Method of operating an active obstacle warning system

US6987447B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Conti Temic microelectronic GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Josef Baerenweiler · Zirndorf, DE
• Guenther Fendt · Schrobenhausen, DE
• Helmut Riedel · Fürstenfeldbruck, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 17, 2004
• Grant date: Jan 17, 2006
• Expiry date: Jul 3, 2024

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01S17/42
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

From a prescribed starting value, the emitting power of an obstacle detection beam increases or decreases according to a prescribed function at a prescribed rate. The received signal reflected from an obstacle is compared to a prescribed threshold. Once the received reflected power rises or falls to the threshold, the emitting power is not further increased or decreased respectively, but is maintained constant. Thereby, consumed and dissipated power is reduced, unnecessary excessive power use is avoided, and the detection range of the obstacle detection beam is adapted to the prevailing situation.