US 11,724,740 B2
Method for operating an ultrasonic sensor device for a motor vehicle to monitor a ground area below the motor vehicle, ultrasonic sensor device, driver assistance system and motor vehicle
Luca Cautillo, Bietigheim-Bissingen (DE); Joerg Schrepfer, Bietigheim-Bissingen (DE); and Marvin Simchen, Bietigheim-Bissingen (DE)
Assigned to Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH, Bietigheim-Bissingen (DE)
Appl. No. 16/613,563
Filed by Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH, Bietigheim-Bissingen (DE)
PCT Filed May 28, 2018, PCT No. PCT/EP2018/063892
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Nov. 14, 2019,
PCT Pub. No. WO2018/219849, PCT Pub. Date Dec. 6, 2018.
Claims priority of application No. 102017111932.9 (DE), filed on May 31, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2020/0140012 A1, May 7, 2020
Int. Cl. B62D 15/02 (2006.01); G01S 15/931 (2020.01); B60W 30/06 (2006.01)
CPC B62D 15/027 (2013.01) [B60W 30/06 (2013.01); G01S 15/931 (2013.01); B60W 2420/54 (2013.01); G01S 2015/932 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for operating an ultrasonic sensor device for a motor vehicle, comprising:
emitting a first ultrasonic signal to a ground area below the motor vehicle;
receiving a second ultrasonic signal from the ground area; and
detecting an object in the ground area by a control unit on the basis of the emitted and/or the received ultrasonic signals,
wherein the first ultrasonic signal is emitted by a first ultrasonic sensor of the ultrasonic sensor device and wherein the first ultrasonic signal is reflected at a road surface in the ground area and is received as the second ultrasonic signal by a second ultrasonic sensor of the ultrasonic sensor device,
wherein the object is detected by the control unit on the basis of a proportion of the second ultrasonic signal that is received by the second ultrasonic sensor with respect to the first ultrasonic signal,
wherein the proportion of the second ultrasonic signal received by the second ultrasonic sensor is stored after the motor vehicle is stopped, and
wherein the proportion of the second ultrasonic signal received by the second ultrasonic sensor is determined again at a later time and is compared with the stored proportion.