IP Library Granted Patent US 11,668,824
Granted Patent B2
US 11,668,824 · App. 17/388,844 · Granted Jun 6, 2023

Obstacle determination apparatus and vehicle

Inventors: Yusuke Nakamura (Kanagawa, JP); Ryutaro Seno (Kanagawa, JP); Shingo Kawahara (Kanagawa, JP); Toru Chikamitsu (Kanagawa, JP)
Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
G01S15/931
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,668,824
App. No.
17/388,844
Granted
Jun 6, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided is an obstacle determination apparatus including: a first determiner determining a difference in a propagation distance or a propagation time between a first round-trip path of a detection wave and a second round-trip path of a detection wave; and a second determiner determining whether the object is an obstacle based on a determination result of the first determiner.

Claims (58)

1. An obstacle determination apparatus, comprising:

a first determiner determining a difference in a propagation distance or a propagation time between a first round-trip path of a detection wave between a first position of a moving body and an object, and a second round-trip path of a detection wave from the first position to a second position of the moving body via the object, the second position being different from the first position; and

a second determiner determining whether the object is an obstacle based on a determination result of the first determiner.

2. The obstacle determination apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the first position and the second position are different from each other in height of the moving body, and

the second determiner determines that the object is a non-obstacle in a case where the first determiner determines that the difference is greater than a threshold value.

3. The obstacle determination apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the first determiner calculates a first expected value and a second expected value, using a first parameter based on the first round-trip path, the first expected value corresponding to a propagation distance or a propagation time when the object is an obstacle, the second expected value corresponding to a propagation distance or a propagation time when the object is a non-obstacle; and

the second determiner determines whether the object is an obstacle based on a second parameter based on the second round-trip path, the first expected value, and the second expected value.

4. The obstacle determination apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein

the second determiner determines whether the object is an obstacle by comparing a first absolute value with a second absolute value, the first absolute value being a difference between the second parameter and the first expected value, the second absolute value being a difference between the second parameter and the second expected value.

5. The obstacle determination apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein

the second determiner determines whether the object is an obstacle by comparing a value obtained by adding a predetermined offset to a first absolute value, with a second absolute value, the first absolute value being a difference between the second parameter and the first expected value, the second absolute value being a difference between the second parameter and the second expected value.

6. The obstacle determination apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein

the second determiner determines whether the object is an obstacle by calculating a ratio of a first absolute value to a second absolute value and comparing the ratio with a predetermined threshold value, the first absolute value being a difference between the second parameter and the first expected value, the second absolute value being a difference between the second parameter and the second expected value.

7. The obstacle determination apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a third determiner determining whether the object has a plane perpendicular to a traveling direction of the moving body, wherein

the first determiner determines the difference in a case where the third determiner determines that the object has the plane.

8. The obstacle determination apparatus according to claim 2 , further comprising:

a third determiner determining whether the object has a plane perpendicular to a traveling direction of the moving body, wherein

the first determiner determines the difference in a case where the third determiner determines that the object has the plane.

9. The obstacle determination apparatus according to claim 3 , further comprising:

a third determiner determining whether the object has a plane perpendicular to a traveling direction of the moving body, wherein

the first determiner determines the difference in a case where the third determiner determines that the object has the plane.

10. The obstacle determination apparatus according to claim 4 , further comprising:

a third determiner determining whether the object has a plane perpendicular to a traveling direction of the moving body, wherein

the first determiner determines the difference in a case where the third determiner determines that the object has the plane.

11. The obstacle determination apparatus according to claim 5 , further comprising:

a third determiner determining whether the object has a plane perpendicular to a traveling direction of the moving body, wherein

the first determiner determines the difference in a case where the third determiner determines that the object has the plane.

12. The obstacle determination apparatus according to claim 6 , further comprising:

a third determiner determining whether the object has a plane perpendicular to a traveling direction of the moving body, wherein

the first determiner determines the difference in a case where the third determiner determines that the object has the plane.

13. A vehicle, comprising:

an obstacle determination apparatus;

a first detector being provided at a first position, transmitting a detection wave for detecting an object, and receiving a first reflection wave resulting from the transmitted detection wave being reflected from the object; and

a second detector being provided at a second position and receiving a second reflection wave resulting from the detection wave being reflected from the object,

wherein the obstacle determination apparatus includes:

a first determiner determining a difference in a propagation distance or a propagation time between a first round-trip path of a detection wave between the first position of a moving body and an object, and a second round-trip path of a detection wave from the first position to the second position of the moving body via the object, the second position being different from the first position; and

a second determiner determining whether the object is an obstacle based on a determination result of the first determiner.

14. The vehicle according to claim 13 , wherein

the first position and the second position are different from each other in height of the moving body, and

the second determiner determines that the object is a non-obstacle in a case where the first determiner determines that the difference is greater than a threshold value.

15. The vehicle according to claim 13 , wherein

the first determiner calculates a first expected value and a second expected value, using a first parameter based on the first round-trip path, the first expected value corresponding to a propagation distance or a propagation time when the object is an obstacle, the second expected value corresponding to a propagation distance or a propagation time when the object is a non-obstacle; and

the second determiner determines whether the object is an obstacle based on a second parameter based on the second round-trip path, the first expected value, and the second expected value.

16. The vehicle according to claim 15 , wherein

the second determiner determines whether the object is an obstacle by comparing a first absolute value with a second absolute value, the first absolute value being a difference between the second parameter and the first expected value, the second absolute value being a difference between the second parameter and the second expected value.

17. The vehicle according to claim 15 , wherein

the second determiner determines whether the object is an obstacle by comparing a value obtained by adding a predetermined offset to a first absolute value, with a second absolute value, the first absolute value being a difference between the second parameter and the first expected value, the second absolute value being a difference between the second parameter and the second expected value.

18. The vehicle according to claim 15 , wherein

the second determiner determines whether the object is an obstacle by calculating a ratio of a first absolute value to a second absolute value and comparing the ratio with a predetermined threshold value, the first absolute value being a difference between the second parameter and the first expected value, the second absolute value being a difference between the second parameter and the second expected value.

19. The vehicle according to claim 13 , further comprising:

a third determiner determining whether the object has a plane perpendicular to a traveling direction of the moving body, wherein

the first determiner determines the difference in a case where the third determiner determines that the object has the plane.

20. The vehicle according to claim 14 , further comprising:

a third determiner determining whether the object has a plane perpendicular to a traveling direction of the moving body, wherein

the first determiner determines the difference in a case where the third determiner determines that the object has the plane.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 28, 2024
From: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
To: PANASONIC AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 066703/0245 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 15, 2021
From: NAKAMURA, YUSUKE; SENO, RYUTARO; KAWAHARA, SHINGO; CHIKAMITSU, TORU
To: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 058106/0895 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP JP2020-132554 · Aug 4, 2020 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220043146A1 · Feb 10, 2022