Patent attributes
An active safety system for a machine and a process for operating the active safety system are disclosed. The active safety system an active ultrasonic array having a plurality of ultrasonic transducers. The plurality of ultrasonic transducers can propagate a plurality of sound waves, receive a plurality of echo waves and transform the plurality of echo waves into a plurality of electrical pulses. The plurality of electrical pulses can be transmitted to and received by a three-dimensional imaging circuit. The three-dimensional imaging circuit can generate a 3D image from the plurality of electrical pulses and an electrical control unit can determine a location, size and geometric orientation of the 3D image. The electronic control unit can also provide an occupant safety parameter as a function of the location, size and geometric orientation of the 3D image and transmit the occupant safety parameter or an instruction related to the occupant safety parameter to an occupant safety system and/or an occupant warning system.