Method and apparatus for ultrasonic sensing

• US 7,911,881 B2
• Filed: 02/05/2008
• Issued: 03/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TSD Integrated Controls LLC (Topcon Corporation)
• Original Assignee: TSD Integrated Controls LLC (Topcon Corporation)
• Inventors: Di Federico, Ivan
• Primary Examiner(s): PIHULIC, DANIEL T
• Application Number:
  US12/012,650
• Publication Number:
  US 20080259730A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,141 Days
• Field of Search: 367/99, 367/902, 367/96, 374/100, 374/141, 374/142, 600/549
• US Class Current: 367/99
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 19/006 by laser or ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0022 for sensing the radiation of moving bodies
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0205 Mechanical elements; Supports for optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/025 Interfacing a pyrometer to an external device or network; User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/041 Mountings in enclosures or in a particular environment
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/044 Environment with strong vibrations or shocks
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/048 Protective parts
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/87 Combinations of sonar systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2007/52014 involving a reference reflector integrated in the sensor or transducer configuration
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/521 Constructional features

Abstract

A distance and temperature sensing unit is used on paving vehicles. The unit has a first set of range sensors of a first diameter and a second set of range sensors of a second diameter. The unit calculates a weighted average distance to a road surface based on ranges measured by the multiple sensors. The unit also has a temperature sensor on a temperature bar. The bar is affixed to the unit by a flexible connection preventing break-off when the bar encounters obstacles, like the road surface, while the paving vehicle is moving.

Claims

1. A range sensing apparatus for determining a distance from the range sensing apparatus to a surface comprising:

a first ultrasonic range sensor having a first size;

a second ultrasonic range sensor having a second size different from the first size; and

a controller configured to calculate the distance based at least in part on ranges measured with the first and second ultrasonic range sensors.

2. The range sensing apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a housing;

a flexible connection attached to the housing;

a bar attached to the flexible connection at a first end;

a temperature detector attached to the bar at a second end of the bar; and

wherein the controller is further configured to receive temperature information from the temperature sensor.

3. The range sensing apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a temperature sensor coupled to the range sensing apparatus.

4. The range sensing apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a third ultrasonic range sensor having the first size;

a fourth ultrasonic range sensor having the second size; and

wherein the controller is further configured to calculate the distance based at least in part on ranges measured with the first, second, third, and fourth ultrasonic range sensors.

5. The range sensing apparatus of claim 4 wherein the first and third ultrasonic range sensors have a diameter that is smaller and a frequency that is higher than the diameter and frequency of the second and fourth ultrasonic range sensors.

6. The range sensing apparatus of claim 5 wherein the second and fourth ultrasonic range sensors are arranged outboard of the first and third ultrasonic range sensors on a surface of the range sensing apparatus.

7. The range sensing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the size of the first ultrasonic range sensor is a first diameter and the size of the second ultrasonic range sensor is a second diameter.

8. A range sensing apparatus for determining a distance from the range sensing apparatus to a surface comprising:

a first pair of ultrasonic range sensors having a first size and a first frequency;

a second pair of ultrasonic range sensors having a second size different from the first size and a second frequency different from the first frequency; and

a controller configured to calculate the distance based at least in part on ranges measured with the first and second pairs of ultrasonic range sensors.

9. The range sensing apparatus of claim 8 further comprising:

a housing;

a flexible connection attached to the housing;

a bar attached to the flexible connection at a first end;

a temperature detector attached to the bar at a second end of the bar; and

wherein the controller is further configured to receive temperature information from the temperature sensor.

10. The range sensing apparatus of claim 8 further comprising:

a temperature sensor coupled to the range sensing apparatus.

11. The range sensing apparatus of claim 8 wherein the second pair of ultrasonic range sensors have a diameter that is smaller and a frequency that is higher than the diameter and frequency of the first pair of ultrasonic range sensors.

12. The range sensing apparatus of claim 11 wherein the first pair of ultrasonic range sensors are arranged outboard of the second pair of ultrasonic range sensors on a surface of the range sensing apparatus.

13. The range sensing apparatus of claim 8 wherein the size of the first pair of ultrasonic range sensors is a first diameter and the size of the second pair of ultrasonic range sensors is a second diameter.

14. A method of determining a distance from a range sensing apparatus to a surface comprising:

measuring a first set of distances from the range sensing apparatus to the surface with a first set of sensors having a first size;

measuring a second set of distances from the range sensing apparatus to the surface with a second set of sensors having a second size different from the first size; and

calculating a calculated distance from the range sensing apparatus to the surface based at least in part on the measured first and second sets of distances.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the first and second sets of sensors each comprise one sensor.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the first and second sets of sensors each comprise two sensors.

17. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

weighting the measured first set of distances with a first weight;

weighting the measured second set of distances with a second weight; and

calculating the calculated distance based at least in part on the weighted measured distances.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

measuring a temperature of the surface; and

weighting the measured distances based at least in part on the measured temperature.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein calculating the calculated distance based at least in part on the weighted measured distances comprises calculating a weighted average of the first and second sets of measured distances.

20. The method of claim 14 wherein:

the range sensing apparatuses are ultrasonic range sensors and the first and second sizes are first and second diameters.

21. An apparatus for measuring a temperature of a road surface comprising:

a housing;

a flexible connection attached to the housing;

a temperature sensor coupled to the flexible connection;

a first ultrasonic range sensor having a first size;

a second ultrasonic range sensor having a second size different from the first size; and

a controller configured to calculate a distance from the apparatus to the road surface based at least in part on ranges measured with the first and second ultrasonic range sensors.