Vehicle Direction Identification via Sound Reflection Pattern Analysis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional vehicle direction identification devices fail to accurately identify the direction of a vehicle when sound is reflected off barriers, leading to confusion for drivers, as they either misidentify the direction or fail to detect vehicles in blind spots due to resonance and lack of difference in sound pressure between direct and reflected sounds.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle direction identification device that uses a frequency analysis unit to analyze vehicle sound phases in specific frequency regions and time intervals, a sound source direction identification unit to determine the sound source direction, and a reflection information storage unit to store patterns of sound reflection rates, allowing the device to differentiate between direct and reflected sounds and accurately identify the vehicle's direction even in blind spots.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional vehicle sound detection methods are used, then the device can identify vehicle direction using sound arrival time difference, but it fails to accurately identify direction when sound reflects off barriers, causing misidentification or detection failure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevehicle direction identification accuracyVSAvoiddetection reliability in reflected sound environments

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adapts its detection strategy by switching between direct sound detection and reflected sound pattern recognition based on environmental conditions. The frequency analysis unit continuously monitors sound characteristics and adjusts the identification algorithm to account for reflection patterns, making the system flexible and adaptive to changing acoustic environments rather than relying on a fixed detection method

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the detection parameters from simple sound arrival time difference to complex frequency domain analysis with multiple analysis sections. By analyzing phase differences across different frequency regions and time intervals, the system can distinguish between direct and reflected sounds based on their distinct spectral and temporal characteristics, thereby improving accuracy in reflected sound environments

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-generated harmful factors

If threshold processing for air pressure is used to remove reflected sound, then low sound pressure reflected sound can be removed, but it fails when reflected sound resonates and sound pressure difference is minimal

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereflected sound interferenceVSAvoidsound source direction identification accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-generated harmful factorsVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of treating reflected sound as purely harmful noise to be eliminated, the system converts the reflected sound information into a useful detection resource. By storing reflection patterns that characterize reflected sound from different directions and using these patterns to identify vehicle direction, the system transforms the previously harmful reflected sound into a beneficial detection signal that can actually improve detection accuracy in blind spots

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces reflection patterns as an intermediary between the raw sound signal and the final direction identification. These patterns act as a reference framework that mediates the comparison between detected sound characteristics and known reflection behaviors, enabling the system to accurately distinguish and interpret reflected sounds without being misled by them

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Object-generated harmful factors

If sound pressure threshold processing is applied, then reflected sound with low sound pressure can be removed, but vehicles in blind spots with higher reflected sound pressure cannot be detected

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereflected sound removalVSAvoiddetection capability in blind spots

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-generated harmful factorsVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a universal detection framework that can handle both direct sound and reflected sound scenarios through the same system. The reflection information storage unit stores patterns for various reflection scenarios, and the vehicle direction identification unit uses these patterns to identify vehicles regardless of whether the sound is direct or reflected, making the system versatile across different detection conditions including blind spots

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 device effectively identifies the direction of a vehicle by analyzing sound reflection patterns, reducing driver confusion and improving detection accuracy in environments with barriers, even when sound pressure differences are minimal.

Implementation Method 1

a frequency analysis unit configured to analyze phase of the vehicle sound in each of a plurality of analysis sections specified by predetermined frequency regions and predetermined time intervals

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhase analysis:

Implementation Method 2

In a real world environment, sound reflects off a barrier or the like, causing a vehicle to be detected in a direction opposite that of the actual vehicle

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSound reflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 3

in a real world environment, there is no difference in the sound pressure of direct sound and reflected sound due to the reflected sound resonating

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectResonance: Resonance

Data Source

PatentUS9147347B2Vehicle direction identification device, vehicle direction identification method and program therefor

Publication Date: 2015.09.29 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD

AI summary

A vehicle direction identification device includes: a frequency analysis unit which analyzes phase of the surrounding sound in each analysis section specified by predetermined frequency regions and time intervals; a sound source direction identification unit which identifies a sound source direction indicating a direction of a sound included in the vehicle sound for each analysis section; a reflection information storage unit which stores (i) state information relating to rates of occurrence each of which are a count of the analysis sections of a corresponding one of the sound source directions, and (ii) reflection patterns each of which includes an estimated vehicle direction which is a vehicle direction associated with a set of the state information; and a vehicle direction identification unit which identifies a vehicle direction by checking the rates of occurrence obtained from an identification result by the sound source direction identification unit against one of the reflection patterns.