System and method for detecting obstacles for vehicles
AssigneeMETA SYSTEM S.p.A.
InventorSeverino Bigliardi
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Abstract
The present invention refers to a system for detecting obstacles for vehicles, comprising at least one sensor able to transmit a detection signal and to receive an echo signal reflected off at least one obstacle, means of parametric evaluation of said received echo signal which comprise means of comparison between at least two successive echo signals for the determination of a reference echo signal able to define the position of at least one fixed obstacle with respect to said at least one sensor.
Claims20
1) System for detecting obstacles for vehicles, comprising at least one sensor able to transmit a detection signal and to receive an echo signal reflected off at least one obstacle and means of parametric evaluation of said received echo signal, characterised by the fact that the means of parametric evaluation comprise means of comparison between at least two successive echo signals for the determination of a reference echo signal able to define the position of at least one fixed obstacle with respect to said at least one sensor.
3) System according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said means of verification comprise means for generating a control signal of at least one user device which is connected downstream of said sensor and can be activated when said difference is greater than said threshold value.
4) System according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said user device comprises indicator means for signalling the presence of said obstacle.
5) System according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said indicator means are of the visual or sound type.
6) System according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said user device comprises automatic means for closing the boot of a motor vehicle.
7) System according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said means of parametric evaluation comprise memory means suitable for storing said reference echo signal.
8) System according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said means of parametric evaluation comprise a micro-controller.
9) System according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said means of comparison comprise means of analysis of an odometric signal for the determination of the movement of a vehicle on which said at least one sensor is installed.
10) System according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said at least one sensor is connected to at least one control unit.
11) System according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said at least one sensor is of the receiver/transmitter type.
12) System according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said sensor is a sensor of the ultrasonic type.
13) System according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said sensor is a sensor of the optical type.
14) System according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said sensor is a sensor of the electromagnetic type.
15) System according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that it comprises a series of sensors.
16) Method for detecting obstacles, comprising the phases consisting in:
- transmitting at least one detection signal at least one sensor;
- detecting at least one echo signal reflected by at least one obstacle and received by said at least one sensor;
- characterized by the fact that it comprises the phases consisting in:
- comparing said reflected echo signal with a reference echo signal;
- generating a user device control signal, in case of any difference between said echo signal and said reference echo signal above a preset threshold value.
19) Method according to claims from 16 to 18, characterized by the fact that said comparison phase comprises the phases consisting in:
- determining the position of at least one obstacle with respect to said at least one sensor, according to said at least two received echo signals;
- defining said reference echo signal according to the position of said at least one obstacle, in the event of position of said at least one obstacle with respect to said at least one constant sensor in time and, at the same time, in the event of movement of said at least one sensor;
- storing said reference echo signal.
20) Method according to claims from 16 to 19, characterized by the fact that said comparison phase comprises the analysis of the echo signals received within a determined time window.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.