Ultrasonic Obstacle Detection Threshold Adjustment for Voltage Fluctuations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle obstacle detection devices using sound waves or ultrasonic waves face reduced detection distance due to voltage fluctuations from the vehicle's power supply, leading to lower output sound pressure.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle obstacle detection device with a controller that intermittently transmits and receives ultrasonic waves, featuring a voltage monitoring unit to adjust the detection threshold based on the power supply voltage, allowing for staged threshold changes to maintain effective obstacle detection even with fluctuating voltage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a stabilization power supply circuit is used to keep constant the voltage supplied to the sensor, then the output sound pressure becomes stable, but the voltage becomes lower than the input voltage, reducing the detection distance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the threshold value adjustable based on power supply voltage conditions. Instead of using a fixed threshold, the system dynamically changes the threshold value according to the detected voltage level, allowing optimal detection across varying voltage conditions without sacrificing detection distance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of the threshold value based on the power supply voltage. When voltage fluctuates, the controller adjusts the threshold value accordingly, enabling the system to maintain effective obstacle detection across different voltage conditions without requiring a stabilization circuit that would reduce the available voltage.
2Reliability
If the power supply voltage fluctuates due to other apparatuses using the battery, then the output sound pressure from the sensor changes, but using stabilization circuitry reduces the voltage available to the sensor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by having the controller monitor the power supply voltage and adjust the threshold value based on the detected voltage level. This closed-loop approach ensures that the detection system adapts to voltage fluctuations while preserving the full available voltage for the sensor.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the detection threshold parameter according to the power supply voltage conditions, allowing consistent obstacle detection performance across varying voltage levels without requiring voltage stabilization that would reduce available power.
3Device complexity
If the threshold value is kept constant, then the detection logic is simple, but the detection accuracy decreases when voltage fluctuates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the threshold value adaptive rather than fixed. The controller dynamically adjusts the threshold based on real-time voltage monitoring, improving detection accuracy under varying voltage conditions while adding minimal complexity through straightforward conditional logic.
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
The solution enables the detection of obstacles at a relatively increased distance by adapting the detection threshold to the varying power supply voltage, ensuring consistent and effective operation despite voltage fluctuations.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor (1) that is configured to intermittently transmit transmission waves and receive reflected waves that are generated by reflection of the transmission waves
Implementation Method 2
The sensor of such a vehicle obstacle detection device generally includes a piezo element
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~4
AI summary
A vehicle obstacle detection device can relatively increase a distance at which the vehicle obstacle detection device is able to detect an obstacle even when a voltage supplied from a power supply to a sensor fluctuates. The vehicle obstacle detection device includes a sensor that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves, and a controller that instructs the sensor to transmit the ultrasonic waves. The controller compares amplitude of reflected waves received by the sensor with a threshold to determine presence or absence of the obstacle. The controller includes a voltage monitoring unit that detects a power supply voltage. The controller more reduces the threshold as the power supply voltage detected by the voltage monitoring unit is lower.