Parking sensors

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Parking sensors are a technology that allows the driver of an automobile, truck, or commercial vehicle to be alerted to nearby objects in their path. Parking sensors are also known as backup sensors, parking sonar or just sonar depending on the automaker. While there are variations in the design and feaures of these systems, the basic design puts sensors in the vehicle's bumper or on brackets. These sensors send ultrasonic waves at 40,000 times per second that detect obstacles behind the vehicle. A controller installed inside the vehicle then receives the signal from the sensors and transmits it to a speaker that emits a tone, or to a combination speaker and display unit. As it results, the first invention of ultrasonic Parking sensors has been invented in Italy by electronic Engineer Massimo Ciccarello and Professor Architect Ruggero Lenci (Italian patent n. 1196650 requested at the Ministry of Industry in Rome December 13, 1984, issued November 16, 1988).

[edit] Tone

The most common form of feedback to the driver in a car with parking sensors is audible "beeps" and/or tones. Generally, the frequency of the beep indicates distance from an obstruction, with the beeps becoming faster the closer the vehicle moves to an object. A continuous tone may be heard when the vehicle is extremely close, often warning a driver to stop immediately to avoid collision.

[edit] Visual

Some systems use visual aids as well such as liquid crystal display (LCD) readouts to indicate distance from an object. For example, the Optitron display as used in the several Toyota and Lexus vehicles has a small LCD display that begin blacked-out on ignition, but expands when the vehicle approaches closer to obstacles.[1] The diagram will show lines eminiating from each sensors on the vehicle, the few lines indicates the closer the distance.


[edit] References

  1. ^ Robinson, Peter (November 2006), “Back from the dread”, Wheels magazine (Australian Consolidated Press): 53, <http://editorial.carsales.com.au/car-review/2279191.aspx>. Retrieved on 20 January 2008 
Languages