Abstract: A method for evaluating an height of an object in the surrounding environment of a vehicle, using ultrasonic signals acquired by an ultrasonic sensor mounted on the vehicle. In a measurement cycle, a first ultrasonic signal is acquired as an edge reflection or as a directly traveling echo of an object. An expectation window is calculated for an associated interior-corner reflection. A second ultrasonic signal acquired in the expectation window is recognized as an interior-corner reflection associated with the first ultrasonic signal. The first and second ultrasonic signals are combined to form a signal group. A significance is determined for each ultrasonic signal. The signal group is assigned to a first or second echo group. The rates of the assignment to the first and to the second echo group are determined over a number of measurement cycles. An evaluation of the height is based on the first and second rates.

Abstract: In an embodiment a carrier includes a base substrate, at least one insulating layer, at least one inner wiring layer, at least one outer wiring layer and at least one through-via in the insulating layer extending through the insulating layer, wherein the base substrate and the insulating layer are formed from different materials, wherein the base substrate is formed for mechanically stabilizing the carrier and supports the insulating layer, wherein the inner wiring layer is arranged in a vertical direction at least in places between the base substrate and the insulating layer, wherein the outer wiring layer is spatially separated from the inner wiring layer at least in places by the insulating layer, and wherein the through-via electrically conductively connects the inner wiring layer to the outer wiring layer and has a lateral cross-section having a maximum lateral extent of at most 100 ?m.

Abstract: A method for calibrating ultrasonic transducers, the ultrasonic transducers being situated at known distances or at known ratios of the distances from one another, preferably in a bumper of a motor vehicle, and one of the ultrasonic transducers is operated in a transmission mode, and at least one other ultrasonic transducer is operated in a receiving mode.

Abstract: A method for monitoring the function of ultrasonic sensors of a vehicle, an ultrasonic sensor of the vehicle emitting ultrasonic signals and receiving back reflected ultrasonic echoes. An instantaneous amplitude of a ground echo received by an ultrasonic sensor and an instantaneous vehicle position are determined. A reference threshold value or information regarding an expected ground echo amplitude is retrieved from a digital map as a function of the instantaneous vehicle position, the digital map being provided by a central unit. The instantaneous amplitude of the received ground echo is compared with a threshold value, a malfunction of the ultrasonic sensors being deduced if the threshold value is undershot and the threshold value being predefined by the reference threshold value or the threshold value being determined based on the information regarding an expected ground echo amplitude.

Abstract: A method for providing ultrasonic signal information includes receiving a plurality of echo signals, ascertaining a relatedness of individual echo signals from the plurality of echo signals based on a run time and/or a significance of the echo signals, grouping the echo signals for which a relatedness was ascertained in an echo signal group, and providing a property that is characteristic for the echo signal group. The present invention furthermore relates to a device associated with the method.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the optoelectronic semiconductor device comprises a carrier having electrical connection surfaces on a carrier upper side. At least four semiconductor chips are configured to emit light of different colors from each other. The semiconductor chips are mounted close to each other on the connection surfaces so that a distance between adjacent semiconductor chips is at most 100 ?m in a top view on the carrier upper side.

Abstract: An ultrasonic sensor device including a plurality of ultrasonic sensors and a control unit for operating the ultrasonic sensors, the control unit being configured to activate selectively either a first group of the ultrasonic sensors or a second group of the ultrasonic sensors at the same time, so that the activated ultrasonic sensors emit an ultrasonic signal, each ultrasonic sensor of the first group being situated adjacent to at least one ultrasonic sensor of the second group and each ultrasonic sensor of the second group being situated adjacent to at least one ultrasonic sensor of the first group, and the control unit being configured to operate adjacent active ultrasonic sensors using different frequency-modulated excitation patterns.

Abstract: An optoelectronic semiconductor chip having first and second semiconductor layers having a first and second conductivity type, respectively, a first and a second current spreading layer, and a first and a second contact element. The first and second semiconductor layers form a layer stack. The first current spreading layer is situated on a side of the first semiconductor layer facing away from the second semiconductor layer and is electrically connected to the first semiconductor layer. The second current spreading layer is situated on the side of the first semiconductor layer facing away from the second semiconductor layer and is electrically connected to the second semiconductor layer. The first and second contact elements are connected to the first and second current spreading layers, respectively. The first or second contact element extends laterally as far as at least one side face of the optoelectronic semiconductor chip.

Abstract: A method and device for processing an echo signal received from an acoustic sensor. The echo signal is detected over a measurement time interval. A minimum value is ascertained, which describes a minimum amplitude of the echo signal within the measurement interval. An amplitude value is ascertained, which describes an amplitude of the echo signal within a measurement window. The measurement window is a predefined time interval within the measurement interval. A difference is ascertained between the minimum value and the amplitude value. A determination is made whether the echo signal comprises an interference signal of the first type or an interference signal of the second type, based on the ascertained difference.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the optoelectronic semiconductor device comprises a carrier having electrical connection surfaces on a carrier upper side. At least four semiconductor chips are configured to emit light of different colors from each other. The semiconductor chips are mounted close to each other on the connection surfaces so that a distance between adjacent semiconductor chips is at most 100 ?m in a top view on the carrier upper side.

Abstract: A method is accordingly provided for operating an ultrasonic sensor, a plurality of measuring cycles being successively carried out. In each measuring cycle—an electroacoustic transducer of the ultrasonic sensor is excited using an excitation pulse, causing it to mechanically oscillate, as a result of which a measuring signal is transmitted by the transducer, an echo signal is received by the transducer, and a piece of object information is ascertained from the echo signal. The frequency curve of the excitation pulse is differentiated into two measuring cycles successively carried out at least at the end of the frequency curve. The ascertained pieces of object information from at least two measuring cycles are compared with one another and an interference is identified as a function of the result of the comparison.

Abstract: In an embodiment, the semiconductor device is surface mountable and comprises a light emitting semiconductor chip which comprises electrical contact pads. An opaque base body laterally surrounds the semiconductor chip. An electrical fanning layer contains electrical conductor tracks. Electrical connection pads are used for external electrical contacting of the semiconductor device. The contact pads and the connection pads are located on different sides of the fanning layer. The contact pads are electrically connected to the associated connection pads by means of the fanning layer. The connection pads are expanded relative to the contact pads.

Abstract: A method for recognizing a noise represented in a receive signal of an ultrasonic sensor. A characteristic spectrum of the noise is compared with a noise spectrum of the receive signal, the noise spectrum including at least two noise levels determined in different frequency bands of the receive signal.

Abstract: A method for operating an ultrasonic measuring device, encompassing the steps of receiving echo amplitudes, ascertaining object distances for the received echo amplitudes, computing normalized echo amplitudes for the received echo amplitudes, a received echo amplitude with a certain object distance being divided by a reference echo amplitude for the same or a similar object distance, encoding the normalized echo amplitudes, and transmitting the encoded echo amplitudes to a control unit. Also described is a related computer program, a system for carrying out the method, and a vehicle that includes a driving assistance system.

Abstract: A method for processing a receive signal recorded by an ultrasonic sensor. Echoes are filtered out from a signal curve of the receive signal using at least one echo criterion in order to obtain a filtered receive signal. At least one noise level of the filtered receive signal is determined in at least one subregion of the signal curve.

Abstract: A method for measuring precipitation. The method includes a read-in step, a detection step and a determination step. In the read-in step, data packets of at least one ultrasonic sensor are read in. Excitations detected by the ultrasonic sensor within a measuring time window are mapped in a data packet. The excitations are mapped as time values and intensity values. The time value represents a detection point in time of an excitation. The intensity value represents an amplitude of the excitation. In the detection step, excitations are detected as drop events. An excitation is detected as a drop event induced by a pulse of an impacting drop if the time value and/or the intensity value of the excitation satisfies at least one characteristic of a drop event. In the determination step, a precipitation intensity is determined, using a number of drop events detected per time unit.

Abstract: A sensor, including at least one transducer for emitting signals and for receiving reflected echo signals, the transducer being set up to output an analog measuring signal, an analog-to-digital converter for converting the analog measuring signal into a digital measuring signal, an evaluation unit for evaluating the digital measuring signal, and a communication unit for transmitting a measuring result of the evaluation via a digital communication interface. The communication unit is equipped to receive a request for diagnostic data via the digital communication interface, and is also equipped to switch the sensor to diagnostic operation and to transmit requested diagnostic data via the digital communication interface. The communication unit is set up to communicate with at least two different data rates via the digital communication interface, a higher data rate being used for transmitting the diagnostic data than for transmitting the measuring result during normal operation of the sensor.

Abstract: A device and a method for operating an acoustic sensor. An acoustic signal is emitted with the aid of the acoustic sensor, a first signal component of the acoustic signal having a first frequency and a second signal component of the acoustic signal having a second frequency, an aperture angle of the acoustic sensor differing for the first frequency and the second frequency, receiving the acoustic signal with the aid of the acoustic sensor, after it has been reflected at an object; and evaluating the received acoustic signal to ascertain an elevation angle based on a signal amplitude of the first signal component and a signal amplitude of the second signal component of the received acoustic signal, the elevation angle describing a position deviation of the object from a sensor axis of the acoustic sensor.

Abstract: A method for operating ultrasonic sensors of a vehicle. In the method, front ultrasonic sensors of the vehicle are used to detect wind noise at the vehicle, rear ultrasonic sensors of the vehicle are used to detect a road condition in the area of the vehicle, and lateral ultrasonic sensors of the vehicle are used to detect objects in the area of the vehicle.

Abstract: An ultrasonic system of a vehicle. The ultrasonic system includes: at least one ultrasonic sensor for ascertaining a distance of objects from the vehicle by comparing an emitted signal and a reflected echo, and a calculation apparatus for evaluating a measured signal of the ultrasonic sensor. The calculation apparatus is configured to determine a variance of a ground echo distribution within a roadway portion on which the vehicle is moving, and to ascertain the condition of the roadway portion on the basis of at least one predefined classifier that associates individual values of the variance with a roadway condition.