AUTOMOBILE ULTRASONIC BLIND AREA DETECTION DEVICE AND DETECTION METHOD FOR PREVENTING GROUND MISDETECTION AND MISINFORMATION

Abstract

Disclosed are an automobile ultrasonic blind area detection device and detection method for preventing ground misdetection and misinformation. The detection device comprises a plurality of ultrasonic sensors, each ultrasonic sensor is arranged to form a certain angle with the longitudinal center line of an automobile, the detection directions of the ultrasonic sensors are spaced by set angles to respectively correspond to different directions from the far end to the near end of a side lane blind area; the detection distances of the ultrasonic sensors are different, and decrease gradually from the far end to the near end of the side lane blind area; ground misdetection signals of the ultrasonic sensors are shielded, and useful signals detected by the ultrasonic sensors are extracted and combined into far-near continuous long-distance detection signals to cover an automobile side lane exterior mirror blind area and a visible area behind the blind area more widely. The detection device and the detection method can cover the automobile side lane exterior mirror blind area and the visible area behind the blind area more widely, and effectively ensure the detection performance of a blind spot monitoring system.

Claims

1. An automobile ultrasonic blind area detection device for preventing ground misdetection and misinformation, comprising a plurality of ultrasonic sensors, wherein, each ultrasonic sensor is arranged to form a certain angle with the longitudinal center line of an automobile, and the detection directions of the ultrasonic sensors are spaced by set angles to respectively correspond to different directions of a side lane blind area from the far end to the near end; the detection distances of the ultrasonic sensors are different, and decrease gradually from the far end to the near end of the side lane blind area; through the shielding of the ground misdetection signals of the ultrasonic sensors, the useful signals detected by the ultrasonic sensors are extracted and combined into far-near continuous long-distance detection signals to cover an automobile side lane exterior mirror blind area and a visible area behind the blind area more widely.

2. The ultrasonic blind area detection device according to claim 1, wherein, the angle between the ultrasonic sensor corresponding to the far end and the longitudinal center line of the automobile is relatively small, and the angle between the ultrasonic sensor corresponding to the near end and the longitudinal center line of the automobile is relatively large.

3. The ultrasonic blind area detection device according to claim 1, wherein, the plurality of ultrasonic sensors are combined into an integral structure or of independently separate structures.

4. The ultrasonic blind area detection device according to claim 1, wherein, each ultrasonic sensor comprises a microphone and an electronic circuit unit, and the electronic circuit unit drives the microphone and amplifies, filters and operates echo signals to obtain a detection distance.

5. The ultrasonic blind area detection device according to claim 1, wherein, the ultrasonic sensor further includes a housing assembly unit and a gum cover unit installed in the housing assembly unit, and a connector unit is arranged on the housing assembly unit.

6. The ultrasonic blind area detection device according to claim 5, wherein, the microphone is fixedly arranged in the housing assembly unit via the gum cover unit, the connector unit is an external hardware interface of the sensor, and the sensor transmits signals to the outside via the connector unit.

7. The ultrasonic blind area detection device according to claim 1, wherein, when the plurality of ultrasonic sensors are combined into an integral structure, and the ultrasonic blind area detection device is arranged to be integral with an automobile reflector.

8. An automobile ultrasonic blind area detection method for preventing ground misdetection and misinformation, wherein, the ultrasonic blind area detection method is technically: a plurality of ultrasonic sensors are divided into gradually decreasing levels according to the detection distance, wherein, the detection directions of the ultrasonic sensors are different; in a side lane blind area, the ground misdetection and misinformation distance generated by one ultrasonic sensor is not greater than the actual detection distance of the next-level ultrasonic sensor; the plurality of ultrasonic sensors work cooperatively, the shielding signal of the last-level sensor is replaced by the detection signal of the next-level ultrasonic sensor, and the useful signals detected by all the ultrasonic sensors are finally extracted and combined into far-near continuous long-distance detection signals.

9. The ultrasonic blind area detection method according to claim 8, wherein, the plurality of ultrasonic sensors are divided into gradually decreasing levels from the far end to the near end of the side lane blind area, and the near-end ultrasonic sensor with the lowest level at the nearest end does not produce a misdetection and misinformation signal on the ground.

10. The ultrasonic blind area detection method according to claim 8, wherein, the plurality of ultrasonic sensors are combined into an integral structure or of independently separated structures.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0044] FIG. 1 is a schematic arrangement diagram of automobile ultrasonic sensors;

[0045] FIG. 2 is a structure diagram of a traditional ultrasonic sensor;

[0046] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram that a traditional sensor SA detects a standard bar at the distance LG1;

[0047] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of working time sequence signals when the traditional sensor SA detects the standard bar at the distance LG1;

[0048] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram that the traditional sensor SA detects a standard bar at the distance LG2;

[0049] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of working time sequence signals when the traditional sensor SA detects the standard bar at the distance LG2;

[0050] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram that an improved sensor SB detects the standard bar at the distance LG2;

[0051] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of working time sequence signals when the improved sensor SB detects the standard bar at the distance LG2;

[0052] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of automobile side lane exterior mirror blind areas;

[0053] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of original detection of a detection device SZ provided with two ultrasonic sensors on a side lane;

[0054] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of ground misdetection removing detection of the detection device SZ provided with two ultrasonic sensors on the side lane;

[0055] FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of exploded valid detection of the detection device SZ provided with two ultrasonic sensors on the side lane;

[0056] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of comprehensive valid detection of the detection device SZ provided with two ultrasonic sensors on the side lane;

[0057] FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram of original detection of a detection device SZ provided with three ultrasonic sensors on a side lane;

[0058] FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram of ground misdetection removing detection of the detection device SZ provided with three ultrasonic sensors on the side lane;

[0059] FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram of exploded valid detection of the detection device SZ provided with three ultrasonic sensors on the side lane;

[0060] FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram of comprehensive valid detection of the detection device SZ provided with three ultrasonic sensors on the side lane;

[0061] FIG. 18 is an internal structure diagram of an ultrasonic sensor;

[0062] FIG. 19 is a schematic arrangement diagram of the detection device and a reflector assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0063] The present invention will be illustrated more comprehensively below with reference to the attached drawings, which show exemplary embodiments of the present invention. However, the present invention can be embodied in multiple different forms, and should not be interpreted as being limited to the exemplary embodiments described herein. These embodiments are provided for making the present invention comprehensive and integral and completely delivering the scope of the present invention to those of ordinary skill in the art.

[0064] In order to facilitate illustration, spatially relative terms such as “upper”, “lower”, “left” and “right” can be used herein for describing the relation between one element or feature and the other element or feature shown in a figure. It should be understood that the spatial terms are intended to include different directions of a device in use or in operation besides the directions shown in the figure. For example, if the device in the figure is inverted, an element described as “below” other element or feature will be positioned “on” the other element or feature. Thus, the exemplary term “lower” may include upper and lower directions. The device can be positioned in other manner (rotated by 90 degrees or positioned in other direction), and the space herein can be correspondingly understood.

[0065] As is shown in FIGS. 10 to 17, an automobile ultrasonic blind area detection device for preventing ground misdetection and misinformation in the present invention, includes a plurality of ultrasonic sensors, wherein the detection distances of the ultrasonic sensors vary from each other, and decrease gradually from the far end to the near end of a side lane blind area; each ultrasonic sensor is arranged to form a certain angle with the longitudinal center line of an automobile, with the angle between the distant sensor and the longitudinal center line being relatively small, while the angle between the near-end sensor and the longitudinal center line being relatively large. The long-distance detection signals of far-end ultrasonic sensors are first selected, shielding their ground misdetection signals at the short distance so as to finally extract and combine the useful signals detected by the ultrasonic sensors into far-to-near continuous long-distance detection signals to cover an automobile side lane exterior mirror blind area and a visible area behind the blind area more widely.

[0066] Embodiment 1: the detection device of the present invention will be illustrated via an ultrasonic detection device SZ provided with two ultrasonic sensors S1 and S2.

[0067] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of the original detection of the detection device SZ provided with two ultrasonic sensors on a side lane, wherein the detection distances of the ultrasonic sensors are different, with the near-end short-distance ultrasonic sensor as S1, whose detection distance L1, detection angle β1, and the angle γ1 with the longitudinal center line of the automobile are within 3-4 meters, 70-110 degrees, and 70-90 degrees respectively; and the far-end long-distance ultrasonic sensor is S2, whose detection distance L2, detection angle β2, and the angle γ2 with the longitudinal center line of the automobile are within 4-6 meters, 20-40 degrees, and 20-40 degrees respectively.

[0068] As the detection distance of 3-4 meters for the ultrasonic sensor S1 is short, S1 does not have misdetection or misinformation on the ground in the whole course; and the detection distance of 4-6 meters for the ultrasonic sensor S2 is relatively long, so S2 has ground misdetection and misinformation at the short distance; therefore, the device shields detection signals of the sensor S2 within the short distance from 0 to a2*L2 (the value of a2*L2 is about 3 meters), and extracts the useful detection signals within the long distance from a2*L2 to L2. Referring to FIG. 11, the blind area PQ2 generated at the side lane after the front end of the sensor S2 is shielded is covered by the left rear end of the detection range of the sensor S1, and the front end of the sensor S2 in the shielded area PN2 of the current lane is located in the area that does not need to be detected by the device, and can thus be shielded. FIG. 12 shows a schematic diagram of exploded valid detection of the sensor S1 and the sensor S2; the comprehensive valid detection diagram of FIG. 13 shows a continuous valid strip square detection area TQa, and the detection area TQa can cover the side lane blind areas BQ1 and BQ2 and the visible area SQ1 near the rear end of the blind areas as shown in FIG. 9. Thus, the detection area of the two-sensor device of the present invention is relatively large, covering not only the blind areas but also 1-3 meters behind the blind areas, and not causing misdetection or misinformation on the ground in the whole course. Therefore, the detection performance is good.

[0069] Embodiment 2: the detection device of the present invention will be illustrated via an ultrasonic detection device SZ provided with three ultrasonic sensors S1, S2 and S3.

[0070] FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram of original detection of the detection device SZ provided with three ultrasonic sensors on a side lane, wherein the detection distances of the ultrasonic sensors are different, with the near-end short-distance ultrasonic sensor as S1, whose detection distance L1, detection angle β1, and angle γ1 with the longitudinal center line of the automobile are within 3-4 meters, 70-110 degrees, and 70-90 degrees respectively; the far-end long-distance ultrasonic sensor is S2, whose detection distance L2, detection angle β2, and the angle γ2 with the longitudinal center line of the automobile are within 4-6 meters, 20-40 degrees, and 20-40 degrees respectively; and the farthest long-distance ultrasonic sensor is S3, whose detection distance L3, the detection angle β3, and the angle γ3 with the longitudinal center line of the automobile are within 7-9 meters, 15-25 degrees, and 15-25 degrees respectively.

[0071] As the detection distance of 3-4 meters for the ultrasonic sensor S1 is short, S1 does not have misdetection or misinformation on the ground in the whole course; the detection distance of 4-6 meters for the ultrasonic sensor S2 is relatively long, and S2 has ground misdetection and misinformation at the short distance; therefore, the device shields detection signals of the sensor S2 within the short distance from 0 to a2*L2 (the value of a2*L2 is about 3 meters), and extracts the useful detection signals within the long distance from a2*L2 to L2. Referring to FIG. 15, the blind area PQ2 generated at the side lane after the front end of the sensor S2 is shielded is covered by the left rear end of the detection range of the sensor S1, and the front end of the sensor S2 in the shielded area PN2 of the current lane is located in the area that does not need to be detected by the device, and can thus be shielded. The detection distance of 7-9 meters for the ultrasonic sensor S3 is relatively long, and S3 has ground misdetection and misinformation at the short distance; therefore, the device shields detection signals of the sensor S3 within the short distance from 0 to a3*L3 (the value of a3*L3 is about 5 meters), and extracts the useful detection signals within the long distance from a3*L3 to L3. Referring to FIG. 15, the blind area PQ3 generated at the side lane after the front end of the sensor S3 is shielded is covered by the left rear end of the detection range of the sensor S2, and the front end of the sensor S3 in the shielded area PN3 of the current lane is located in the area that does not need to be detected by the device, and can thus be shielded. FIG. 16 shows a schematic diagram of exploded valid detection of the sensor S1, the sensor S2 and the sensor S3; the comprehensive valid detection diagram of FIG. 17 shows a continuous valid strip square detection area TQb, and the detection area TQb can cover the side lane blind areas BQ1 and BQ2, the visible area SQ1 near the rear end of the blind areas and the further visible area SQ2 as shown in FIG. 9. Thus, the detection area of the three-sensor device of the present invention is further enlarged in range, covering not only the blind areas but also 4-6 meters behind the blind areas, and not causing misdetection or misinformation on the ground in the whole course, further strengthening the long-distance detection capability of the device. The further strengthened long-distance detection capability of the device means the blind spot monitoring system can detect and warn vehicles running in the side lane earlier, thus further improving the lane-changing safety of the automobile.

[0072] The existing automobile ultrasonic blind spot monitoring system is usually designed with a relatively small detection distance behind the rear end of a side lane, a distance no greater than 4 meters behind the rear end of the rear bumper of the automobile. The two-sensor detection device of the present invention can raise the distance to 4-6 meters, and the three-sensor detection device of the present invention to 7-9 meters, so the promotion effect is significant. If the number of the sensors is further increased, the detection distance will be raised further.

[0073] The ultrasonic blind area detection device of the present invention can be provided with a plurality of ultrasonic sensors in line with operational requirement, and the plurality of ultrasonic sensors are combined into an integral structure or of independently separate structures.

[0074] FIG. 18 is an internal structure diagram of a single ultrasonic sensor. The single ultrasonic sensor includes a microphone 20a, a gum cover unit 20b, an electronic circuit unit 20d, a connector unit 20e and a housing assembly unit 20c.

[0075] The electronic circuit unit 20d drives the microphone 20a and amplifies, filters and operates echo signals to obtain a detection distance. A singlechip, a power module, a communication module, an ultrasonic transmitting module and an ultrasonic receiving module are integrated in the electronic circuit unit 20d. A group of ultrasonic transmitting module and ultrasonic receiving module corresponds to one microphone to control the operation thereof.

[0076] The gum cover unit 20b provides protection and shock absorption effects for the microphone 20a. The connector unit 20e realizes the connection functions with hardware such as sensor power supply, data transmission and the like, and provides overall installation support and protection for the sensor together with the housing assembly unit 20c. All the units are assembled as a whole to form the ultrasonic sensor, and the sensor is usually filled with filling gum to realize waterproof and shock-proof functions (some sensors are directly structurally sealed by using the housing assembly to realize the waterproof function, rather than being encapsulated with the filling gum).

[0077] The above explanations on the composing of the device are based on the face that all the ultrasonic sensors are of separately independent structures, meaning each ultrasonic sensor is an individual one. When the ultrasonic sensors are combined into an integral structure, the sensors can be in a simple mechanism setting combination, for instance, each sensor still has an electronic circuit unit, a connector unit and the like which are independent; and the sensors can also be in a complex setting combination for instance, the sensors share an electronic circuit unit, a connector unit and the like. The detection device is flexible in deciding the combination setting manner of the sensors. When the plurality of ultrasonic sensors are combined into an integral structure, the overall detection device can also be referred to an ultrasonic sensor. Whether ultrasonic sensors of the blind area detection device of the present invention are combined into an integral structure or are of independently separate structures is dependent on the perspectives of making them well arranged and applied in the automobile so as to improve the functional and performance or achieve the better-looking effect.

[0078] Moreover, in specific designs, the ultrasonic sensors (microphones) in the detection device of the present invention can be set with different working frequencies (e.g., 40 KHz, 48 KHz or others), so that they can work simultaneously to detect obstacles; the ultrasonic sensors can also be set with the same working frequency. Under this situation, the sensors work alternately and circularly For instance, not until one ultrasonic sensor completes the detection does another ultrasonic sensor begin the detection. In this way, same frequency interference can be removed.

[0079] Therefore, when the ultrasonic blind area detection device SZ in the present invention is applied to an automobile blind spot monitoring system, it can prevent misdetection and misinformation on the ground, and can effectively improve the long-distance detection capability of the system. With the device, it is possible to appropriately cover the automobile side lane blind area and the area behind the blind area more widely, and to effectively ensure the detection performance of the blind spot monitoring system. Moreover, when the automobile is provided with automatic parking and reversing radar systems at the same time, the ultrasonic sensor S1 in the detection device can be used as an APA ultrasonic sensor 18, and the ultrasonic sensors S2 and S3 in the detection device can be used as corner RPA ultrasonic sensors 13 for corner short-distance detection during reversing, reducing the number of the ultrasonic sensors and the cost of the overall ultrasonic system. Therefore, it is a preferred solution to apply the detection device SZ of the present invention to an automobile ultrasonic blind spot monitoring system.

[0080] A long-distance automobile ultrasonic blind area detection method for preventing ground misdetection and misinformation in the present invention is specifically: a plurality of ultrasonic sensors are divided into gradually decreasing levels according to the detection distance from the far end to the near end of a side lane blind area, wherein in a side lane, the ground misdetection and misinformation distance generated by one ultrasonic sensor is not greater than the actual detection distance of the next-level ultrasonic sensor; the plurality of ultrasonic sensors work cooperatively, the shielding signal of the last-level sensor is covered by the detection signal of the next-level ultrasonic sensor, and the useful signals detected by all the ultrasonic sensors are finally extracted and combined into far-to-near continuous long-distance detection signals.

[0081] The near-end ultrasonic sensor with the lowest level at the nearest end does not produce a misdetection and misinformation signal on the ground.

[0082] As is mentioned in the above ultrasonic blind area detection device, the ultrasonic blind area detection method of the present invention can be illustrated via the arrangement of two ultrasonic sensors or three ultrasonic sensors.

[0083] In the ultrasonic blind area detection method, two ultrasonic sensors are adopted, a near-end ultrasonic sensor S1 and a far-end ultrasonic sensor S2. Both the sensors S1 and S2 simultaneously detect the side lane blind area and the rear end of the blind area. The near-end ultrasonic sensor S1 does not produce a misdetection and misinformation signal on the ground.

[0084] In the ultrasonic blind area detection method, three ultrasonic sensors are adopted, a near-end ultrasonic sensor S1, a far-end ultrasonic sensor S2 and another far-end ultrasonic sensor S3. All the sensors S1, S2 and S3 simultaneously detect the side lane blind area and the rear end of the blind area. The near-end ultrasonic sensor S1 does not produce a misdetection and misinformation signal on the ground.

[0085] The detection distance of the near-end ultrasonic sensor S1 is relatively short, and the angle with the longitudinal center line of the automobile is relatively large; the detection distance of the far-end ultrasonic sensor S2 is relatively long, and the angle with the longitudinal center line of the automobile is relatively small; the detection distance of the far-end ultrasonic sensor S3 is the furthest, and the angle with the longitudinal center line of the automobile is the smallest. Through the selecting of the long-distance detection signals of the far-end ultrasonic sensors, the ground misdetection signals of the sensors at the short distance are shielded, and the useful signals detected by the ultrasonic sensors are finally extracted and combined into far-to-near continuous long-distance detection signals covering the side lane blind area and the rear end of the blind area.

[0086] The ultrasonic blind area detection device SZ is arranged to be integral with an automobile reflector 50. FIG. 19 is a schematic arrangement diagram of the detection device SZ and the reflector assembly, which shows an installation structure form of the ultrasonic blind area detection device SZ of the present invention, i.e., when the plurality of ultrasonic sensors of the ultrasonic blind area detection device SZ of the present invention are combined into an integral structure, the ultrasonic detection device SZ is arranged to be integral with the automobile reflector 50 into an assembly, and then the assembly is fixed on an automobile bumper.

[0087] The setting form has the following advantages:

[0088] 1. The integration of each ultrasonic sensor in the ultrasonic detection device SZ with the reflector makes the sensors less visible, so that the overall rear appearance of the automobile becomes better looking. If two or more ultrasonic sensors are directly installed on the bumper, the plurality of ultrasonic sensors look too prominent on the bumper and are not so elegant.

[0089] 2. Through the adjustment of the shape and structure of the assembly itself as well as the position and angle of the assembly on the bumper, better arrangement direction and angle of each ultrasonic sensor of the detection device are easily selected and obtained on the automobile to obtain better detection performance. The direct arrangement of the ultrasonic sensors on the bumper lacks such adjustment flexibility.

[0090] 3. Automobile bumpers are diverse in color, and the integration of the ultrasonic sensors with the reflector can greatly reduce the color category of paint sprayed to the appearance of the sensors. All that one needs is only one or two colors that is or are matched with the reflector. However, if the ultrasonic sensors are directly mounted on the bumper, multiple colors of paints are needed in order to keep the appearances of the ultrasonic sensors in line with the color of the body, making the machining troublesome and the cost high.

[0091] Meanwhile, besides their use in common automobiles, the automobile ultrasonic detection method and the sensor of the present invention also find applications to various types of vehicles having different sizes, such as tricycles, motorcycles, vehicles for the disabled, electric bicycles, etc. Any use of the automobile ultrasonic detection method and the sensor of the present invention falls into the scope of the present invention.

[0092] The present invention has the following advantages:

[0093] At present, the ultrasonic detection device is becoming increasingly popular, and the ultrasonic reversing radar has become a standard configuration of automobiles; as ultrasonic sensors are used for detection of an automatic parking system and a blind spot monitoring system, the application and demand of the high-performance ultrasonic detection device (sensor) are on constant rise. In addition, the ultrasonic detection device will be applied to automobiles more widely to assist the automobiles in realizing more automatic, more intelligent and safer driving. The detection distance of the traditional automobile ultrasonic sensor at present is relatively short, so it is hardly used for automobile blind area monitoring or automobile lane-changing auxiliary detection. Thus, a microwave (millimeter wave) radar sensor is applied to some vehicles as a detection device. However, the cost of the microwave radar sensor is relatively high. Therefore, the development and application of the ultrasonic detection device with strong long-distance detection performance is of great significance.

[0094] The solution of the present invention can be applied to automobiles with extremely wide prospect, and it will play an important role in promoting and accelerating the popularization and application of the detection device and the detection method of the present invention, bringing in considerable economic value, further improving the driving safety of the automobiles.