Ultrasonic Contact Detection Through Concealed Vehicle Panels
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Concealed ultrasonic sensor systems in vehicles face challenges in reliable contact detection due to parasitic structure-borne sound amplitudes and noise interference, which hinder accurate echo time-of-flight measurements and computational contact detection.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the detection of reference surroundings information, storage of this information, and the formation of a difference signal between real-time and reference surroundings information using an ultrasonic sensor system, allowing for computational noise and structure-borne sound compensation, enabling sensitive contact detection and damage identification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If ultrasonic transducers are installed in a concealed manner, then visual appearance is improved, but reliable detection of ultrasonic signals is hampered due to parasitic structure-borne sound amplitudes
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary measurement operations to determine the structure-borne sound transfer function of the vehicle body before actual contact detection. This pre-characterization of the noise environment enables subsequent computational filtering to remove structure-borne sound interference from contact detection signals, thereby maintaining detection reliability with concealed sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces computational signal processing as an intermediary between the concealed ultrasonic sensor and the contact detection function. By using transfer function analysis and signal filtering algorithms, the system mediates the interference between structure-borne sound and contact detection signals, enabling reliable detection despite concealed sensor installation.
2Measurement precision
If active excitation of noise signal is used for contact detection, then detection sensitivity is improved, but noise interference increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system converts the harmful structure-borne sound noise into a useful characteristic by measuring the structure-borne sound transfer function. The noise signal itself becomes a reference that enables computational filtering, transforming the interference into a benefit for enhancing contact detection sensitivity while maintaining a quiet operational mode.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback through continuous monitoring of structure-borne sound signals and using this information to adaptively filter contact detection signals. The system feeds back the characterized noise profile to improve subsequent detection operations, enabling high sensitivity without active noise excitation during normal operation.
3Measurement precision
If computational noise compensation is implemented, then contact detection accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ultrasonic sensor system performs multiple functions: it detects contact events, characterizes structure-borne sound transfer functions, and provides reference signals for noise compensation. By making the sensor system universal, the patent reduces the need for separate dedicated noise measurement devices, thereby limiting the increase in system complexity while improving detection accuracy.
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 precise detection of contact and damage on vehicle surfaces, reducing design and material costs while maintaining performance, and can be applied to both concealed and unconcealed ultrasonic systems, enhancing detection sensitivity and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
Ultrasonic signals emitted by the ultrasonic sensor system penetrate the wall material at which the sensor is arranged
Implementation Method 2
reliable detection of the ultrasonic signals coupling in via the airborne route in the form of echoes
Implementation Method 3
echo time-of-flight measurements
Implementation Method 4
the wall material is made to vibrate. These vibrations continue to resonate for such a long time
Implementation Method 5
These vibrations continue to resonate for such a long time that they interfere with the echo time-of-flight measurements
Implementation Method 6
parasitic structure-borne sound amplitudes in the immediately adjacent vehicle structure
Data Source
AI summary
A method for contact detection for an ultrasonic sensor system installed in a concealed or unconcealed manner is disclosed. The method involves detecting reference surroundings information, comprising a time profile of a signal with: noise signal information relating to a wall material and/or airborne sound signal information, using an ultrasonic sensor of the ultrasonic sensor system; storing the reference surroundings information; detecting real-time surroundings information, comprising a time profile of a signal with: noise signal information relating to the wall material and/or airborne sound signal information and/or object sound signal information relating to an object in contact with the wall material, using the ultrasonic sensor; and forming a difference signal between the surroundings information of reference surroundings information and real-time surroundings information, using a computational unit. The difference signal can be interpreted in a further step.