Ultrasonic Echo Feature Transmission on Limited Vehicle Data Buses
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ultrasonic systems in vehicles face challenges in efficiently transmitting data due to limited data transmission rates, necessitating increased data compression without compromising obstacle recognition reliability, especially when integrating data from multiple sensors for environment mapping.
Innovation Solution
A method that extracts predetermined signal profile characteristics from echo signals, allocates them to classes with identifiers, and transmits only the identifiers and object parameters, allowing for reconstruction of the echo signal in the data processing device, thereby reducing data transmission while maintaining recognition accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If the quantity of data to be transmitted from the ultrasonic system to the data processing device is increased to improve obstacle recognition accuracy, then the information content and relevance for obstacle recognition is improved, but the data transmission rate exceeds the limited capacity of the vehicle data bus
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential signal profile characteristics from the complete echo signal data. Instead of transmitting the full raw echo signal, the system identifies and transmits only the relevant features (peak values, timing information, signal profile shapes) that are necessary for obstacle recognition. This extraction principle reduces the data volume significantly while preserving the critical information needed for accurate obstacle detection and classification.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the echo signal from its original continuous waveform representation into a discrete set of parameter descriptions. By converting the signal into characterized features (amplitude, duration, timing, profile shape parameters), the system changes the data representation format to achieve compression. This parameter-based representation maintains the essential characteristics needed for obstacle recognition while reducing the data transmission burden on the vehicle bus.
2Productivity
If data compression is applied to reduce the quantity of data transmitted, then the data transmission rate is reduced to fit the data bus capacity, but the risk of data loss and erroneous information increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential signal profile characteristics that are critical for obstacle recognition while discarding redundant information. By carefully selecting which features to transmit (peak values, timing, signal shape characteristics), the system ensures that the most reliable information is preserved. This selective extraction maintains recognition reliability while achieving the necessary data compression to fit within data bus capacity constraints.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary analysis and classification of the echo signal characteristics before transmission. By pre-processing the signal to identify and categorize relevant features, the system ensures that only meaningful data is transmitted. This preliminary action prevents data loss by ensuring that the extracted characteristics adequately represent the original signal for obstacle recognition purposes, thereby maintaining reliability despite compression.
3Measurement precision
If complete echo signal data are transmitted to enable sensor fusion and central obstacle recognition, then the accuracy of obstacle recognition is improved, but the data bus load increases beyond acceptable limits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential signal profile characteristics from the complete echo signal. Instead of transmitting the entire raw signal data, the system identifies and transmits only the critical features (peak amplitudes, timing information, signal profile shapes) that are necessary for accurate obstacle recognition and sensor fusion. This extraction achieves significant data compression while preserving the measurement precision needed for reliable obstacle detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the echo signal into distinct characteristic components for transmission. By dividing the continuous signal into discrete feature elements (individual peaks, signal profiles, timing markers), the system enables efficient data representation and transmission. This segmentation allows the data bus to handle the information more effectively while maintaining the precision required for central obstacle recognition and sensor fusion operations.
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 significantly reduces data bus load, prioritizes safety-critical data transmission, and enables efficient integration of data from multiple ultrasonic sensors, enhancing obstacle recognition and reducing the risk of erroneous decisions.
Implementation Method 1
ultrasonic burst signals are emitted by at least one ultrasonic transmitter which are received by at least one ultrasonic receiver of the ultrasonic system after having been reflected from an obstacle
Implementation Method 2
received by at least one ultrasonic receiver of the ultrasonic system after having been reflected from an obstacle (generally speaking: an object)
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a method for transmitting data via a vehicle data bus from an ultrasonic system, which comprises at least one ultrasonic transmitter and an ultrasonic receiver, to a data processing device, wherein predetermined signal profile characteristics are extracted from the echo signal received by the at least one ultrasonic receiver of the ultrasonic system. Echo signal data, which represent signal profile characteristics extracted from the echo signal, is created. Said echo signal data is transmitted from the ultrasonic system via the vehicle data bus to the data processing device.