ULTRASONIC SENSOR SYSTEM HAVING A VARYING SOLID ANGLE

Organization Name

Inventor(s)

Timo Pfeiffer of Leinfelden-Echterdingen (DE)

ULTRASONIC SENSOR SYSTEM HAVING A VARYING SOLID ANGLE - A simplified explanation of the abstract

This abstract first appeared for US patent application 20240159898 titled 'ULTRASONIC SENSOR SYSTEM HAVING A VARYING SOLID ANGLE

Simplified Explanation

The abstract describes a method for operating an ultrasonic sensor array using a control unit to generate and receive sonic echos, changing the detecting range's solid angle.

Ultrasonic sensor array driven by a control unit
Generates and receives sonic echos to measure data
Changes horizontal and/or vertical detecting range solid angle

Potential Applications

This technology could be applied in various fields such as:

Autonomous vehicles for obstacle detection
Security systems for perimeter monitoring
Industrial automation for object detection

Problems Solved

Improved accuracy in detecting objects within a specific range
Enhanced flexibility in adjusting the detecting angle
Increased efficiency in data collection and analysis

Benefits

Enhanced safety in navigation and surveillance systems
Reduced false alarms due to precise detection capabilities
Improved overall performance and reliability of sensor arrays

Potential Commercial Applications

Optimizing the technology for commercial use can lead to applications in:

Automotive industry for advanced driver assistance systems
Smart home devices for security and monitoring
Robotics for precise object recognition and navigation

Possible Prior Art

One possible prior art could be the use of ultrasonic sensor arrays in robotics for obstacle avoidance and navigation. These systems have been developed to detect objects within a certain range using similar principles of generating and receiving sonic echos.

Unanswered Questions

How does the control unit adjust the solid angle of the detecting range?

The abstract mentions changing the solid angle of the detecting range, but it does not provide details on the specific mechanism or process involved in this adjustment.

What is the potential impact of changing the detecting range's solid angle?

While the abstract mentions changing the solid angle of the detecting range, it does not elaborate on the potential benefits or implications of this adjustment in terms of performance or functionality.

Original Abstract Submitted

a method for operating at least one ultrasonic sensor array, in particular, using a control unit. the ultrasonic sensor array is driven to generate sonic echos. reflected sonic echos are received by the ultrasonic sensor array, in order to generate measurement data on the basis of the received sonic echos. the ultrasonic sensor array is driven to generate and receive sonic echos in such a manner, that a horizontal and/or vertical solid angle of a detecting range is changed. a control unit, a computer program, and a machine-readable storage medium, are also described.