Ultrasonic detection device

Abstract

The object to be addressed by the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic detection device that can determine the accurate distance to a detected object without relying on correction of the propagation speed of ultrasonic waves in the atmosphere through inaccurate temperature measurements. [Solution] The ultrasonic detection device of the present invention is equipped with means for acquiring velocity data in the atmosphere, and calculates the distance by determining the propagation velocity itself without relying on correction of the propagation velocity of ultrasonic waves in the atmosphere via temperature measurement, making it possible to determine the accurate distance to the object to be detected.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an ultrasonic detection device capable of accurately correcting the influence of the temperature in the atmosphere through which ultrasonic waves propagate.

Background Art

[0002] A conventional ultrasonic detection device is as shown in FIG. 7. Generally, the speed v at which ultrasonic waves propagate in the atmosphere is v = 331.5 + 0.6T (m / s): T is the atmospheric temperature in °C In rough detection, a speed of 343.5 m / s at a temperature of 20°C is used. However, to accurately determine the distance to the detected object with an ultrasonic detection device, the temperature is measured and calculated from the corresponding propagation speed. As an example, in Patent Document 1, temperature measurement means is provided for each of a number of ultrasonic measurement means attached around a vehicle. In Patent Document 2, temperature measurement means is provided outside the ultrasonic measurement means, the temperature is measured, and it is transmitted to a correction unit on the ultrasonic measurement means side. Neither the former nor the latter is the temperature in the atmosphere. It is the temperature of the part where the ultrasonic measurement means is attached or the temperature of the temperature measurement means. In particular, due to sunlight, the location where the ultrasonic measurement means is attached and the external temperature measurement means are warmed, and in reality, it is often higher than the temperature in the atmosphere. Obtaining the temperature is not the essence. To improve the accuracy, it is desired to obtain the speed in the atmosphere through which the ultrasonic waves are actually propagating. In response to such requirements, the conventional efforts have not provided any solutions.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The object of this invention is to provide an ultrasonic detection device with improved accuracy by measuring the actual speed at which ultrasonic waves propagate through the atmosphere without measuring temperature, and by using the measured speed to determine or correct the distance to the object being detected. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The following is a description in accordance with the claims. The invention described in claim 1 is an ultrasonic detection device, The system comprises a control means, a detection means controlled by the control means, a notification means for notifying the detection result, and an atmospheric velocity data acquisition means, wherein the detection means includes a first ultrasonic transmitting means for transmitting ultrasonic waves, a first ultrasonic receiving means for receiving ultrasonic waves transmitted from the first ultrasonic transmitting means that strike a target object and are reflected back, and a distance calculation means for calculating the distance between the target object and the first ultrasonic transmitting means or the first ultrasonic receiving means from the propagation speed v of the ultrasonic waves in the atmosphere and the propagation time t from the transmission of the ultrasonic waves to the reception of the reflected waves. The atmospheric velocity data acquisition means comprises a second ultrasonic transmitting means, a second ultrasonic receiving means, a reflector spaced at a known distance L, and a velocity calculation means, thereby determining the propagation velocity v of the ultrasonic waves in the atmosphere and providing it to the distance calculation means to perform distance calculation with improved accuracy. This avoids the drawbacks of temperature measurement corrections.

[0006] The invention described in claim 2 is an ultrasonic detection device according to claim 1, The configuration in which the second ultrasonic transmitting means and the second ultrasonic receiving means are separated from the reflector by a known distance L is characterized in that it is done via a reflector support arm that supports the reflector. This allows reflectors to be placed at any location at a known distance L apart.

[0007] The invention described in claim 3 is an ultrasonic detection device according to claim 1, The reflective surface of the reflector is characterized by being a concave curved surface that follows the shape of a circle with the position of the second ultrasonic transmitting means or the second ultrasonic receiving means as the center of the circle. This prevents a decrease in the intensity of the reflected ultrasound waves.

[0008] The invention of claim 4 is an ultrasonic detection device according to claim 1, The first ultrasonic transmitting means and the second ultrasonic transmitting means are used as both ultrasonic transmitting means, and the first ultrasonic receiving means and the second ultrasonic receiving means are used as both ultrasonic receiving means. When the ultrasonic transmitting means and the ultrasonic receiving means are facing the reflector, the propagation speed v is obtained, and when the ultrasonic transmitting means and the ultrasonic receiving means are not facing the reflector, the object to be detected is detected. This allows for a simplified and inexpensive manufacturing process.

[0009] The invention described in claim 5 is an ultrasonic detection device according to claim 1, The system is characterized by a configuration in which one atmospheric velocity data acquisition means is shared by multiple detection means. This allows for a simplified and inexpensive manufacturing process. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] As configured as described above, the ultrasonic detection device according to the present invention calculates the distance by determining the propagation speed itself, without relying on correction of the propagation speed of ultrasonic waves in the atmosphere via temperature measurement, thus making it possible to determine the accurate distance to the object to be detected. So, [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] This figure shows one embodiment of the ultrasonic detection device according to the present invention. [Figure 2] This figure shows one embodiment of the means for acquiring atmospheric velocity data of an ultrasonic detection device according to the present invention. [Figure 3]It is a diagram showing an embodiment of a speed data acquisition means of an ultrasonic detection device according to the present invention. [Figure 4] It is a diagram showing an embodiment of the usage state of an ultrasonic detection device according to the present invention. [Figure 5] It is a diagram showing another embodiment of the usage state of an ultrasonic detection device according to the present invention. [Figure 6] It is a diagram showing an embodiment in which, in an ultrasonic detection device according to the present invention, a second ultrasonic transmission means and a second ultrasonic reception means of an atmospheric speed data acquisition means, and a first ultrasonic transmission means and a first ultrasonic reception means of a detection means can be used interchangeably. [Figure 7] It is a diagram showing a conventional ultrasonic detection device.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0012] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of an ultrasonic detection device according to the present invention. The ultrasonic detection device 1000 of the present application includes a control means 100, a detection means 200 controlled by the control means 100, a notification means 300 for notifying the result of detection, and an atmospheric speed data acquisition means 400. The detection means 200 includes a first ultrasonic transmission means 210 for transmitting ultrasonic waves, and a first ultrasonic reception means 220 for receiving ultrasonic waves that are transmitted from the first ultrasonic transmission means 210, hit a detected object such as an obstacle, and are reflected and returned. It also has a distance calculation means 230 for calculating the distance between the detected object and the detection means 200 from the propagation speed v of ultrasonic waves in the air and the propagation time t from ultrasonic wave transmission to reception of the reflected wave. The atmospheric speed data acquisition means 400 includes a second ultrasonic transmission means 410, a second ultrasonic reception means 420, a reflector 430 separated from both by a known distance L, and a speed calculation means 440, thereby obtaining the propagation speed of ultrasonic waves in the air and providing it to the distance calculation means 230, improving the accuracy of distance calculation in the detection means 200. It can avoid the conventional drawback of measuring temperature to obtain speed. As described above, the atmospheric velocity data acquisition means 400 includes a second ultrasonic transmission means 410, a second ultrasonic reception means 420, and a reflector 430 located at a known distance L from both of them. The second ultrasonic transmission means 410 transmits ultrasonic waves toward the reflector 430, and the second ultrasonic reception means 420 receives the ultrasonic waves reflected by the reflector 430 and returned. If the time from transmission to reception is tb, the velocity v of ultrasonic waves in the atmosphere is obtained by the velocity calculation means 440 as v = 2L / tb. By obtaining the velocity itself that propagates through the atmosphere without passing through the temperature and providing this to the actual distance calculation means 230 for use, from the propagation time t1 between the first ultrasonic transmission means 210 and the first ultrasonic reception means 220 and the detected object, the distance M between the detection means 200 and the detected object is M = t1·v / 2 = t1·L / tb can be calculated. The acquisition of the velocity v of ultrasonic waves in the atmosphere by the atmospheric velocity data acquisition means 400 may be at a slower time interval compared to the detection frequency on the side of the first ultrasonic transmission means 210 and the first ultrasonic reception means 220. This is because the temperature in the atmosphere changes at a slow time interval and the velocity also follows it, so an acquisition frequency corresponding to that is sufficient.

[0013] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the atmospheric velocity data acquisition means of the ultrasonic detection device according to the present invention. To ensure the known distance L between the second ultrasonic transmission means 410 and the second ultrasonic reception means 420 and the reflector 430, the reflector 430 is supported by a reflector support arm 440. Examples of that situation are shown in 2 - A and 2 - B. In 2 - B, the second ultrasonic transmission means 410, the second ultrasonic reception means 420, and the reflector 430 are in an integrated configuration connected by the reflector support arm 440 to ensure the known distance L, and this is an example of being installed on an installed object such as a vehicle body. In 2 - A, the second ultrasonic transmission means 410, the second ultrasonic reception means 420, and the reflector support arm 440 supporting the reflector 430 are configured separately, and each is installed on an installed object such as a vehicle body so as to ensure the known distance L.

[0014] Figure 3 shows one embodiment of the velocity data acquisition means for an ultrasonic detection device according to the present invention. In this example, it corresponds to the integrated configuration shown in Figure 2, but the same applies to a separate configuration. In 3-A, the reflective surface of the reflector 430 is a flat reflective surface, but in 3-B, it is a concave reflective surface. While it is preferable to use a curvature with a known distance L as the radius, this is not strictly required. This has the effect of preventing a decrease in the intensity of the reflected ultrasound. In 3-C, the shape of the support base that supports the second ultrasonic transmitting means 410 and the second ultrasonic receiving means 420 differs from that of 3-A and 3-B.

[0015] Figure 4 shows one embodiment of the usage state of the ultrasonic detection device according to the present invention. This is an example where the detection means 200 and the atmospheric velocity data acquisition means 400 are installed on the vehicle body. In this example, the detection means 200 is oriented in the horizontal X direction, and the atmospheric velocity data acquisition means 400 acquires velocity v in the vertical Z direction, but it is not essential that they are oriented in the same direction. This is because the propagation speed in the atmosphere is independent of direction.

[0016] Figure 5 shows another embodiment of the ultrasonic detection device according to the present invention in use. In Figure 4, one detection means 200 and one atmospheric velocity data acquisition means 400 were installed, Figure 5 shows an example where one atmospheric velocity data acquisition means 400 and numerous detection means 200 are installed, and the velocity v data from the atmospheric velocity data acquisition means 400 is shared among the numerous detection means 200.

[0017] Figure 6 shows one embodiment of the ultrasonic detection device according to the present invention, in which the second ultrasonic transmitting means 410 and second ultrasonic receiving means 420 of the atmospheric velocity data acquisition means 400 and the first ultrasonic transmitting means 210 and first ultrasonic receiving means 220 of the detection means 200 can be switched between and used interchangeably. In Figure 6, the second ultrasonic transmitting means 410 and second ultrasonic receiving means 420 of the atmospheric velocity data acquisition means 400, and the first ultrasonic transmitting means 210 and first ultrasonic receiving means 220 of the detection means 200 are used as a single set of ultrasonic transmitting means and ultrasonic receiving means. In state 6-A, the ultrasonic transmitting means and ultrasonic receiving means first function as the second ultrasonic transmitting means 410 and the second ultrasonic receiving means 420, facing the reflector 430 and determining the velocity v. In state 6-B, they rotate in a direction away from the reflector 430 and face in a direction to detect the object to be detected, and function as the first ultrasonic transmitting means 210 and the first ultrasonic receiving means 220. In state 6-C, the reflector support arm 440 rotates together with the reflector 430, This indicates that the reflector 430, the ultrasonic transmitting means, and the ultrasonic receiving means are not facing each other, yet they are detecting the object to be detected. Although the ultrasonic transmitting means and ultrasonic receiving means have been described separately, it is known and applicable that the ultrasonic transmitting means and ultrasonic receiving means can be combined into a single element as both transmitting and receiving means. Furthermore, the influence of the vehicle's speed on the device, or the wind speed calculation, can be canceled out by the round trip between the reflector 430 and the vehicle, and can be ignored. [Industrial applicability]

[0018] As described above, the ultrasonic detection device according to the present invention calculates the distance by determining the propagation speed itself, without relying on correction of the propagation speed of ultrasonic waves in the atmosphere via temperature measurement. Therefore, it is possible to determine the accurate distance to the object to be detected, making it extremely convenient for industrial use. [Explanation of symbols]

[0019] 100 Control means 200 Detection means 210 First ultrasonic transmitting means 220 First ultrasonic receiving means 230 Distance calculation means 300 Notification methods 400 Means for acquiring atmospheric velocity data 410 Second ultrasonic transmitting means 420 Second ultrasonic receiving means 430 Reflector 440 Reflector support arm 1000 Ultrasonic detection device

Claims

1. The system comprises a control means, a detection means controlled by the control means, a notification means for notifying the detection result, and an atmospheric velocity data acquisition means, wherein the detection means includes a first ultrasonic transmitting means for transmitting ultrasonic waves, a first ultrasonic receiving means for receiving ultrasonic waves transmitted from the first ultrasonic transmitting means that strike a target object and are reflected back, and a distance calculation means for calculating the distance between the target object and the first ultrasonic transmitting means or the first ultrasonic receiving means from the propagation speed v of the ultrasonic waves in the atmosphere and the propagation time t from the transmission of the ultrasonic waves to the reception of the reflected waves. The ultrasonic detection device is characterized in that the atmospheric velocity data acquisition means comprises a second ultrasonic transmission means, a second ultrasonic reception means, a reflector spaced at a known distance L, and a velocity calculation means, thereby determining the propagation velocity v of the ultrasonic waves in the atmosphere and providing it to the distance calculation means to perform distance calculation with improved accuracy.

2. The ultrasonic detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that the configuration in which the second ultrasonic transmitting means and the second ultrasonic receiving means are separated from the reflector by a known distance L is performed via a reflector support arm that supports the reflector.

3. The ultrasonic detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that the reflective surface of the reflector is a concave curved surface that follows the shape of a circle with the position of the second ultrasonic transmitting means or the second ultrasonic receiving means as the center of the circle.

4. The ultrasonic detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first ultrasonic transmitting means and the second ultrasonic transmitting means are used as both ultrasonic transmitting means, the first ultrasonic receiving means and the second ultrasonic receiving means are used as both ultrasonic receiving means, the propagation speed v is obtained when the ultrasonic transmitting means and the ultrasonic receiving means are facing the reflector, and the detection of the object to be detected is performed when the ultrasonic transmitting means and the ultrasonic receiving means are not facing the reflector.

5. The ultrasonic detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that one means for acquiring atmospheric velocity data is shared by a plurality of the detection means.

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