The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 09, 2018
Filed:
Oct. 30, 2014
Volkswagen Ag, Wolfsburg, DE;
Daniel Mossau, Wolfsburg, DE;
Peter Baumann, Braunschweig, DE;
Heinecke Carsten, Klötze, DE;
Manuel Tanner, Dresden, DE;
Knut Sanny, Vordorf, DE;
VOLKSWAGEN AG, Wolfsburg, DE;
Abstract
In a method for checking a first ultrasonic sensor of a motor vehicle for an occlusion, a measuring signal of the first ultrasonic sensor is acquired by an evaluation unit, and from the measuring signal, a decay time of a natural oscillation of the diaphragm of the first ultrasonic sensor, brought about by an excitation pulse, is ascertained. From the measuring signal of either the first ultrasonic sensor or a second ultrasonic sensor, an echo produced by an object located in a sensing range of the first ultrasonic sensor is ascertained, and a distance value of the object is determined on the basis of the echo. An occlusion is signaled if the decay time is less than a predetermined threshold value which would be exceeded if ice and/or dirt were to adhere directly to the diaphragm, and if the distance value is less than a predetermined maximum value.