IP Library Granted Patent US 12,613,324
Granted Patent B2
US 12,613,324 · App. 18/289,821 · Granted Apr 28, 2026

Object detection device, object detection method, and program

Inventors: Kosuke Wakita (Kariya, JP); Ippei Sugae (Kariya, JP)
Assignee: AISIN CORPORATION
G01S7/539G01S15/04G01S15/931
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,613,324
App. No.
18/289,821
Granted
Apr 28, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An object detection device includes an acquisition unit that acquires intensity of a direct wave at a second transmission and reception unit among a plurality of transmission and reception units that allow transmission and reception of an ultrasonic wave, the direct wave directly received by the second transmission and reception unit and being an ultrasonic wave transmitted by a first transmission and reception unit among the plurality of transmission and reception units. An intensity of a reflected wave received by the transmission and reception unit, the reflected wave being a reflected wave obtained by the ultrasonic wave transmitted from the first transmission and reception unit reflected on an object, and a detection unit that calculates an air-absorption attenuation coefficient of the ultrasonic wave on the basis of the intensity of the direct wave to detects the object on the basis of the air-absorption attenuation coefficient and the intensity of the reflected wave.

Claims (38)

1 . An object detection device comprising:

an acquisition unit that acquires intensity of a direct wave at a second transmission and reception unit among a plurality of transmission and reception units that allow transmission and reception of an ultrasonic wave, the direct wave being directly received by the second transmission and reception unit and being an ultrasonic wave transmitted by a first transmission and reception unit among the plurality of transmission and reception units, and intensity of a reflected wave received by the first transmission and reception unit, the reflected wave being a reflected wave that is the ultrasonic wave transmitted from the first the transmission and reception unit being reflected from an object; and

a detection unit that calculates an air-absorption attenuation coefficient using the ultrasonic wave on the basis of the intensity of the direct wave, and detects the object on the basis of the air-absorption attenuation coefficient and the intensity of the reflected wave,

wherein

the acquisition unit acquires the intensity of the direct wave for each of the plurality of the transmission and reception units, and

the detection unit calculates an average value of the intensities of a plurality of the direct waves, and calculates the air-absorption attenuation coefficient on the basis of the average value.

2 . The object detection device according to claim 1 ,

wherein

the detection unit acquires a first threshold value corresponding to the air-absorption attenuation coefficient, and, in a case where the intensity of the reflected wave is equal to or greater than the first threshold value, determines that the object is present.

3 . The object detection device according to claim 2 , wherein the first threshold value corresponding to the air-absorption attenuation coefficient is set in such a manner that the first threshold is smaller at a time when the transmission of the ultrasonic wave is completed than at a time when the transmission of the ultrasonic wave is started.

4 . The object detection device according to claim 1 , further comprising the plurality of the transmission and reception units,

wherein

each of the plurality of the transmission and reception units includes a vibrator that performs both transmission of the ultrasonic wave and reception of the ultrasonic wave.

5 . The object detection device according to claim 1 ,

wherein

the second transmission and reception unit is positioned adjacent to the first the transmission and reception unit.

6 . The object detection device according to claim 1 ,

wherein

three or more transmission and reception units are provided, and

the second transmission and reception unit is other than the transmission and reception unit closest to the first the transmission and reception unit among the plurality of the transmission and reception units.

7 . An object detection device comprising:

an acquisition unit that acquires intensity of a direct wave at a second transmission and reception unit among a plurality of transmission and reception units that allow transmission and reception of an ultrasonic wave, the direct wave being directly received by the second transmission and reception unit and being an ultrasonic wave transmitted by a first transmission and reception unit among the plurality of transmission and reception units, and intensity of a reflected wave received by the first transmission and reception unit, the reflected wave being a reflected wave that is the ultrasonic wave transmitted from the first the transmission and reception unit being reflected from an object; and

a detection unit that calculates an air-absorption attenuation coefficient using the ultrasonic wave on the basis of the intensity of the direct wave, and detects the object on the basis of the air-absorption attenuation coefficient and the intensity of the reflected wave,

wherein

in a case where the intensity of the direct wave is equal to or less than a second threshold value, the detection unit does not determine whether or not the object is present, and

the second threshold value is not changed even if the air-absorption attenuation coefficient is changed.

8 . An object detection method executed in an object detection device, the object detection method comprising:

a step of acquiring intensity of a direct wave at a second transmission and reception unit among a plurality of transmission and reception units that allow transmission and reception of an ultrasonic wave, the direct wave being directly received by the second transmission and reception unit and being an ultrasonic wave transmitted by a first transmission and reception unit among the plurality of transmission and reception units, and intensity of a reflected wave received by the first transmission and reception unit, the reflected wave being a reflected wave that is the ultrasonic wave transmitted from the first the transmission and reception unit being reflected from an object; and

a step of calculating an air-absorption attenuation coefficient using the ultrasonic wave on the basis of the intensity of the direct wave, and detecting the object on the basis of the air-absorption attenuation coefficient and the intensity of the reflected wave,

wherein

the step of acquiring acquires the intensity of the direct wave for each of the plurality of the transmission and reception units, and

the step of calculating calculates an average value of the intensities of a plurality of the direct waves, and calculates the air-absorption attenuation coefficient on the basis of the average value.

9 . A program stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium that causes a computer to function as

an acquisition unit that acquires intensity of a direct wave at a second transmission and reception unit among a plurality of transmission and reception units that allow transmission and reception of an ultrasonic wave, the direct wave being directly received by the second transmission and reception unit and being an ultrasonic wave transmitted by a first transmission and reception unit among the plurality of transmission and reception units, and intensity of the reflected wave received by the first transmission and reception unit, the reflected wave being a reflected wave that is the ultrasonic wave transmitted from the first the transmission and reception unit being reflected from an object, and

a detection unit that calculates an air-absorption attenuation coefficient using the ultrasonic wave on the basis of the intensity of the direct wave, and detects the object on the basis of the air-absorption attenuation coefficient and the intensity of the reflected wave,

wherein

the acquisition unit acquires the intensity of the direct wave for each of the plurality of the transmission and reception units, and

the detection unit calculates an average value of the intensities of a plurality of the direct waves, and calculates the air-absorption attenuation coefficient on the basis of the average value.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 7, 2023
From: WAKITA, KOSUKE; SUGAE, IPPEI
To: AISIN CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 065486/0093 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2021-114122 · Jul 9, 2021 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240241240A1 · Jul 18, 2024
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