Method for the detection of surroundings

• US 8,310,654 B2
• Filed: 10/18/2006
• Issued: 11/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Weilkes, Michael, Merkel, Rudolf, Zimmermann, Uwe
• Primary Examiner(s): RATCLIFFE, LUKE D
• Application Number:
  US12/085,010
• Publication Number:
  US 20090303099A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,218 Days
• Field of Search: 356 301- 315, 356 401- 41, 356 501- 515, 356 6- 22, 356/28, 356/28.5
• US Class Current: 356/5.01
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/14 wherein a voltage or current pulse is initiated and terminated in accordance with the pulse transmission and echo reception respectively, e.g. using counters
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/483 Details of pulse systems

Abstract

A method for the detection of surroundings is performed using a source which emits pulsed signals. Signals backscattered from an object are detected by a sensor. When performing the method, a presence of the object is detected during coarse sampling. To determine a variable related to the detected object, operating parameters of the source are set for fine sampling.

Claims

1. A device for the detection of surroundings, comprising:

a source, which emits pulsed signals; and

a circuit system, which includes a reference pulse winding for generating a reference pulse at a first input terminal in an input path on a primary side of an RF transmitter, wherein a second input terminal in the input path on the primary side of the RF transmitter receives a pulse corresponding to a reflected one of the emitted pulsed signals.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the pulsed signals have a variable pulse-pause ratio.

4. The device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one further component, the reference pulse being implemented to determine a propagation time of the at least one further component.

5. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a sensor for sampling pulsed signals which are backscattered from an object.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device is for determining a distance to an object.

9. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a control unit that performs a calibration procedure by determining an internal propagation time of the circuit system based on the reference pulse and subtracting the internal propagation time from a determined propagation time corresponding to the received pulse.

3. A method for the detection of surroundings, comprising:

emitting pulsed signals using a source;

detecting signals backscattered from an object using a sensor;

detecting a presence of the object along with a distance to the object during coarse sampling; and

setting operating parameters of the source for fine sampling to determine a variable related to the detected object;

wherein;

the operating parameters of the source are set for performing the fine sampling as a function of the detected distance to the object; and

a distance-dependent adaptation of the operating parameters is performed within one measurement cycle of a backscatter curve generated based on the backscattered signals.

7. The method according to claim 3, wherein a pulse-pause ratio is set to a minimum level and a pulse power is set to a maximum level to perform the coarse sampling.

10. The method according to claim 3, wherein the pulsed signals have a variable pulse-pause ratio.

8. A method for the detection of surroundings, comprising:

emitting pulsed signals using a source;

detecting signals backscattered from an object using a sensor;

detecting a presence of the object along with a distance to the object during coarse sampling; and

setting operating parameters of the source for fine sampling to determine a variable related to the detected object;

wherein;

the operating parameters of the source are set for performing the fine sampling as a function of the detected distance to the object;

the backscattered signals are analyzed using a boxcar analysis in which a predetermined number of measurement pulses are averaged over each of a plurality of distance cells;

the number of measurement pulses averaged per distance cell is set to a minimal number during the coarse sampling; and

the number of measurement pulses averaged per distance cell is increased during the fine sampling.

11. The method according to claim 8, wherein the pulsed signals have a variable pulse-pause ratio.

12. The method according to claim 8, wherein a pulse-pause ratio is set to a minimum level and a pulse power is set to a maximum level to perform the coarse sampling.