Motor vehicle having occlusion detection for ultrasonic sensors

US10094923B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT · DE

Inventors

• Daniel Mossau · Wolfsburg, DE
• Peter Baumann · San Francisco, US
• Heinecke Carsten · Recklinghausen, DE
• Manuel Tanner · Dresden, DE
• Knut Sanny · Wendeburg, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 30, 2014
• Grant date: Oct 9, 2018
• Expiry date: Jun 25, 2035

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01S2015/938
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

In a method for checking a first ultrasonic sensor of a motor vehicle for an occlusion, a measuring signal of the first ultrasonic sensor is acquired by an evaluation unit, and from the measuring signal, a decay time of a natural oscillation of the diaphragm of the first ultrasonic sensor, brought about by an excitation pulse, is ascertained. From the measuring signal of either the first ultrasonic sensor or a second ultrasonic sensor, an echo produced by an object located in a sensing range of the first ultrasonic sensor is ascertained, and a distance value of the object is determined on the basis of the echo. An occlusion is signaled if the decay time is less than a predetermined threshold value which would be exceeded if ice and/or dirt were to adhere directly to the diaphragm, and if the distance value is less than a predetermined maximum value.