Patent ID: 9698802
Date: 2017-07-04
CPC Classifications: G01N,G01S,G01V,H02M,H03M

Claim:
1. A method for amplifying an echo signal, the method comprising: amplifying an analog echo signal, which is for detecting a vehicle's surroundings, with a gain which depends on a transit time of the echo signal, wherein the analog echo signal is amplified with the aid of an amplifier unit having a plurality of outputs each having a different gain and a downstream A/D converter having a time-variable reference voltage, switching between different outputs of the amplifier unit at predefined switching points in time, wherein: varying the reference voltage of the A/D converter over time between the switching points in time so that the echo signal is available at the output of the A/D converter having a transit time-dependent total gain, which has a predefined characteristic.