OBSTACLE DETECTION APPARATUS
First Claim
1. An obstacle detection apparatus for a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
- an ultrasonic sensor that detects a presence of an obstacle around the vehicle and a distance to the obstacle by transmitting an ultrasonic wave and receiving the ultrasonic wave reflected by the obstacle; and
a controller that controls the ultrasonic sensor, wherein;
the ultrasonic sensor includes an ultrasonic wave element;
the ultrasonic wave element has a plurality of resonance modes; and
the ultrasonic sensor changes a directivity of the ultrasonic sensor by selecting one of the plurality of resonance modes of the ultrasonic wave element in accordance with a command signal output from the controller.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An obstacle detection apparatus for a vehicle is provided. The apparatus includes an ultrasonic sensor and a controller. The ultrasonic sensor detects a presence of an obstacle around the vehicle and a distance to the obstacle by transmitting an ultrasonic wave and receiving the ultrasonic wave reflected by the obstacle. The controller controls the ultrasonic sensor. The ultrasonic sensor includes an ultrasonic wave element. The ultrasonic wave element has multiple resonance modes. The ultrasonic sensor changes a directivity of the ultrasonic sensor by selecting one of the multiple resonance modes of the ultrasonic wave element in accordance with a command signal output from the controller.
30 Citations
16 Claims
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1. An obstacle detection apparatus for a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
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an ultrasonic sensor that detects a presence of an obstacle around the vehicle and a distance to the obstacle by transmitting an ultrasonic wave and receiving the ultrasonic wave reflected by the obstacle; and a controller that controls the ultrasonic sensor, wherein; the ultrasonic sensor includes an ultrasonic wave element; the ultrasonic wave element has a plurality of resonance modes; and the ultrasonic sensor changes a directivity of the ultrasonic sensor by selecting one of the plurality of resonance modes of the ultrasonic wave element in accordance with a command signal output from the controller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An obstacle detection apparatus for a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
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an ultrasonic sensor that transmits and receives an ultrasonic wave to search for an obstacle, wherein the ultrasonic sensor has a plurality of operational modes to changes both a directivity and a sensing distance of the ultrasonic sensor; and a controller that causes the ultrasonic sensor to change the directivity and the sensing distance of the ultrasonic sensor if a predetermined condition is met after the ultrasonic sensor starts searching for the obstacle. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification