US 12,339,358 B2
Method for operating an ultrasonic sensor device for monitoring an underbody region of a motor vehicle, computer program product, computer-readable storage medium, and ultrasonic sensor device
Maximilian Poepperl, Kronach Neuses (DE); and Felix Becker, Kronach Neuses (DE)
Assigned to VALEO SCHALTER UND SENSOREN GMBH, Bietigheim-Bissingen (DE)
Appl. No. 18/282,662
Filed by Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH, Bietigheim-Bissingen (DE)
PCT Filed Mar. 14, 2022, PCT No. PCT/EP2022/056472
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Sep. 18, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/194746, PCT Pub. Date Sep. 22, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 10 2021 106 633.6 (DE), filed on Mar. 18, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0168157 A1, May 23, 2024
Int. Cl. G01S 15/931 (2020.01); G01S 7/52 (2006.01); G01S 7/527 (2006.01); G01S 15/04 (2006.01)
CPC G01S 15/931 (2013.01) [G01S 7/52006 (2013.01); G01S 7/527 (2013.01); G01S 15/04 (2013.01); G01S 2015/937 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for operating an ultrasonic sensor device for monitoring an underbody region of a motor vehicle by the ultrasonic sensor device, the method comprising:
emitting ultrasonic signals into the underbody region by at least one ultrasonic sensor of the ultrasonic sensor device;
receiving and evaluating the reflected ultrasonic signals by the at least one ultrasonic sensor,
wherein after the motor vehicle is parked at a first point in time, a reference measurement curve for the underbody region is generated as a function of at least one ultrasonic signal and stored; and
determining a measurement region in the reference measurement curve, in which region the monitoring process of the underbody region is evaluated,
wherein the measurement region is determined on the basis of a decay time of the ultrasonic sensor and a ground reflection on the ground surface,
wherein after a restart of the motor vehicle, at a second point in time later than the first point in time, a comparison measurement curve is generated as a function of at least one further ultrasonic signal and the reference measurement curve is compared with the comparison measurement curve in the measurement region, and
based on the comparison:
the monitoring of the underbody region is carried out by an electronic computing device of the ultrasonic sensor device, and
a change in height between an underbody of the motor vehicle and a ground surface in the underbody region is determined, wherein the change in height is taken into account in the evaluation and monitoring, wherein the change in height between the first point in time and the second time is determined.