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.

Date of Patent:
Jun. 07, 2022

Filed:

Aug. 02, 2019
Applicant:

Semiconductor Components Industries, Llc, Phoenix, AZ (US);

Inventors:

Marek Hustava, Bratislava, SK;

Jiri Kantor, Hrusky, CZ;

Assignee:
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G01S 15/931 (2020.01); G01S 7/527 (2006.01); G01S 15/10 (2006.01); G01S 7/521 (2006.01); G01S 7/524 (2006.01); G01S 7/539 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
G01S 7/527 (2013.01); G01S 7/524 (2013.01); G01S 15/10 (2013.01);
Abstract

Sensors may employ a constant false alarm rate (CFAR) screening process in combination with edge-based echo detection. In one illustrative embodiment, a sensor controller includes: a transmitter, a receiver, and a processing circuit coupled to the transmitter and to the receiver. The transmitter drives a piezoelectric element to generate acoustic bursts. The receiver senses a response of the piezoelectric element to echoes of each acoustic burst. The processing circuit is operable to apply echo-detection processing to the response by: determining a derivative signal from the response; and detecting an echo based at least in part on a peak in the derivative signal indicating a rising and/or falling edge in the response. Signaling to the electronic control unit may specify a time of flight associated with each edge.


Find Patent Forward Citations

Loading…