Acoustic Signal Detection Using Delay Line Arithmetic Units
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ultrasonic signal detection systems for vehicle surroundings face inefficiencies in processing and analyzing acoustic signals due to high computational costs and complexity, particularly in separating signals with Doppler shifts and handling noise, which limits their ability to process signals in real-time effectively.
Innovation Solution
A device and method for detecting acoustic signals that convert continuous signals into time-discrete signals using a delay line and arithmetic units with coefficient generators, allowing for efficient filtering and signal processing by simplifying multiplication operations through addition and subtraction of shifted sample values, reducing the need for general-purpose multiplication hardware and enabling real-time processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional ultrasonic signal detection systems use general-purpose multiplication hardware for filtering and signal processing, then signal processing accuracy is maintained, but computational cost and device complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces general-purpose multiplication hardware with a specialized filtering device that performs filtering operations using addition and subtraction of delayed signal samples. This substitution eliminates the need for complex multiplication units while maintaining filtering functionality, thereby reducing computational cost and hardware complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the operational parameters of the filtering process by using integer-based delay line indices and simplified arithmetic operations instead of floating-point multiplication. This parameter change enables the use of less complex hardware while achieving the same signal processing objectives.
2Productivity
If real-time processing of acoustic signals is implemented using traditional methods, then signal detection accuracy is achieved, but processing time and computational load become excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-computing and storing filter coefficients in the delay line structure, and by organizing the filtering operations to use previously computed values. This allows the system to process new signal samples efficiently without repeating complex calculations, thereby reducing processing time while maintaining real-time capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The filtering device maintains continuous processing by using an overlapping window approach where each new sample builds upon previous computations. The delay line continuously feeds processed values to subsequent stages without interruption, ensuring uninterrupted real-time signal analysis.
3Measurement precision
If signal filtering is performed with high precision using conventional algorithms, then Doppler shift detection accuracy is improved, but the computational complexity and resource requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex conventional filtering algorithms with a simplified filtering device that uses addition and subtraction of delayed samples. This substitution maintains the ability to detect Doppler shifts accurately while significantly reducing the computational complexity and resource requirements of the filtering process.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a cost-effective and efficient analysis of acoustic signals, particularly suited for signals with narrow bandwidths, enabling real-time processing and reducing computational complexity, thus improving the detection of Doppler shifts and other signal characteristics.
Implementation Method 1
a delay line module following the scanning device, which receives samples from the scanning device and is configured to simultaneously provide both a sample value ri applied to its input and at least one delayed sample value ri−ND|ND>0
Implementation Method 2
Each arithmetic unit includes an adder/subtractor controlled by the sequential logic unit, which is set up to add the current sample value ri and/or the delayed sample value ri−ND|ND>0 to or subtract it from a previous calculation result
Implementation Method 3
a scanning device for converting incoming continuous signals into discrete-time signals
Implementation Method 4
When the sound source, receiver, and/or the optional reflector in the propagation path move relative to each other, the frequency of the received signal changes in relation to the signal emitted by the sound source due to Doppler shift
Data Source
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AI summary
An apparatus for detecting audible signals from a sound source is disclosed which has a sampling apparatus for converting incoming continuous signals in a manner that discretizes with respect to time, wherein the apparatus has a delay line module which receives samples from the sampling apparatus and which is set up to simultaneously provide both a sample ri that is applied to its input and at least one delayed sample (I), and one or more arithmetic units equipped with filtering properties. The arithmetic units each have a switching unit which acts as a coefficient generator and which is set up to take a sampling clock i as a basis for controlling whether values ri and/or (I) provided by the delay line module are ignored or fractions thereof produced directly or by right-shifting are either added or subtracted to/from the previous computation result y I h D(i -1) or y Q h D(i -1), an adding/subtracting unit and a result memory that can be controlled by means of the sampling clock i. In addition, the ratio of the sampling frequency F to the filter frequency fh preferably follows the relationship: F = 4fh ⋅ (1; 2; 3; 4;...) ± 15%. Furthermore, an associated method is provided.