Ultrasonic Sensor Arrangement for Roadway Water Detection

The patent uses ultrasonic sensors as a simplified copy or alternative to microphones for detecting water impact. Instead of using expensive microphones that directly measure acoustic pressure, the invention employs ultrasonic sensors that detect vibrations transmitted through the wheel arch lining, achieving similar detection functionality with lower cost and simpler device architecture.

The patent replaces the acoustic measurement system (microphones) with a mechanical vibration detection system (ultrasonic sensors). By detecting structure-borne vibrations in the wheel arch lining caused by water impact, the system substitutes acoustic field measurement with mechanical field measurement, reducing device complexity while maintaining detection accuracy.

The patent extracts only the essential vibration characteristics from the ultrasonic sensor signals that are relevant for detecting water impact and roadway conditions. Instead of performing comprehensive signal analysis, the system focuses on extracting specific vibration patterns and frequencies that directly indicate water presence and road surface state, significantly reducing computing effort while maintaining detection accuracy.

The patent applies partial action by using only the necessary portion of signal analysis required for water impact detection. The system processes only the critical vibration parameters from ultrasonic signals rather than performing complete spectral analysis, achieving sufficient measurement precision with reduced computational resources.