Method And System For Implementing Ultrasonic Sensor signal strength calibrations

• US 20140039750A1
• Filed: 12/01/2012
• Published: 02/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Yopp, Wilford Trent, Luo, Wangdong, Samuel, Stephen Varghese, Shaffer, Aric David, Stempnik, Vern, Kane, Michael David
• Granted Patent: US 8,676,438 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/33.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/32 Arrangements for suppressing undesired influences, e.g. temperature or pressure variations , compensating for signal noise
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52006 with provision for compensating the effects of temperature

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.

Claims

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.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the outside air temperature information includes a composite outside air temperature value that is a function of both an unfiltered outside air temperature value and a filtered outside air temperature value.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein proportioning of the unfiltered outside air temperature value and the filtered outside air temperature value is a function of at least a portion of the powertrain operating information.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the vehicle operating condition includes at least one of:

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 is information outputted from the ultrasonic sensor to provide at least the baseline level of object detecting performance.

9. The method of claim 6 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.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein at least one of:

the calibration information associated with signal reception sensitivity for the second instance of the signal strength calibration providing for greater object sensing sensitivity than the calibration information associated with signal reception sensitivity for the first instance of the signal strength calibration; and

the calibration information associated with the output power of the object sensing signal for the second instance of the signal strength calibration providing for greater object sensing sensitivity than the calibration information associated with the output power of the object sensing signal for the first instance of the signal strength calibration.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the vehicle operating condition includes at least one of

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.

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.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein at least one of:

the calibration information associated with signal reception sensitivity for the second instance of the signal strength calibration providing for greater object sensing sensitivity than the calibration information associated with signal reception sensitivity for the first instance of the signal strength calibration; and

the calibration information associated with the output power of the object sensing signal for the second instance of the signal strength calibration providing for greater object sensing sensitivity than the calibration information associated with the output power of the object sensing signal for the first instance of the signal strength calibration.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the outside air temperature information includes a composite outside air temperature value that is a function of both an unfiltered outside air temperature value and a filtered outside air temperature value.

5. The method of claim I wherein the vehicle operating condition includes at least one of:

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.

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:

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.

13. The electronic controller system of claim 12 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.

14. The electronic controller system of claim 12 wherein the outside air temperature information includes a composite outside an temperature value that is a function of both an unfiltered outside an temperature value and a filtered outside an temperature value.

15. The electronic controller system of claim 12 wherein the vehicle operating condition includes at least one of:

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.

16. The electronic controller system of claim 12 wherein the outside air temperature information includes a composite outside air temperature value that is a function of both an unfiltered outside air temperature value and a filtered outside air temperature value.

17. The electronic controller system of claim 16 wherein proportioning of the unfiltered outside air temperature value and the filtered outside air temperature value is a function of at least a portion of the powertrain operating information.

18. The electronic controller system of claim 12 wherein the vehicle operating, condition includes at least one of:

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.

19. A vehicle, comprising:

an ultrasonic sensor;

a first signaling apparatus configured for outputting outside air temperature information;

a

a 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.

20. The vehicle of claim 19 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.

21. The vehicle of claim 19 wherein the outside air temperature information includes composite outside air temperature value that is a function of both an unfiltered outside air temperature value and a filtered outside air temperature value.

22. The vehicle of claim 19 wherein the vehicle operating condition includes at least one of:

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.

23. The vehicle of claim 19 wherein the outside air temperature information includes a composite outside air temperature value that is a function of both an unfiltered outside air temperature value and a filtered outside air temperature value.

24. The vehicle of claim 19 wherein the powertrain operating information includes coolant temperature information, intake air temperature information, grille block position information, and vehicle speed information.

25. The vehicle of claim 24 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.

26. The vehicle of claim 24 wherein the outside air temperature information includes a composite outside air temperature value that is a function of both an unfiltered outside air temperature value and a filtered outside air temperature value.

27. The vehicle of claim 24 wherein the vehicle operating condition includes at least one of

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.