Ultrasonic Sensor Exhaust Gas Cloud Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ultrasonic sensors in motor vehicles can become 'blind' due to exhaust gas clouds, which are not detectable by changes in vibration parameters, leading to inaccurate distance measurements and potential false object detection, as these clouds can reflect ultrasonic waves and be misinterpreted as obstacles.
Innovation Solution
The ultrasonic sensor device detects an exhaust gas cloud by calculating a probability value based on various sensor data, including temperature, humidity, flow rate, and engine parameters, and takes measures to ensure safe operation, such as masking out false distance values and controlling the exhaust system to reduce the cloud.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If ultrasonic waves are transmitted into the surrounding area for distance measurement, then distance measurement capability is provided, but exhaust gas clouds can reflect ultrasonic waves causing false object detection and measurement inaccuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a camera as an intermediary sensing device that operates in a different spectral range (visible light) compared to the ultrasonic sensor. The camera detects exhaust gas clouds by capturing optical absorption characteristics, providing complementary information that helps distinguish true obstacles from exhaust-induced false echoes, thereby resolving the measurement accuracy problem caused by exhaust gas interference
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces part of the mechanical/acoustic measurement system with an optical detection system. Instead of relying solely on ultrasonic wave reflection, the system uses optical sensors (cameras) to detect the presence of exhaust gas clouds, substituting acoustic measurement with optical measurement for specific detection functions and combining both data sources for improved accuracy
2Reliability
If sensor data from multiple sources is processed to detect exhaust gas clouds, then false detections are reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the camera serve multiple functions: it primarily captures images for driving assistance, but also simultaneously detects exhaust gas clouds by analyzing optical absorption in specific wavelength ranges. This multi-functionality approach allows the system to use existing hardware for dual purposes, reducing overall system complexity while improving reliability through multi-sensor data fusion
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where ultrasonic sensor data and camera data continuously cross-validate each other. When the ultrasonic sensor detects potential obstacles, the system uses camera data to verify whether they are true obstacles or exhaust gas clouds. This feedback loop between different sensor types improves reliability while managing complexity through intelligent data correlation
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 reliable operation of the ultrasonic sensor device by distinguishing between actual obstacles and exhaust gas clouds, preventing unnecessary warnings and ensuring accurate distance measurements.
Implementation Method 1
ultrasonic waves are emitted, reflected by an object and received and evaluated again by the same ultrasonic sensor
Implementation Method 2
The distance and possibly also the relative position and/or a relative speed relative to the motor vehicle are then determined as a function of the measured propagation time of the ultrasonic wave
Implementation Method 3
an area surrounding the motor vehicle in which an exhaust gas cloud 22 emitted by an exhaust system 11 of the motor vehicle can be reflected is detected by the ultrasonic sensor device
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for operating an ultrasonic sensor device (2) of a motor vehicle (1), in which method ultrasonic waves are emitted into a surrounding area (9) of the motor vehicle (1) by means of at least one ultrasonic sensor (3) of the ultrasonic sensor device (2) in order to carry out a distance measurement, wherein, on the basis of sensor data of at least one sensor (18, 19, 20, 21), which is different from the ultrasonic sensor (3), of the motor vehicle (1), an exhaust gas cloud (22), which is output into the surrounding area (9) by an exhaust system (11) of the motor vehicle (1) and at which the ultrasonic waves are reflected, is detected by the ultrasonic sensor device (2) and the operation of the ultrasonic sensor device (2) takes place as a function of the detection of the exhaust gas cloud (22).