Distance sensor and method for determining a distance
First Claim
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1. A distance sensor, comprising:
- an ultrasound transceiver for transmitting ultrasound pulses and for receiving reflected ultrasound pulses from an object;
a discriminator unit for determining a center of distribution of the received reflected ultrasound pulses based on the received reflected ultrasound pulse exceeding a first threshold value and subsequently dropping below a second threshold value; and
a propagation time analyzer device for determining, based on the determined center of distribution, the distance to the object;
an estimator device for estimating a height of the object based on at least one of a pulse width of the reflected ultrasound pulses, a ratio of a number of reflected ultrasound pulses to a number of transmitted ultrasound pulses, and a distribution of the centers of distribution of reflected ultrasound pulses of an object; and
a correction unit for correcting the distance determined from the propagation time analyzer device as a function of the estimated height.
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Abstract
A distance sensor has an ultrasound transceiver for transmitting ultrasound pulses and for receiving reflected ultrasound pulses from an object. A discriminator unit is configured for determining a center of distribution of the received reflected ultrasound pulse on the basis of the received reflected ultrasound pulse exceeding a first threshold value and subsequently dropping below a second threshold value. A propagation time analyzer device, is designed for determining, based on the determined center of distribution, the distance to the object.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. A distance sensor, comprising:
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an ultrasound transceiver for transmitting ultrasound pulses and for receiving reflected ultrasound pulses from an object; a discriminator unit for determining a center of distribution of the received reflected ultrasound pulses based on the received reflected ultrasound pulse exceeding a first threshold value and subsequently dropping below a second threshold value; and a propagation time analyzer device for determining, based on the determined center of distribution, the distance to the object; an estimator device for estimating a height of the object based on at least one of a pulse width of the reflected ultrasound pulses, a ratio of a number of reflected ultrasound pulses to a number of transmitted ultrasound pulses, and a distribution of the centers of distribution of reflected ultrasound pulses of an object; and a correction unit for correcting the distance determined from the propagation time analyzer device as a function of the estimated height. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A method for determining a distance to an object, the method comprising:
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establishing an end of a propagation time measurement by a center of distribution of a reflected ultrasound pulse; and determining the distance to the object based on the propagation time measurement of the reflected ultrasound pulse; estimating a height of the object based on at least one of a pulse width of the reflected ultrasound pulses, a ratio of a number of reflected ultrasound pulses to a number of transmitted ultrasound pulses, and a distribution of the centers of distribution of reflected ultrasound pulses of an object; and correcting the distance determined from the propagation time analyzer device as a function of the estimated height. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 8, 9)
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7. A method for determining a distance to an object, the method comprising:
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establishing an end of a propagation time measurement by a center of distribution of a reflected ultrasound pulse; and determining the distance to the object based on the propagation time measurement of the reflected ultrasound pulse; wherein a height of the object is estimated based on a plurality of reflected ultrasound pulses, and wherein the distance determined by the propagation time measurement is corrected as a function of the estimated height of the object; and wherein the height of the object is determined from the plurality of reflected ultrasound pulses based on at least one of a pulse width of the reflected ultrasound pulses, the ratio of the number of reflected ultrasound pulses to the number of transmitted ultrasound pulses, and a distribution of the distances determined by propagation time measurement.
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Specification