Ultrasonic sensor with echo magnification
US11163049B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 2, 2019 |
| Grant date | Nov 2, 2021 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 12, 2040 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01S15/931
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Sensors, sensor controllers, and sensor control methods may employ an echo-magnification technique to improve threshold-based echo detection. In one illustrative embodiment, a sensor controller includes: a transmitter, a receiver, and a processing circuit coupled to the transmitter and to the receiver. The transmitter drives a piezoelectric element to generate acoustic bursts. The receiver senses a response of the piezoelectric element to echoes of each acoustic burst. The processing circuit is operable to apply echo-detection processing to the response by: identifying an interval of the response representing at least a portion of a potential echo; deriving a modified response from the response by selectively magnifying the response during said interval; and using the modified response to detect an echo.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.