Acoustic Positioning Using Echo-Based Virtual Receivers
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing indoor position determining systems using ultrasound face challenges such as high equipment and installation costs, poor accuracy due to signal reflections, and limited processing capabilities, especially in noisy environments and large installations.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilize the time of arrival of both direct and reflected acoustic signals to determine the position of a mobile unit within a detection zone, employing virtual receivers created by processing echoes from surfaces, which reduces the number of physical receivers required and enhances accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple ultrasonic receivers are distributed around a monitoring zone to determine position using trilateration, then position determination accuracy is improved, but equipment cost and installation cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates virtual copies of the ultrasonic receiver by processing reflected signals. Instead of deploying multiple physical receivers, the system uses signal processing to create virtual receiver positions based on echoes from known reflective surfaces, thereby achieving multiple measurement points without additional hardware
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful effect of signal reflections into a beneficial resource. Rather than treating reflected ultrasonic signals as noise to be filtered out, the system utilizes these reflections to create virtual receiver positions, transforming what was previously a problem into a solution that reduces hardware requirements
2Reliability
If multiple ultrasonic receivers are installed to mitigate reflection problems, then positioning reliability is improved, but installation complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates virtual receiver copies through signal processing of reflected signals, achieving multiple reliable measurement points without the need to physically install multiple receivers, thereby maintaining positioning reliability while reducing installation complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses reflective surfaces as intermediaries to create virtual receiver positions. The known geometry of reflective surfaces acts as a mediator to generate additional measurement points, eliminating the need for complex multi-receiver installations while maintaining positioning reliability
3Device complexity
If signature-matching method is used to handle reflected signals, then system complexity is reduced, but positioning accuracy deteriorates in noisy environments
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using signature-matching to filter out reflections as noise, the patent directly utilizes reflected signals to create virtual receiver positions through geometric processing, converting the harmful reflection effect into a beneficial resource for achieving accurate positioning without complex matching algorithms
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the statistical signature-matching approach with a geometric method based on known reflective surface positions. This substitution uses deterministic geometric relationships rather than statistical pattern matching, providing more reliable accuracy in noisy environments while maintaining system simplicity
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
This approach improves positional accuracy, reduces equipment and installation costs, and allows for more efficient data transmission rates by leveraging echo characteristics for position determination and data updating.
Implementation Method 1
emitting an acoustic signal from the mobile unit; receiving said acoustic signal along a first path from the mobile unit; receiving an echo of said acoustic signal after reflection from a surface
Implementation Method 2
receiving an echo of said acoustic signal after reflection from a surface within said detection zone
Implementation Method 3
determining the time of arrival of the acoustic signal along said first path; determining the time of arrival of the echo; and determining the position of the mobile unit within the detection zone from said times of arrival
Data Source
AI summary
The position of a mobile unit (12) within a detection zone is determined. An acoustic signal is emitted from the mobile unit and received along a first path (54). An echo of the signal is received after reflection from a surface (46) within said detection zone. The position of the mobile unit (12) within the detection zone is determined from the times of arrival of the signal and echo.