner that the lens covers the opening of the case.

13. The obstacle sensor according to claim 1, wherein the detection element includes an infrared light sensor for detecting an infrared light emitted from the obstacle.

14. The obstacle sensor according to claim 13, wherein

the infrared light sensor includes an infrared light detection element and an infrared light absorption film,

the infrared light detection element generates an electric signal on the basis of a temperature change when the infrared light detection element receives the infrared light, and

the infrared light absorption film covers at least a part of the infrared light detection element.

15. The obstacle sensor according to claim 13, wherein the detection element further includes an infrared light source for emitting the infrared light by heating a resistor in the infrared light source.

16. The obstacle sensor according to claim 1, wherein

the detection element includes a millimeter wave generator and a millimeter wave detector,

the millimeter wave generator generates a transmission wave,

the transmission wave is reflected by the obstacle so that a reflection wave is generated, and

the millimeter wave detector detects the reflection wave, and generates an electric signal corresponding to an intensity of the reflection wave.

17. The obstacle sensor according to claim 1, wherein

the detection element includes a laser generator and a laser detector,

the laser generator generates a transmission wave,

the transmission wave is reflected by the obstacle so that a reflection wave is generated, and

the laser detector detects the reflection wave, and generates an electric signal corresponding to an intensity of the reflection wave.

18. The obstacle sensor according to claim 1, wherein

the first range of the of the supersonic sensor is disposed near the supersonic sensor, and

the second range of the detection element is disposed far from the detection element.

2. (canceled)