Sound Collector Array Segmentation for Vehicle Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing approaching vehicle detection systems face a trade-off between spatial resolution and noise resistance, where wider spacing improves detectable distance but reduces noise resistance, and narrower spacing enhances noise resistance but decreases detectable distance, making it difficult to effectively detect vehicles at high speeds from far distances.

Innovation Solution

The system employs multiple pairs of sound collectors with varying spacings, including both narrow and wide spacings, to enhance both maximum detectable distance performance and noise resistance performance by using pairs with narrow spacings for noise resistance and pairs with wide spacings for angular resolution, and incorporates omnidirectional sound collectors and fault diagnosis for improved reliability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Length of stationary object

If the spacing between sound collectors is made wide, then the maximum detectable distance is extended, but the noise resistance performance is lowered

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespacing between sound collectorsVSAvoidnoise resistance performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The sound collector array is segmented into multiple pairs with different spacings (first pair with spacing D1, second pair with spacing D2 where D2 > D1). Each pair is optimized for different functions: the first pair for noise resistance and the second pair for maximum detectable distance, thereby resolving the contradiction between these two performance metrics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the sound collector array are assigned different spacing characteristics. The first pair uses narrow spacing (D1) optimized for noise resistance in close-range detection, while the second pair uses wide spacing (D2) optimized for maximum detectable distance in far-range detection. This local differentiation allows simultaneous optimization of both contradictory requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If the spacing between sound collectors is made narrow, then the noise resistance performance is enhanced, but the maximum detectable distance is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenoise resistance performanceVSAvoidspacing between sound collectors
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The sound collector array is segmented into multiple pairs with different spacings (first pair with spacing D1, second pair with spacing D2 where D2 > D1). Each pair is optimized for different functions: the first pair for noise resistance and the second pair for maximum detectable distance, thereby resolving the contradiction between these two performance metrics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the sound collector array are assigned different spacing characteristics. The first pair uses narrow spacing (D1) optimized for noise resistance in close-range detection, while the second pair uses wide spacing (D2) optimized for maximum detectable distance in far-range detection. This local differentiation allows simultaneous optimization of both contradictory requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Measurement precision

If the spacing between sound collectors is made wide, then the angular resolution is improved, but the noise resistance performance is lowered

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveangular resolutionVSAvoidnoise resistance performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The sound collector array is segmented into multiple pairs with different spacings (first pair with spacing D1, second pair with spacing D2 where D2 > D1). Each pair is optimized for different functions: the first pair for noise resistance and the second pair for angular resolution, thereby resolving the contradiction between these two performance metrics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the sound collector array are assigned different spacing characteristics. The first pair uses narrow spacing (D1) optimized for noise resistance, while the second pair uses wide spacing (D2) optimized for angular resolution in far-range detection. This local differentiation allows simultaneous optimization of both contradictory requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 allows for accurate detection of approaching vehicles at longer distances with enhanced noise resistance and angular resolution, improving the overall reliability and effectiveness of the detection system.

Implementation Method 1

collecting the ambient sound through a plurality of sound collectors

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAcoustic detection: Sound

Implementation Method 2

the movement direction of the sound source (particularly, the traveling sound of the vehicle) is specified on the basis of the phase difference of each sound

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhase difference:

Implementation Method 3

cross-correlation between the noise-reduced signals of the plurality of microphones is calculated, and thereby the direction of the approach of the approaching vehicle is calculated from the difference in the time of arrival at which the correlation is maximized

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCross-correlation:

Data Source

PatentEP2680023B1Approaching vehicle detection device and approaching vehicle detection method
Publication Date: 2016.04.13 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP2680023B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2680023B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2680023B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

There is provided an approaching vehicle detection device that detects an approaching vehicle on the basis of sounds collected by a plurality of sound collectors 13A, 14A, 15A, and 16A, in which a sound source (in particular, traveling sound of the vehicle) is detected using pairs of the sound collectors 11A (13A, 14A) and 12A (15A, 16A) with narrow spacings, and approach of the sound source is detected using a pair of the sound collectors 13A and 16A which are disposed to be more widely spaced than the pairs of the sound collectors 11A and 12A.