Obstacle detecting system for vehicle

• US 7,528,703 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2006
• Issued: 05/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Touge, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham; Toan N
• Assistant Examiner(s): McNally; Kerri L
• Application Number:
  US11/491,942
• Publication Number:
  US 20070024431A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,015 Days
• Field of Search: 340/435
• US Class Current: 340/435
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 17/006 with means for detecting obstacles outside the doors
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/43 responsive to disruption of energy beams, e.g. light or sound
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 2015/433 using reflection from the obstruction
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 2015/483 for detection during opening
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/546 Tailgates
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/04 Systems determining presence of a target
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/88 Sonar systems specially adapted for specific applications seismic or acoustic prospecting or detecting G01V1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/527 Extracting wanted echo signals Doppler systems G01S15/50

Abstract

An obstacle detecting system for a vehicle, which includes an ultrasonic sensor provided at a vehicle body for detecting obstacles surrounding the vehicle. A central axis in a transmitting direction of an ultrasonic wave from the ultrasonic sensor is arranged to approximately follow a surface of the vehicle body.

Claims

1. An obstacle detecting system for a vehicle, comprising:

an ultrasonic sensor configured to be provided at a surface of a vehicle door, which is fixed to a vehicle body by a hinge and is operated to open and close relative to the vehicle body;

wherein

a central axis in a transmitting direction of an ultrasonic wave from the ultrasonic sensor is arranged to have an angle equal to or greater than zero degrees and less than 90 degrees relative to the surface of the vehicle door,

wherein the ultrasonic sensor comprises;

a transmitting means provided being deviated outward of the vehicle from the surface of the vehicle door for transmitting ultrasonic signals; and

,

a receiving means provided being deviated outward of the vehicle from the surface of the vehicle for receiving the ultrasonic signals reflected on a surface of an object which is positioned apart from the vehicle;

the obstacle detecting system for the vehicle further comprising;

a calculating means for obtaining a position of the object on the basis of a direct reflected signal, which is a first ultrasonic signal transmitted from the transmitting means and received by the receiving means after reflected on the surface of the object and an alternative routing reflected signal which is a second ultrasonic signal, transmitted from the transmitting means to be received by the receiving means after being reflected on the surface of the object and on a surface of the vehicle, deemed as being transmitted from the transmitting means and received by an imaginary receiving means hypothetically determined at a position being mirror symmetrical to the receiving means relative to the surface of the vehicle after being reflected on the surface of the object.

2. The obstacle detecting system for the vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the surface of the vehicle is a surface of an opening and closing body which is operated to open and close relative to the vehicle;

and the obstacle detecting system for the vehicle further comprising;

a control means for stopping an opening operation of the opening and closing body when the position of the object specified by the calculating means is within a predetermined region predetermined at an outside location relative to the surface of the opening and closing body.

3. The obstacle detecting system for the vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the transmitting means transmits the ultrasonic signals by a pulse;

and wherein when two ultrasonic signals are received by the receiving means at different timings within a predetermined time range, the ultrasonic signal received first is determined as the direct reflected signal and the ultrasonic signal received second is determined as the alternative routing reflected signal.

4. An obstacle detecting system for a vehicle, comprising:

an ultrasonic sensor configured to be provided at a surface of a vehicle door, which is fixed to a vehicle body by a hinge and is operated to open and close relative to the vehicle body;

wherein

a central axis in a transmitting direction of an ultrasonic wave from the ultrasonic sensor is arranged to have an angle equal to or greater than zero degrees and less than 90 degrees relative to the surface of the vehicle door,

wherein the ultrasonic sensor comprises;

a transmitting means transmitting ultrasonic signals outward of the vehicle; and

a plurality of receiving means receiving the ultrasonic signals reflected on a surface of an object positioned apart from the vehicle;

the obstacle detecting system for the vehicle further comprising;

a calculating means specifying a position of the object on the basis of times elapsed from transmitting to receiving the ultrasonic signals to be received by the plurality of receiving means, and

determining an actual position of the object at a position being mirror symmetrical to the specified position of the object relative to the surface of the vehicle door when the specified position is determined to be at an inside location relative to the surface of the vehicle door.

5. The obstacle detecting system for the vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the surface of the vehicle door is a surface of an opening and closing body operated to open and close relative to the vehicle;

and the obstacle detecting system for the vehicle further comprising;

a control means stopping an opening operation of the opening and closing body when the position of the object specified by the calculating means is within a predetermined region predetermined at an inside location relative to the surface of the opening and closing body.

6. The obstacle detecting system for the vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the predetermined region is variable.

7. An obstacle detecting system for a vehicle, comprising:

an ultrasonic sensor configured to be provided at a surface of a vehicle door, which is fixed to a vehicle body by a hinge and is operated to open and close relative to the vehicle body;

wherein

a central axis in a transmitting direction of an ultrasonic wave from the ultrasonic sensor is arranged to have an angle eciual to or greater than zero degrees and less than 90 degrees relative to the surface of the vehicle door,

wherein the ultrasonic sensor comprises;

a transmitting means provided being deviated outward of the vehicle from the surface of the vehicle door for transmitting ultrasonic signals outward of the vehicle; and

a receiving means provided being deviated outward of the vehicle from the surface of the vehicle door for receiving the ultrasonic signals reflected on a surface of an object which is positioned apart from the vehicle;

the obstacle detecting system for the vehicle further comprising;

a calculating means for obtaining a position of the object on the basis of a direct reflected signal, which is a first ultrasonic signal transmitted from the transmitting means and received by the receiving means after reflected on the surface of the object and an alternative routing reflected signal which is a second ultrasonic signal, transmitted from the transmitting means to be received by the receiving means after being reflected on the surface of the object and on a surface of the vehicle door, deemed as being transmitted from the transmitting means and received by an imaginary receiving means hypothetically determined at a position being mirror symmetrical to the receiving means relative to the surface of the vehicle after being reflected on the surface of the object.

8. The obstacle detecting system for the vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the surface of the vehicle door is a surface of an opening and closing body which is operated to open and close relative to the vehicle;

and the obstacle detecting system for the vehicle further comprising;

a control means for stopping an opening operation of the opening and closing body when the position of the object specified by the calculating means is within a predetermined region predetermined at an outside location relative to the surface of the opening and closing body.

9. The obstacle detecting system for the vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the transmitting means transmits the ultrasonic signals by a pulse;

and wherein when two ultrasonic signals are received by the receiving means at different timings within a predetermined time range, the ultrasonic signal received first is determined as the direct reflected signal and the ultrasonic signal received second is determined as the alternative routing reflected signal.

10. An obstacle detecting system for a vehicle, comprising:

an ultrasonic sensor configured to be provided at a surface of a vehicle door, which is fixed to a vehicle body by a hinge and is operated to open and close relative to the vehicle body;

wherein

a central axis in a transmitting direction of an ultrasonic wave from the ultrasonic sensor is arranged to have an angle equal to or greater than zero degrees and less than 90 degrees relative to the surface of the vehicle door,

wherein the ultrasonic sensor comprises;

a transmitting means transmitting ultrasonic signals outward of the vehicle; and

a plurality of receiving means receiving the ultrasonic signals reflected on a surface of an object positioned apart from the vehicle;

the obstacle detecting system for the vehicle further comprising;

a calculating means specifying a position of the object on the basis of times elapsed from transmitting to receiving the ultrasonic signals to be received by the plurality of receiving means, and

determining an actual position of the object at a position being mirror symmetrical to the specified position of the object relative to the surface of the vehicle door when the specified position is determined to be at an inside location relative to the surface of the vehicle door.

11. The obstacle detecting system for the vehicle according to claim 10, wherein the surface of the vehicle door is a surface of an opening and closing body operated to open and close relative to the vehicle;

and the obstacle detecting system for the vehicle further comprising;

a control means stopping an opening operation of the opening and closing body when the position of the object specified by the calculating means is within a predetermined region predetermined at an inside location relative to the surface of the opening and closing body.

12. The obstacle detecting system for the vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the predetermined region is variable.