Optical Short-Range Sensor

• US 20080309917A1
• Filed: 11/22/2005
• Published: 12/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Zimmermann, Uwe, Weilkes, Michael, Pruksch, Achim
• Application Number:
  US11/793,665
• Publication Number:
  US 20080309917A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 356/5.01
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/481 Constructional features, e.g. arrangements of optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4813 Housing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4814 of transmitters alone

Abstract

In an optical short-range sensor, a plurality of sequentially actuatable transmission elements (21 . . . 27) disposed in a line-like manner in one plane is provided. At least one additional transmission element (1) situated offset in relation to the sequentially actuatable transmission elements and in particular transmitting downward, is provided. In a receiver device (3), the signals reflected by objects are evaluated in particular by propagation time measurement.

Claims

1-12. -12. (canceled)

13. An optical short-range sensor for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a plurality of sequentially actuatable transmission elements, the sequentially actuatable transmission elements being disposed in a line-like manner in one plane and being sequentially actuatable in a pulse-shaped manner;

at least one additional transmission element which is offset in relation to the sequentially actuatable transmission elements, and which transmits downward; and

a receiver device adapted for common evaluation of signals of the sequentially actuatable transmission elements and the at least one additional transmission element reflected by objects, by propagation time measurement.

15. The short-range sensor as recited in claim 13, wherein the sequentially actuatable transmission elements are offset from one another in such a way that their transmission beams illuminate a wide angular range in a fan-like manner.

16. The short-range sensor as recited in claim 13, wherein the additional transmission element is situated on a center axis of the sequentially actuatable transmission elements, above the sequentially actuatable transmission elements.

17. The short-range sensor as recited in claim 13, wherein a central one of the sequentially actuatable transmission elements is adapted for parking space measurement.

18. The short-range sensor as recited in claim 13, wherein the additional transmission element is adapted for curb detection.

19. The short-range sensor as recited in claim 13, wherein the sequentially actuatable transmission elements are adapted for blind spot detection.

20. The short-range sensor as recited in claim 13, wherein the sequentially actuatable transmission elements are optical transmission elements, the optical transmission elements including at least one of LEDs, laser diodes, and infrared emission diodes, depending on a range.

21. The short-range sensor as recited in claim 13, wherein the receiver device includes PIN diodes or avalanche photodiodes.

22. The short-range sensor as recited in claim 13, further comprising:

a common control electronics adapted to at least one of;

i) actuate at least one of the sequentially actuatable transmission elements and the at least one additional transmission element, and ii) evaluate via receiving elements;

wherein the control electronics are based at least partially on assemblies provided for other sensors or sensor groups in the motor vehicle.

23. The short-range sensor as recited in claim 22, wherein the control electronics includes a delay circuit for an SRR (short-range radar) sensor for coincidence evaluation.

24. The short-range sensor as recited in claim 13, wherein a variation of a pulse width of the actuation pulses is provided for varying a the light intensity of the sequentially actuatable transmission elements and the at least one additional transmission element.

25. The short-range sensor as recited in claim 13, further comprising:

a device adapted to detect soiling of at least one of the sequentially actuatable transmission elements and the receiving element.