Method for functionally testing an ultrasonic sensor

• US 8,064,285 B2
• Filed: 11/16/2006
• Issued: 11/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Preissler, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): PIHULIC, DANIEL T
• Application Number:
  US12/086,220
• Publication Number:
  US 20090251990A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,832 Days
• Field of Search: 367/13, 367/909, 73/18.2, 340/435, 340/436, 340/904
• US Class Current: 367/13
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/876 Combination of several spaced transmitters or receivers of known location for determining the position of a transponder or a reflector G01S15/872 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2007/52009 of sensor obstruction, e.g. dirt- or ice-coating
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2007/52012 involving a reference ground return
• 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 7/52004 Means for monitoring or calibrating short-range imaging G01S7/5205

Abstract

A method for functionally testing an ultrasonic sensor on a motor vehicle in which, in a test operating mode, an ultrasonic signal is emitted whose magnitude is large enough that under conventional conditions this ultrasonic signal is reflected by a ground surface in front of the vehicle and is received again. In this way, it can easily be determined that the ultrasonic sensor is functioning properly.

Claims

1. A method for functional testing of an ultrasonic sensor on a motor vehicle, the ultrasonic sensor emitting an ultrasonic signal, and the ultrasonic signal being reflected from a ground surface in front of the vehicle and received again by the ultrasonic sensor or by another ultrasonic sensor, the method comprising:

selecting at least one of a duration and an amplitude of the emitted ultrasonic signal to be great enough to enable, under conventional conditions, a reception of the signal reflected by the ground surface;

determining a functioning of the ultrasonic sensor when there is a reception of the reflected signal; and

if no ultrasonic signal reflected by the ground surface is received, increasing at least one of the duration and the amplitude of an ultrasonic signal next emitted, wherein if a value of at least one of the duration and the amplitude has not yet been reached at which, under conventional conditions, a reception of the reflected ultrasonic signal must reliably take place.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising evaluating a magnitude of the amplitude of the received signal for the functional test of the ultrasonic sensor.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising, in order to detect the signal reflected by the ground surface, increasing a sensitivity of the ultrasonic sensor.

4. A distance-measuring device comprising:

at least one ultrasonic sensor for use in a motor vehicle;

a control unit for initiating an emission of an ultrasonic signal by the ultrasonic sensor in a test operating mode of the ultrasonic sensor, the control unit increasing at least one of an amplitude and a duration of the emitted ultrasonic signal in such a way that the ultrasonic signal that is emitted and reflected by a ground surface in front of the vehicle is capable of being reliably received again, under conventional conditions, by the ultrasonic sensor or by another ultrasonic sensor; and

an output unit connected to the control unit for outputting an error for the case in which, after the emission of the ultrasonic signal, it is the case that no signal reflected by the ground surface is received.