Sensor device and method for detecting the motion of a vehicle

US8363211B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• Continental Teves AG & Co. OHG · DE
• ADC Automotive Distance Control Systems GmbH · DE
• CONTINENTAL ENGINEERING SERVICES GMBH · DE

Inventors

• Stephan Groitzsch · Weinheim, DE
• Wilfried Mehr · Gettorf, DE
• Bernhard Schmid · Friedberg, DE
• Matthias Schorn · Floh-Seligenthal, DE
• Christian Gutmann · Frankfurt, DE
• Stefan Stözl · Weinheim, DE
• Frank Steinmeier · Regensburg, DE
• Artur Otto · Neu-Anspach, DE
• Thomas Zuccaro · Bad Soden, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 17, 2008
• Grant date: Jan 29, 2013
• Expiry date: Jan 9, 2029

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01S2013/932
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A sensor device for detecting a motion state of a motor vehicle. The sensor device includes at least one laser unit having a light source for emitting coherent light which is transmitted in the direction of a roadway surface, and an interference detector which is designed to detect at least one measurement variable which characterizes interference between the light scattered at the surface and the light of the light source. The measurement variable represents a speed component of the sensor device and/or a distance between the sensor device and the roadway surface. The laser unit is coupled to an evaluation device which is designed to determine, from the measurement variable, at least one variable which characterizes the motion state of the vehicle, in particular a speed component of the center of gravity of the vehicle, a rotational angle or a rotation rate of the vehicle.