Method of estimating target height by detection device

US12247832B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• APTIV TECHNOLOGIES AG · BB

Inventors

• Honghui Yan · Stuttgart, DE
• Alexander Ioffe · Dublin, IE
• Jens Westerhoff · Dortmund, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 8, 2022
• Grant date: Mar 11, 2025
• Expiry date: Jul 28, 2043

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01S2013/462
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A method is disclosed, which is carried out by a detection device having a transmitter element for transmitting wave signals and two vertically aligned receiver elements for receiving wave signals, separated by a given spacing. The method includes transmitting, at the transmitter element, a wave signal that is reflected by the target. Each receiver element receives the wave signal reflected by the target, where the wave signal propagates via multiple paths caused by the reflecting surface. While a target distance varies, a phase difference between the reflected wave signals received by the two receiver elements is measured. From the phase difference measurements, a physical quantity fluctuation is determined in relation to the target distance. The information on the target height is then derived from the physical quantity fluctuation.