JPH0396885A - Obstacle detecting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To efficiently detect an obstacle in a necessary detection area by varying an ultrasonic transmitting output in accordance with the transmitting direction. CONSTITUTION:In an obstacle detecting device 1, a step-motor 4 for varying the transmitting direction of an ultrasonic wave by a CPU 3, an output circuit 7 for adjusting a transmitting output of an ultrasonic wave oscillated by an ultrasonic wave oscillating circuit 5 and providing it to a transmitting sensor 6, and an amplifying/detecting circuit 9 for amplifying and detecting a reflected wave received by a receiving sensor 8 are connected. In this state, by transmitting an ultrasonic wave from the transmitting sensor 6, while varying the transmitting direction as indicated with (a), (b), (c),..., and receiving its reflected waves by a receiving sensor 8, an obstacle in front of a vehicle 2 is detected. In this case, in accordance with the transmitting direction, an ultrasonic wave transmitting output of the output circuit 7 is varied, and an obstacle detection range is adjusted. As a result, only an obstacle in a necessary detection area B can be detected.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an improvement in an obstacle detection device, and more particularly to an obstacle detection device capable of efficiently detecting obstacles within a required detection area.

[Prior art]

Figure 4, Figure 5 +a+. (b) is a perspective view showing a conventional obstacle detection device. A schematic cross-sectional view, w: a schematic cross-sectional view.

This obstacle detection device 51 is connected to a vehicle 5 as shown in FIG.
Ultrasonic transmission sensor 53 (fourth
The ultrasonic wave is transmitted from a to a, bC, . . . while changing the transmission direction by the step motor 54, and the reflected waves are sent to the ultrasonic receiving sensor 55 (Figs. 4 and 5). , and detects an obstacle in front of the vehicle 52.

The rectangular area in front of the vehicle 52 shown in FIG. 6 is the required obstacle detection area A.

This conventional obstacle detection device 51 has a constant transmission output, and also detects obstacles in areas outside the required detection area A (the meshed portions of ab, . . . ).

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

Therefore, power is wasted by detecting obstacles outside the required detection area A, and the efficiency of detecting obstacles within the required detection area A is reduced.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an obstacle detection device that can efficiently detect obstacles within a required detection area.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an obstacle detection device that is installed at the front end of a vehicle and detects obstacles in front of the vehicle by transmitting ultrasonic waves while changing the transmission direction and receiving the reflected waves. The obstacle detection device is characterized in that the ultrasonic transmission output is changed depending on the transmission direction.

[Effect]

Since this obstacle detection device is configured as described above, the obstacle detection range changes depending on the transmission direction.

Therefore, it is possible to detect only obstacles within the required detection area, and it is possible to reduce wasteful power consumption due to conventional detection of obstacles outside the required detection area.

Therefore, obstacles within the required detection area can be detected efficiently.

[Example] Hereinafter, the present invention will be embodied (c) with reference to the attached drawings.
Transmit while changing the transmission direction as shown in...
The reflected wave is received by the receiving sensor 8 to detect an obstacle in front of the vehicle 2. At this time, if the received reflected wave is not higher than a predetermined level, it is determined that there is no obstacle.

The obstacle detection range is adjusted by changing the ultrasonic transmission output of the output circuit 7 according to the transmission direction.

As a result, only obstacles within the required detection area B can be detected as shown in FIG.

Therefore, wasteful power consumption due to conventional detection of obstacles outside the required detection area B can be reduced, and obstacles within the required detection area @B can be efficiently detected.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the present invention, in an obstacle detection device that is provided at the front end of a vehicle and detects an obstacle in front of the vehicle by transmitting ultrasonic waves while changing the transmission direction and receiving the reflected waves, the ultrasonic waves An obstacle detection device is provided that is characterized in that the transmission output is changed.

Examples will be described to provide an understanding of the present invention.

In addition, the following example is an example embodying the present invention,
It is not intended to limit the technical scope of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an obstacle detection device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the same obstacle detection device, and FIG.
The figure is an explanatory schematic diagram showing an example of an obstacle detection range of the same obstacle detection device.

This obstacle detection device 1 shown in FIG. 1 is provided at the front end of a vehicle 2 as shown in FIG. 3.

As shown in FIG. 2, the obstacle detection device 1 is configured with a coicro computer CPU (hereinafter referred to as CPU) 3 as the core, and the CPU 3 includes a stenop motor 4 and an ultrasonic oscillation circuit 5 that change the transmission direction of ultrasonic waves. An output circuit 7 that adjusts the transmission output of the ultrasonic wave oscillated by the transmitter 6 and provides it to the transmitter sensor 6, and an amplification and detection circuit 9 that amplifies and detects the reflected wave received by the reception sensor 8 are connected.

Then, as shown in Fig. 3, the ultrasonic waves are transmitted from the transmitting sensor 6 (Figs. 1 and 2) (a) 1 (mouth). Therefore, the obstacle detection range is adjusted according to the transmission direction, and the obstacle detection range is adjusted according to the transmission direction. It is possible to reduce wasteful power consumption due to the detection of obstacles in areas outside the required detection area, and to improve the efficiency of detecting obstacles.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an obstacle detection device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the same obstacle detection device, and FIG.
The figure is an explanatory schematic diagram showing an example of the obstacle detection range of the same obstacle detection device, and FIGS. ，
FIG. 6 is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view showing an example of an obstacle detection range of the obstacle detection device. [Explanation of symbols] 1... Obstacle detection device 2... Vehicle 3... Microcomputer 4... Stenop motor 5... Ultrasonic oscillation circuit 6... Transmission sensor 7... Output circuit 8 ...Reception sensor 9...Amplification detection circuit

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. An obstacle detection device that is installed at the front end of a vehicle and detects obstacles in front of the vehicle by transmitting ultrasonic waves while changing the transmission direction and receiving the reflected waves, comprising: An obstacle detection device characterized in that the ultrasonic transmission output is changed depending on the object.