Bus adapter device for ultrasonic sensors, driving assistance system, and vehicle

An adapter device configured for arrangement within an electrical communication connection between at least one ultrasonic sensor and a central or zonal processing unit of a vehicle, the adapter device comprising:

• an adapter device housing;
• an adapter signal input configured to be electrically connected to at least one sensor signal output of an ultrasonic sensor and to provide a sensor signal of the ultrasonic sensor;
• an adapter signal output configured to generate an output signal of the adapter device for a vehicle bus connection to the central or zonal processing unit;
• and
• at least one control ASIC arranged in the adapter device housing and configured to:
• i. capture the provided sensor signal,
• ii. generate an ASIC output signal of the control ASIC depending on the captured sensor signal, and
• iii. control the at least one ultrasonic sensor based on a specified transmission pattern.

A driving assistance system, comprising:

• at least one ultrasonic sensor including a sensor ASIC;
• a central or zonal processing unit of a vehicle;
• and
• an adapter device configured for arrangement within an electrical communication connection between the at least one ultrasonic sensor and the central or zonal processing unit of the vehicle, the adapter device including:
• an adapter device housing,
• an adapter signal input configured to be electrically connected to at least one sensor signal output of an ultrasonic sensor and to provide a sensor signal of the ultrasonic sensor,
• an adapter signal output configured to generate an output signal of the adapter device for a vehicle bus connection to the central or zonal processing unit, and
• at least one control ASIC arranged in the adapter device housing and configured to:
• i. capture the provided sensor signal,
• ii. generate an ASIC output signal of the control ASIC depending on the captured sensor signal, and
• iii. control the at least one ultrasonic sensor based on a specified transmission pattern.

A vehicle, comprising

• a driving assistance system including:
• at least one ultrasonic sensor including a sensor ASIC;
• a central or zonal processing unit of the vehicle;
• and
• an adapter device configured for arrangement within an electrical communication connection between the at least one ultrasonic sensor and the central or zonal processing unit of the vehicle, the adapter device including:
• an adapter device housing,
• an adapter signal input configured to be electrically connected to at least one sensor signal output of an ultrasonic sensor and to provide a sensor signal of the ultrasonic sensor,
• an adapter signal output configured to generate an output signal of the adapter device for a vehicle bus connection to the central or zonal processing unit, and
• at least one control ASIC arranged in the adapter device housing and configured to:
• i. capture the provided sensor signal,
• ii. generate an ASIC output signal of the control ASIC depending on the captured sensor signal, and
• iii. control the at least one ultrasonic sensor based on a specified transmission pattern.