Ultrasonic Detection Parameter Adaptation Using Image Classification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ultrasonic sensors in battery-powered devices face inefficiencies due to incorrect object determinations caused by environmental interference, leading to unnecessary power consumption and inaccurate triggering events.
Innovation Solution
An object detection system dynamically updates ultrasonic detection parameters based on image classification, adjusting thresholds, gains, and hysteresis to correct false positives and negatives, thereby optimizing power usage and accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ultrasonic sensors continuously monitor environment with fixed detection parameters, then detection coverage is maintained, but power consumption increases and false detections occur due to environmental interference
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts ultrasonic detection parameters (thresholds, gains, hysteresis values) based on environmental conditions captured by the image sensor. This allows the detection system to adapt to changing environments, maintaining high detection accuracy while consuming less power by activating full monitoring only when necessary.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses periodic image capture to monitor environmental changes and only activates continuous ultrasonic detection when motion or relevant changes are detected. This periodic monitoring approach reduces power consumption while maintaining detection reliability by being active only when needed.
2Reliability
If ultrasonic detection parameters are fixed, then system complexity is reduced, but detection accuracy decreases due to environmental interference and occlusion
Solution Approach 1:
The image sensor acts as an intermediary that provides environmental context to the ultrasonic detection system. By using image data to inform parameter adjustments, the system achieves high detection accuracy without requiring complex adaptive algorithms in the ultrasonic processing path itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by using image capture results to adjust ultrasonic detection parameters. When the image sensor detects motion or environmental changes, this feedback triggers parameter adjustments in the ultrasonic system, improving detection accuracy while keeping the control mechanism relatively simple.
3Measurement precision
If image capture system is continuously active to verify ultrasonic detections, then false positives are reduced, but power consumption increases substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The image capture system operates periodically or on-demand rather than continuously. It activates only when the ultrasonic sensor detects potential motion or when environmental changes are anticipated, providing verification only when necessary to reduce false positives while minimizing power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the ultrasonic detection results to determine when image capture is needed, creating a self-regulating mechanism where the low-power sensor triggers the high-power sensor only when its detection suggests potential interest, thereby reducing overall power consumption while maintaining verification accuracy.
4Productivity
If ultrasonic sensors operate in noisy environments with interference, then detection coverage is maintained, but false triggering events increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes detection parameters (thresholds, gains, hysteresis values) based on environmental conditions detected by the image sensor. In noisy environments with interference, the system adjusts parameters to be more selective, maintaining detection coverage for genuine events while filtering out false triggers caused by environmental noise.
Solution Approach 2:
The image sensor serves as an intermediary that helps distinguish genuine detection events from false triggers caused by environmental interference. By cross-referencing image data with ultrasonic detections, the system can identify and filter false positives while maintaining comprehensive detection coverage.
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 system enhances the accuracy of ultrasonic detection by adapting parameters in response to image feedback, reducing power consumption and improving the reliability of triggering events.
Implementation Method 1
Ultrasonic sensors such as a piezoelectric micromachined ultrasonic transducer ('PMUT') sensor transmit an ultrasound signal or wave into an environment of interest and measure reflected signals that are received over time
Implementation Method 2
Ultrasonic sensors such as a piezoelectric micromachined ultrasonic transducer ('PMUT') sensor transmit an ultrasound signal or wave
Data Source
AI summary
An object detection system includes an ultrasonic sensor and an image sensor. The ultrasonic sensor transmits an ultrasonic signal into an environment of interest and makes an initial determination regarding a potential object in the environment of interest based on received reflections of the ultrasonic signal. Based on that initial determination, the image sensor and associated processing circuitry wake up and capture one or more images of the object within the environment of interest. Those images are analyzed such as by a classifier to determine the object status, which is then compared to the object status as determined by the ultrasonic sensor. Detection parameters of the ultrasonic sensor are updated if the object status as determined ultrasonic sensor does not match the determination of the imaging system.