Vehicle Ultrasonic Sensor Echo Analysis for Object Height Classes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ultrasonic sensors in vehicles provide distance information but not height information, requiring additional hardware and computing resources for height estimation, increasing technical complexity and cost.
Innovation Solution
A method using ultrasonic sensors to classify object heights by detecting multiple reflections and echo amplitudes, allowing classification based solely on ultrasonic data without additional sensors, using integer multiples of transit times and echo analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If additional sensors (e.g., cameras) are used to obtain height information, then height measurement capability is improved, but hardware complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The ultrasonic sensor performs multiple functions: distance measurement and height classification. By analyzing multiple echoes and their transit times from a single sensor, the system extracts both distance and height information without requiring additional sensors, thus achieving multi-functionality with existing hardware
Solution Approach 2:
The ultrasonic sensor uses its own transmitted signal and analyzes the reflected echoes to determine object height. The sensor serves itself by processing its own received signals through echo pattern recognition, eliminating the need for external height-measuring devices
2Measurement precision
If additional sensors are used to obtain height information, then height measurement capability is improved, but computing capacity requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The ultrasonic sensor system processes its own echo signals to extract height information through pattern recognition. By analyzing the transit times and amplitudes of reflected echoes, the system performs self-service data processing that requires minimal additional computational resources compared to fusing data from multiple sensor types
Solution Approach 2:
The system extends the reception time window beyond the standard range to capture multiple echoes, using partial information (echo patterns) to achieve the full height classification function. This approach processes only the necessary echo data rather than requiring complete data fusion from multiple sensors
3Measurement precision
If the reception time window is extended to detect multiple reflections, then height classification accuracy is improved, but signal processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-defines specific transit time relationships (integer multiples) that indicate multiple reflections. By establishing these criteria in advance, the echo analysis becomes a straightforward pattern matching process rather than complex real-time signal processing, improving accuracy while maintaining simplicity
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 accurate height classification of objects using existing ultrasonic sensors, reducing hardware and computational requirements, and improving efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
reflected signal components of the ultrasonic signal are received
Implementation Method 2
echoes having a transit time which corresponds to at least double the reception range
Data Source
AI summary
A method for classifying the height of an object by means of at least one ultrasonic sensor of a vehicle is disclosed. The method includes emitting an ultrasonic signal by the ultrasonic sensor of the vehicle in a transmission cycle; and performing a reception cycle, wherein the reception cycle has a reception time window which makes it possible to receive echoes having a transit time which corresponds to at least double a reception range of the ultrasonic sensor. It is checked whether echoes were received in the reception cycle. A detected object is classified in a height class depending on whether at least a first and a second echo were received, wherein the transit time of the second echo is an integer multiple of the transit time of the first echo.