Acoustic Signal Onset Detection for Passive Object Localization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for localizing objects in open or closed spaces, especially mobile devices, require them to emit signals or undergo calibration, making it difficult to determine complex arrangements without active signal emission or known locations.
Innovation Solution
A method that uses microphone devices to receive acoustic signals and process them for patterns, determining the distance between objects through time synchronization, allowing for self-localization without active signal emission, using ambient noise or tones, and performing statistical analysis to determine the most likely distance estimate.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If objects actively emit signals for localization, then position determination is possible, but the system requires active signal emission and energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses ambient acoustic signals already present in the environment (such as noise from machinery, traffic, or other sources) to perform localization. Objects equipped with microphones passively receive these signals and use them for position determination, eliminating the need for the objects to actively emit signals and consume energy for transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an external data processing device that acts as an intermediary. This device receives acoustic signals from multiple objects, performs the complex pattern recognition and time synchronization calculations, and determines positions centrally. This allows individual objects to remain simple receivers rather than active transmitters.
2Measurement precision
If calibration with known locations is used for localization, then position accuracy is improved, but the system becomes less flexible and requires pre-established reference points
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-localization by having objects independently record acoustic signals and exchange timing information with other objects. Through mutual time synchronization and pattern matching, objects can determine their relative positions without requiring any pre-calibrated reference points or external infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using fixed reference points to determine object positions, the patent inverts the approach by using the objects themselves as references. Each object serves as both a target to be localized and a reference for localizing others, enabling flexible deployment in any environment without pre-established infrastructure.
3Measurement precision
If acoustic signals are processed for pattern recognition, then distance estimation accuracy is improved, but the processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential features from acoustic signals for localization - specifically the timing of signal onsets and arrival times. By focusing on these critical temporal characteristics rather than processing the entire acoustic signal spectrum, the system achieves accurate distance estimation while keeping processing requirements manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary time synchronization between objects before position determination. By pre-establishing synchronized time references and preparing timing data structures in advance, the complex pattern recognition and distance calculation processes can proceed more efficiently with reduced computational burden during actual localization operations.
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
Enables flexible and accurate localization of objects based on received acoustic signals, even in noisy environments, without the need for active signal emission, and can be used for multiple objects, providing reliable position determination.
Implementation Method 1
At least one acoustic signal from at least one acoustic source is received with microphone devices on the objects
Implementation Method 2
a value for the distance estimate (distance min) between the mobile objects is determined with the help of the measured runtime difference between two patterns in the acoustic signal
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for locating at least one object (10), in which a) a microphone apparatus (1) of the at least one object (10) is used to receive at least one acoustic signal (2) from at least one acoustic source (3), b) a data processing apparatus (4, 7) is used to automatically search the temporal profile of the at least one acoustic signal (2) for at least one pattern (5) using predefined criteria, wherein c) the at least one pattern (5) is an onset of the at least one acoustic signal (2) or has an onset of the at least one acoustic signal (2), and d) the at least one object (10) is located on the basis of the reception of the pattern (5) using time synchronization (6).