Acoustic Ranging for Item Location Using Mobile Phone Microphones
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies for locating items are either inaccurate, limited in range, or require specialized hardware, making them inefficient and unreliable, especially in noisy environments.
Innovation Solution
A method and system using a specifically designed acoustic signal for unilateral and bidirectional ranging, combined with pedestrian dead reckoning and particle filtering, to achieve precise location of items using mass mobile phones without the need for additional hardware or third-party devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If Bluetooth Low Energy is used for item location, then the system is simple and widely compatible, but the location accuracy is poor and ranging is not reliable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines acoustic signal technology with existing mobile phone hardware (microphone and speaker) to achieve precise ranging. By merging acoustic two-way ranging with pedestrian dead reckoning and particle filtering algorithms, the system achieves centimeter-level location accuracy while maintaining compatibility with mass mobile phones without requiring specialized chips or modules.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the acoustic signal transmission and reception system with electronic signal processing. The microphone and speaker, which are standard components in mass mobile phones, are used to transmit and receive acoustic signals for ranging, substituting specialized UWB hardware with readily available components.
2Measurement precision
If UWB technology is used for item location, then the location accuracy is high, but the device complexity increases and compatibility is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the mobile phone's microphone and speaker serve multiple functions: they are not only used for audio output but also for transmitting and receiving acoustic ranging signals. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for specialized ranging hardware, reducing device complexity while maintaining high location accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables the mobile phone to perform ranging operations using its own built-in acoustic components (microphone and speaker) without requiring external specialized hardware. The phone's existing hardware serves the ranging function, making the system self-sufficient and compatible with mass devices.
3Device complexity
If acoustic signaling is used for item location, then the system is simple and compatible, but the effective working range is limited and accuracy deteriorates in noisy environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism through two-way acoustic ranging, where the target device responds to the inquiry signal. This bidirectional communication allows for time-of-flight calculation and provides feedback on signal reception quality, enabling the system to adapt to noisy environments and extend effective working range while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary signal processing and environmental noise characterization before conducting the actual ranging operation. By preparing the acoustic channel and filtering characteristics in advance, the system can better withstand environmental noise and maintain reliability in open environments.
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 provides high accuracy and a large effective working range, suitable for mass mobile phones, and is not affected by open environments or loud noise, achieving centimeter-scale location precision.
Implementation Method 1
a method and system using a specifically designed acoustic signal for unilateral and bidirectional ranging
Implementation Method 2
The intelligent terminal includes an inertial sensor, a first loudspeaker and a first microphone; the inertial sensor is used for determining a movement track of the intelligent terminal; and the first loudspeaker and the first microphone are used for transmitting an acoustic signal and receiving the acoustic signal returned by the item locating and finding device
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention discloses an item locating and finding method, system and device based on acoustic signal, which relates to the field of item location, and aims at solving the problems in the prior art that a specific directional angle of the item cannot be detected and the technical solutions in the prior art are not suitable for common intelligent terminals and are greatly affected by the environmental noise; performing unilateral and bidirectional ranging based on the acoustic signal; and performing location by using acoustic ranging and PDR.