Apparatus and method for detecting target object

A transmission pulse control device provided to a target object detection apparatus for detecting a target object by repeatedly transmitting a transmission pulse and receiving a reception signal from the target object, the device controlling the transmission timing, the device comprising:

• a threshold determiner for determining whether an amplitude value of the reception signal exceeds a predetermined threshold at every sampling point, and counting the number of sampling points at which the amplitude value of the reception signal exceeds the threshold;
• a parameter setter for setting a plurality of different parameters for controlling the transmission timing;
• a parameter selector for selecting the parameter from the parameters set by the parameter setter, to minimize the number of sampling points counted by the threshold determiner;
• and
• a timing controller for controlling the transmission timing and the reception timing from the target object, based on the parameter selected by the parameter selector.

A method of detecting a target object by repeatedly transmitting a transmission pulse and receiving a reception signal from the target object, comprising:

• repeatedly transmitting with a transmitter the transmission pulse at a transmission timing;
• receiving the reception signal with a receiver at a reception timing set based on the transmission timing;
• setting a plurality of different parameters with a parameter setter for controlling the transmission timing, the plurality of different parameters including the parameter for determining the transmission timing;
• determining, with a threshold determiner, based on each of the plurality of different parameters, whether an amplitude value of the reception signal exceeds a predetermined threshold at every sampling point, and counting the number of sampling points at which the amplitude value of the reception signal exceeds the threshold;
• selecting with a parameter selector the parameter from the plurality of different parameters to minimize the number of sampling points;
• and
• controlling with a timing controller the transmission timing and the reception timing from the target object, based on the selected parameter.