Signal processing method and device

• US 7,050,949 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2003
• Issued: 05/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Niles Company Limited (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Niles Company Limited (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: Kokuryo, Kazuto, Nagao, Shinji
• Primary Examiner(s): Lauchman, Layla G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): VALENTIN, JUAN D
• Application Number:
  US10/412,738
• Publication Number:
  US 20040080751A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,138 Days
• Field of Search: 356/445, 250/214.R, 250/214.C, 250/214.1, 250/215, 250/573, 250/574, 318/483, 340/602, 327/514, 702/189, 702/190, 702/191
• US Class Current: 702/191
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0818 including control systems responsive to external conditions, e.g. by detection of moisture, dirt or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0833 Optical rain sensor
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/552 Attenuated total reflection

Abstract

A signal processing method and a signal processing device are provided in which a signal obtained from an object as an input signal, a time lag signal is generated from the input signal, a difference between the input signal and the time lag signal, and the generation of the difference is detected, so that a portion of the object at a position where the difference is generated is featured.

Claims

1. A signal processing method comprising:

receiving a signal obtained from an object as an input signal;

generating a time lag signal from the input signal;

calculating a difference between the input signal and the time lag signal; and

detecting the generation of the difference so as to feature a portion of the object at a position where the difference is generated.

2. The signal processing method according to claim 1, further comprising removing noises from the input signal beforehand.

3. The signal processing method according to claim 2, further comprising, after receiving the input signal, carrying out AD conversion by sampling the input signals over a predetermined period,

wherein the removing of noises from the input signal is carried out by leveling out a predetermined number of the sampled signals obtained sequentially from the A/D conversion.

4. The signal processing method according to claim 1, further comprising, after receiving the input signal, carrying out AD conversion by sampling the input signals over a predetermined period,

wherein the time lag signal is generated by leveling out a predetermined number of the sampled signals obtained sequentially from the A/D conversion.

5. The signal processing method according to claim 1, further comprising removing spike noises from the input signal beforehand.

6. A signal processing method comprising:

receiving a signal obtained from an object as an input signal;

generating a first order time lag signal from the input signal;

generating a second order time lag signal from the first order time lag signal;

calculating a difference between the first order time lag signal and the second order time lag signal; and

detecting the generation of the difference so as to feature a portion of the object at a position where the difference is generated.

7. The signal processing method according to claim 6, further comprising removing noises from the input signal beforehand.

8. The signal processing method according to claim 7, further comprising, after receiving the input signal, carrying out AD conversion by sampling the input signals over a predetermined period,

wherein the removing of noises from the input signal is carried out by leveling out a predetermined number of the sampled signals obtained sequentially from the A/D conversion.

9. The signal processing method according to claim 6, further comprising, after receiving the input signal, carrying out AD conversion by sampling the input signals over a predetermined period,

wherein the time lag signal is generated by leveling out a predetermined number of the sampled signals obtained sequentially from the A/D conversion.

10. The signal processing method according to claim 6, further comprising removing spike noises from the input signal beforehand.

11. A signal processing device comprising:

an input part for inputting a signal obtained from an object as an input signal;

a time lag signal generating part for generating a time lag signal from the input signal;

a difference generating part for calculating a difference between the input signal and the time lag signal; and

a featuring part for featuring a portion of the object at a position where the difference is generated by detecting the generation of the difference.

12. The signal processing device according to claim 11, further comprising a noise removing part for removing noises from the input signal beforehand.

13. The signal processing device according to claim 12, further comprising an AD converting part that samples the input signals over a predetermined period,

wherein the noise removing part levels out a predetermined number of the sampled signals obtained sequentially from the A/D converting part.

14. The signal processing device according to claim 11, further comprising an AD converting part that samples the input signals over a predetermined period,

wherein the time lag signal generating part levels out a predetermined number of the sampled signals obtained sequentially from the A/D converting part.

15. The signal processing method according to claim 11, further comprising a spike noise removing part for removing spike noises from the input signal beforehand.

16. A signal processing device comprising:

an input part for inputting a signal obtained from an object as an input signal;

a first order time lag signal generating part for generating a first order time lag signal from the input signal;

a second order time lag signal generating part for generating a second order time lag signal from the first order time lag signal;

a difference generating part for calculating a difference between the first order time lag signal and the second order time lag signal; and

a featuring part for featuring a portion of the object at a position where the difference is generated by detecting the generation of the difference.

17. The signal processing device according to claim 16, further comprising a noise removing part for removing noises from the input signal beforehand.

18. The signal processing device according to claim 17, further comprising an AD converting part that samples the input signals over a predetermined period,

wherein the noise removing part levels out a predetermined number of the sampled signals obtained sequentially from the A/D converting part.

19. The signal processing device according to claim 16, further comprising an AD converting part that samples the input signals over a predetermined period,

wherein the time lag signal generating part levels out a predetermined number of the sampled signals obtained sequentially from the A/D converting part.

20. The signal processing device according to claim 16, further comprising a spike noise removing part for removing spike noises from the input signal beforehand.

21. A signal processing device comprising:

a circuit module for inputting a signal obtained from an object as an input signal;

a circuit module for generating a time lag signal from the input signal;

a circuit module for calculating a difference between the input signal and the time lag signal; and

a circuit module for featuring a portion of the object at a position where the difference is generated by detecting the generation of the difference.

22. The signal processing device according to claim 21, further comprising a circuit module for removing noises from the input signal beforehand.

23. The signal processing device according to claim 22, further comprising an AD converting circuit module that samples the input signals over a predetermined period,

wherein the circuit module for removing noises from the input signal is a circuit module that levels out a predetermined number of the sampled signals obtained sequentially from the A/D converting circuit module.

24. The signal processing device according to claim 21, further comprising an AD converting circuit module that samples the input signals over a predetermined period,

wherein the circuit module for generating the time lag signal is a circuit module that levels out a predetermined number of the sampled signals obtained sequentially from the AID converting circuit module.

25. The signal processing method according to claim 21, further comprising a circuit module for removing spike noises from the input signal beforehand.

26. A signal processing device comprising:

a circuit module for inputting a signal obtained from an object as an input signal;

a circuit module for generating a first order time lag signal from the input signal;

a circuit module for generating a second order time lag signal from the first order time lag signal;

a circuit module for calculating a difference between the first order time lag signal and the second order time lag signal; and

a circuit module for featuring a portion of the object at a position where the difference is generated by detecting the generation of the difference.

27. The signal processing device according to claim 26, further comprising a circuit module for removing noises from the input signal beforehand.

28. The signal processing device according to claim 27, further comprising an AD converting circuit module that samples the input signals over a predetermined period,

wherein the circuit module for removing noises from the input signals is a circuit module that levels out a predetermined number of the sampled signals obtained sequentially from the A/D converting circuit module.

29. The signal processing device according to claim 26, further comprising an AD converting circuit module that samples the input signals over a predetermined period,

wherein the circuit module for generating a time lag signal levels out a predetermined number of the sampled signals obtained sequentially from the A/D converting circuit module.

30. The signal processing device according to claim 26, further comprising a circuit module for removing spike noises from the input signal beforehand.