Method and device for detecting objects, especially used as a parking assistance device in a motor vehicle

• US 7,027,356 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2003
• Issued: 04/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: Schoft, Axel, Lissel, Ernst, Buettgenbach, Stephanus, Bahr, Ulrich
• Primary Examiner(s): Lobo, Ian J.
• Application Number:
  US10/646,920
• Publication Number:
  US 20040218471A1
• Time in Patent Office: 963 Days
• Field of Search: 367/87, 367/99, 367/118, 367/129, 367/909, 340/435, 340/436, 340/903, 340/932.2
• US Class Current: 367/99
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/87 Combinations of sonar systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/931 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 7/521 Constructional features
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 367/909 Collision avoidance

Abstract

A device for detecting objects, especially used as a parking assistance device in a motor vehicle, includes a plurality of distance sensors, at least one microcontroller configured to control the distance sensors and an output unit. The distance sensors emit a signal in accordance with an identifier that is modified over time by the microcontroller.

Claims

1. A device for detecting objects, comprising:

at least one distance sensor configured to emit a transmitting signal and to receive returned transmitting signal;

at least one microcontroller configured to control each distance sensor; and

an output unit;

wherein the microcontroller is configured to apply to the transmitting signal an identifier signal that is changeable with time and to distinguish between returned transmitting signal output and other signals received by the device based on the identifier.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device is a parking assistance device for a motor vehicle.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the change of the identifier signal with time is generated in accordance with a random function.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the change of the identifier signal with time is generated in accordance with a random number generator.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the microcontroller is configured to control the distance sensors individually in accordance with variable identifier signals.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the microcontroller is configured to control the distance sensors in groups in accordance with variable identifier signals.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein each distance sensor includes an ultrasonic transducer.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the microcontroller is configured to interrupt emission of the transmission signal from the distance sensor for a predetermined amount of time when the other signals are received by the same distance sensor.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the identifier signal includes a modulation of the transmitting signal.

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein the modulation includes at least one of an amplitude modulation, a frequency modulation, a phase modulation, a pulse-length modulation and a mark-space modulation.

8. A device for detecting objects, comprising:

at least one distance sensor configured to emit a transmitting signal and to receive returned transmitting signal;

at least one microcontroller configured to control each distance sensor; and

an output unit;

wherein the microcontroller is configured to apply to the transmitting signal an identifier that is changeable with time and to distinguish between returned transmitting signal output and other signals received by the device based on the identifier; and

wherein each distance sensor includes an ultrasonic foil transducer.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the ultrasonic foil transducer includes an ultrasonic foil sandwich transducer.

13. A device for detecting objects, comprising:

a plurality of distance sensors;

at least one microcontroller configured to control each of the distance sensors; and

an output unit;

wherein the microcontroller is configured to apply to the distance sensors an identifier signal that is changeable with time.

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein the device is a parking assistance device for a motor vehicle.

15. The device according to claim 13, wherein the change of the identifier signal with time is generated in accordance with a random function.

16. The device according to claim 13, wherein the change of the identifier signal with time is generated in accordance with a random number generator.

17. The device according to claim 13, wherein the microcontroller is configured to control the distance sensors individually in accordance with variable identifier signals.

18. The device according to claim 13, wherein the microcontroller is configured to control the distance sensors in groups in accordance with variable identifier signals.

19. The device according to claim 13, wherein each distance sensor includes an ultrasonic transducer.

20. The device according to claim 13, wherein each distance sensor includes an ultrasonic foil transducer.

21. The device according to claim 20, wherein the ultrasonic foil transducer includes an ultrasonic foil-sandwich transducer.

22. The device according to claim 13, wherein the microcontroller is configured to distinguish between returned transmitting signal output and other signals received by the device based on the identifier signal.

23. The device according to claim 13, wherein the identifier signal is changeable as a function of time.

24. The device according to claim 13, wherein the identifier signal includes a modulation of the transmitting signal.

25. The device according to claim 24, wherein the modulation includes at least one of an amplitude modulation, a frequency modulation, a phase modulation, a pulse-length modulation and a mark-space modulation.