Ultrasonic Obstacle Alerting System for Poor Visibility

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional vehicle safety alerting systems struggle to detect front obstacles in poor visibility conditions like dense fog or heavy rain, as cameras fail to capture clear images, leading to uncertainty for drivers.

Innovation Solution

A front obstacle alerting system that uses directional ultrasonic waves emitted by an obstacle-side signal emitting device, which includes a signal generator and directional speaker, and received by a vehicle-side alerting device with an ultrasonic receiver and signal analyzer, to determine and alert drivers of obstacles even in adverse weather conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a camera is used to capture images of the front road to detect obstacles, then the system can determine the presence and distance of front vehicles, but under poor visibility conditions such as dense fog or heavy rain, the camera fails to capture clear images, resulting in detection failure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveobstacle detection accuracyVSAvoidpoor visibility impact

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the optical camera-based detection system with an ultrasonic wave-based detection system. The obstacle-side signal emitting device emits ultrasonic waves that can penetrate poor visibility conditions, and the vehicle-side alerting device receives these waves to detect obstacles, substituting optical detection with acoustic detection to overcome fog and rain interference

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces ultrasonic waves as an intermediary medium to transfer obstacle presence information from the obstacle-side device to the vehicle-side device. These ultrasonic waves serve as a carrier that can propagate through poor visibility conditions where light-based camera detection fails, enabling reliable obstacle detection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the driver slows down the vehicle to prevent crashing into the front vehicle under poor visibility, then collision risk is reduced, but the rear vehicle may crash into this vehicle due to reduced speed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedriving safetyVSAvoidrear vehicle collision risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the vehicle-side alerting device receives ultrasonic waves from the obstacle-side signal emitting device, analyzes the signal to determine obstacle presence, and provides real-time feedback to the driver through alerts. This enables the driver to make informed speed adjustments based on actual obstacle conditions rather than blindly slowing down, preventing both front and rear collisions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables the vehicle to autonomously detect and assess front obstacle conditions using ultrasonic wave reception and signal analysis, providing self-service obstacle detection capability that eliminates reliance on poor optical conditions or driver guesswork, allowing appropriate speed management without causing rear collisions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Device complexity

If a camera-based obstacle detection system is used, then the system structure can be relatively simple, but the system cannot operate reliably under poor visibility conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection system structureVSAvoidoperation reliability in adverse weather

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the complex optical processing requirements of camera-based systems with a simpler ultrasonic wave emission and reception system. The obstacle-side signal emitting device with ultrasonic transmitter and the vehicle-side alerting device with ultrasonic receiver create a more reliable detection system that operates independently of visibility conditions, trading optical complexity for acoustic reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

Enables drivers to maintain safety by effectively detecting front obstacles under poor visibility conditions, allowing timely responses to ensure safe driving.

Implementation Method 1

the signal generator is configured to enable the directional speaker to actively emit, in a directional propagating manner, a directional ultrasonic wave containing an obstacle presence signal toward rear side of the front obstacle

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectUltrasonic wave emission: Ultrasound

Implementation Method 2

the ultrasonic receiver is arranged facing front side of the vehicle to receive the directional ultrasonic wave transmitting from the front side of the vehicle

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectUltrasonic wave reception: Ultrasound

Data Source

PatentUS11733383B2Front obstacle alerting system

Publication Date: 2023.08.22 CHIANG MIN YUEH

AI summary

Disclosed is a front obstacle alerting system comprising an obstacle-side signal emitting device and a vehicle-side alerting device, wherein the obstacle-side signal emitting device is a signal emitting element of a front obstacle and emits a directional ultrasonic wave toward a rear side of the front obstacle, and the vehicle-side alerting device is disposed in or on a vehicle and correspondingly outputs an alerting signal according to the directional ultrasonic wave received from a front side of the vehicle.