Vehicle Sensor Synchronization for Better Object Separability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle environment monitoring sensor devices are limited in their ability to distinguish separate objects due to the separate use of master and slave sensors, which results in poor separability and increased complexity with additional receiving antennas.
Innovation Solution
A sensor device with at least two sensors, each equipped with a signal generator, transmitting antenna, and receiving antennas, utilizes a reference clock pulse generator to create a phase-locked coupling, effectively forming a virtual common sensor with increased receiving antennas, enhancing separability without structural changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If additional receiving antennas are added to improve object separability, then the number of separately recognizable objects increases, but device complexity and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensors (master sensor and slave sensor) into a coordinated system where the slave sensor operates in synchronization with the master sensor. By coupling the slave sensor to the master sensor and using common reference clock pulses, the system achieves enhanced object separability equivalent to having additional receiving antennas without physically adding more antennas to each sensor unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The slave sensor is designed to perform multiple functions: it can operate independently for basic monitoring and can be coupled to the master sensor to provide enhanced separability when needed. This multi-functional design allows the same hardware to adapt to different operational requirements without requiring separate dedicated components for each function.
2Ease of operation
If two sensors are used separately for monitoring, then each sensor can function independently, but objects moving at the same speed and spacing cannot be distinguished as separate objects
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between independent sensor operation and coupled sensor operation based on operational requirements. The slave sensor can be coupled to the master sensor through phase-locked coupling using common reference clock pulses, creating a coordinated system that enhances object separability while maintaining the option for independent operation when simpler monitoring is sufficient.
3Measurement precision
If the number of receiving antennas is increased to improve separability, then more objects can be distinguished, but manufacturing costs and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of increasing the number of receiving antennas in each sensor, the patent merges the capabilities of multiple sensors by coupling them together. The slave sensor is synchronized with the master sensor through phase-locked coupling, allowing the system to achieve enhanced separability through coordinated operation rather than through additional hardware components in each sensor unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The slave sensor acts as a synchronized copy of the master sensor's functionality, operating in parallel with phase-locked coupling. This allows the system to achieve the effect of having more receiving antennas by having a second sensor unit that replicates and coordinates with the master sensor, rather than physically adding more antennas to each unit.
Data Source
AI summary
A sensor device for monitoring the environment of a vehicle includes at least two sensors, each with a signal generator, a transmitting antenna, and at least two receiving antennas, characterized in that at least one reference clock pulse generator for generating a common reference clock pulse for the signal generators of the at least two sensors is provided.