Sensor Alignment Verification for Vehicle Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle monitoring systems face challenges in accurately identifying collision risks due to false information caused by sensor misalignment, leading to unnecessary triggering of braking systems.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method that verify sensor alignment by setting a confidence parameter, incrementing it when misalignment is within a tolerance, and only allowing action triggering when the parameter exceeds a certain value, thereby reducing false positives and ensuring correct alignment before initiating responses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the monitoring apparatus triggers braking action based on detected relative movement, then collision risk response is provided, but false braking may occur due to sensor misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary alignment verification by comparing the sensor's line of sight with the vehicle's longitudinal axis before enabling collision risk detection. The alignment verification unit determines whether the sensor is correctly aligned, and only when alignment is confirmed does the system allow braking actions to be triggered. This preliminary check prevents false braking while maintaining system reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an alignment verification unit as an intermediary component between the sensor and the braking trigger mechanism. This unit acts as a gatekeeper that validates sensor alignment status before allowing collision risk detection to proceed. The intermediary layer filters out false signals caused by misalignment without requiring fundamental changes to the sensor or braking system.
2Reliability
If the sensor alignment is strictly verified before triggering actions, then false positives are reduced, but response time to actual collision risks may be delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs alignment verification in advance and stores the verification result. Once alignment is confirmed, the system is ready to immediately trigger braking actions without repeating the verification process. This preliminary action eliminates the need for repeated checks during normal operation, thus reducing false positives while maintaining rapid response time.
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment verification, once performed, continues to be valid until conditions change (such as vehicle collision or sensor repositioning). The system maintains continuous monitoring of collision risks without interrupting the useful action of braking response, ensuring both reliability and timely response.
3Speed
If the apparatus allows immediate triggering of actions upon commencement of monitoring, then response speed is improved, but false information from misaligned sensors causes unnecessary braking
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs alignment verification before commencing collision risk monitoring. This preliminary action ensures the sensor is correctly positioned, eliminating the source of false information before it can cause unnecessary braking. The speed of response is maintained because the verification is done once in advance rather than continuously during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment verification unit performs a preliminary check to prevent the harmful effect of false braking caused by misaligned sensors. By detecting and preventing misalignment issues before they can trigger false braking actions, the system eliminates the harmful factor while preserving the ability to respond quickly to genuine collision risks.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach effectively suppresses unnecessary braking actions by ensuring sensor alignment is verified before triggering responses, reducing the risk of false target information and improving the accuracy of collision risk detection.
Implementation Method 1
The well known Doppler effect is used to determine a range and rate of change of range (or 'range rate') of the object from the vehicle.
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments of the invention provide an apparatus for monitoring one or more target objects in an environment external to a host vehicle by means of at least one sensor, the apparatus being arranged to trigger at least one action responsive to the detection of prescribed relative movement between the host vehicle and the one or more target objects, wherein the apparatus is arranged to determine whether the at least one sensor is correctly aligned with respect to the host vehicle whereby when the apparatus commences monitoring of the environment the apparatus is arranged not to trigger the at least one action until the apparatus has determined that the at least one sensor is correctly aligned.