Method And System For Implementing Ultrasonic Sensor signal strength calibrations
First Claim
1. A method for processing a signal provided from an ultrasonic sensor of a vehicle to a signal processing unit of the vehicle, comprising:
- at least one data processing device accessing, from memory coupled to the at least one data processing device, instructions causing the at least one data processing device to determine a first instance of a signal strength calibration, wherein the first instance of the signal strength calibration is based on a first instance of outside air temperature information and a first instance of powertrain operating information and wherein the signal strength calibration enables information outputted from the ultrasonic sensor to provide at least a baseline level of object detecting performance;
the at least one data processing device accessing, from the memory, instructions causing the at least one data processing device to determine a vehicle operating condition requiring alteration of the signal strength calibration for maintaining at least the baseline level of object detecting performance from the information outputted from the ultrasonic sensor; and
the at least one data processing, device accessing, from the memory, instructions causing the at least one data processing device to determine a second instance of the signal strength calibration in response to determining the vehicle operating condition requiring alteration of the signal strength calibration, wherein the second instance of the signal strength calibration is based on at least one of a second instance of the outside air temperature information and a second instance of the powertrain operating information and wherein the second instance of the signal strength calibration enables the information outputted from the ultrasonic sensor to provide at least the baseline level of object detecting performance.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Temperature compensation for ultrasonic sensors can have a significant error that is highly undesirable because temperature of ultrasonic sensors and the temperature of the medium through which they sense objects affect signal strength calibrations (e.g., echo thresholds) applied when detecting an object. In order to increase the detection capabilities and reported distance of an object, ultrasonic sensors need to adjust their detection criteria and distance calculations as the temperature of air surrounding a vehicle (i.e., outside air temperature) changes and also as the temperature of the sensor changes. Embodiments of the inventive subject matter provide for a simple, effective and consistent approach for determining a temperature upon which such detection criteria and distance calculation adjustments can be based.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method for processing a signal provided from an ultrasonic sensor of a vehicle to a signal processing unit of the vehicle, comprising:
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at least one data processing device accessing, from memory coupled to the at least one data processing device, instructions causing the at least one data processing device to determine a first instance of a signal strength calibration, wherein the first instance of the signal strength calibration is based on a first instance of outside air temperature information and a first instance of powertrain operating information and wherein the signal strength calibration enables information outputted from the ultrasonic sensor to provide at least a baseline level of object detecting performance; the at least one data processing device accessing, from the memory, instructions causing the at least one data processing device to determine a vehicle operating condition requiring alteration of the signal strength calibration for maintaining at least the baseline level of object detecting performance from the information outputted from the ultrasonic sensor; and the at least one data processing, device accessing, from the memory, instructions causing the at least one data processing device to determine a second instance of the signal strength calibration in response to determining the vehicle operating condition requiring alteration of the signal strength calibration, wherein the second instance of the signal strength calibration is based on at least one of a second instance of the outside air temperature information and a second instance of the powertrain operating information and wherein the second instance of the signal strength calibration enables the information outputted from the ultrasonic sensor to provide at least the baseline level of object detecting performance. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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- 2. The method of claim I wherein each one of the instances of the signal strength calibration includes respective calibration information associated with signal reception sensitivity and respective calibration information associated with output power of an object sensing signal of the ultrasonic sensor.
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5. The method of claim I wherein the vehicle operating condition includes at least one of:
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a current outside air temperature that adversely impacts an ability of the information outputted from the ultrasonic sensor to provide at least the baseline level of object detecting performance; and a current powertrain operating parameter that adversely impacts an ability of the information outputted from the ultrasonic sensor to provide at least the baseline level of object detecting performance.
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12. An electronic controller system of a vehicle having at least one data processing device coupled between an ultrasonic sensor, signaling apparatus configured to outputting outside air temperature information and signaling apparatus configured for outputting powertrain operating information, the electronic controller system having a set of instructions tangibly embodied on a non-transitory processor-readable medium thereof, the set of instructions are accessible from the non-transitory processor-readable medium by the at least one data processing device of the electronic controller system for being interpreted thereby, the set of instructions is configured for causing the at least one data processing device to carry out operations for:
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providing the signal processing unit with a first instance of a signal strength calibration, wherein the first instance of the signal strength calibration is based on a first instance of outside air temperature information and a first instance of powertrain operating information and wherein the signal strength calibration enables information outputted from the ultrasonic sensor to provide at least a baseline level of object detecting performance; determining a vehicle operating condition requiring alteration of the signal strength calibration for maintaining at least the baseline level of object detecting performance from the information outputted from the ultrasonic sensor; and providing the signal processing unit with a second instance of the signal strength calibration in response to determining the vehicle operating condition requiring alteration of the signal strength calibration, wherein the second instance of the signal strength calibration is based on at least one of a second instance of the outside air temperature information and a second instance of the powertrain operating information and wherein the second instance of the signal strength calibration enables the information outputted from the ultrasonic sensor to provide at least the baseline level of object detecting performance. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A vehicle, comprising:
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an ultrasonic sensor; a first signaling apparatus configured for outputting outside air temperature information;
aa second signaling apparatus configured for outputting powertrain operating Information; and signal processing unit coupled between the ultrasonic sensor, the first signaling apparatus and the second signaling apparatus, wherein the signal processing unit includes at least one data processing device and a non-transitory processor-readable medium coupled thereto, wherein the non-transitory processor-readable medium memory has a set of instructions tangibly embodied thereon, wherein the set of instructions is accessible from the non transitory processor-readable medium by the at least one data processing device for being interpreted thereby, and wherein the set of instructions is configured for causing the at least one data processing device to carry out operations for; determining a first instance of a signal strength calibration, wherein the first instance of the signal strength calibration is based on a first instance of outside air temperature information and a first instance of powertrain operating information and wherein the signal strength calibration enables information outputted from the ultrasonic sensor to provide at least a baseline level of object detecting performance; determining a vehicle operating condition requiring alteration of the signal strength calibration for maintaining at least the baseline level of object detecting performance from the information outputted from the ultrasonic sensor; and determining a second instance of the signal strength calibration in response to determining the vehicle operating condition requiring alteration of the signal strength calibration, wherein the second instance of the signal strength calibration is based on at least one of a second instance of the outside air temperature information and a second instance of the powertrain operating information and wherein the second instance of the signal strength calibration enables the information outputted from the ultrasonic sensor to provide at least the baseline level of object detecting performance. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification