Patent ID: 8064285

Claim:
A method for functional testing of an ultrasonic sensor on a motor vehicle, the ultrasonic sensor emitting an ultrasonic signal, and the ultrasonic signal being reflected from a ground surface in front of the vehicle and received again by the ultrasonic sensor or by another ultrasonic sensor, the method comprising: selecting at least one of a duration and an amplitude of the emitted ultrasonic signal to be great enough to enable, under conventional conditions, a reception of the signal reflected by the ground surface; determining a functioning of the ultrasonic sensor when there is a reception of the reflected signal; and if no ultrasonic signal reflected by the ground surface is received, increasing at least one of the duration and the amplitude of an ultrasonic signal next emitted, wherein if a value of at least one of the duration and the amplitude has not yet been reached at which, under conventional conditions, a reception of the reflected ultrasonic signal must reliably take place.