Ultrasonic Signal Processing via Phase Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ultrasonic sensors face challenges with complex architectures, high computing and energy consumption, angular uncertainty, and limitations in beamforming techniques due to component dimensioning constraints and interference issues, which hinder efficient signal processing and accurate object localization.
Innovation Solution
A processing system that couples ultrasonic transducers with a pulse processing unit, utilizing thresholding and signal-to-pulse transformation to extract directional information, reducing complex signal-processing steps and eliminating intermediate representation storage, thereby improving energy efficiency and angular resolution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If complex signal-processing steps (FFT, correlation, non-linear filtering) are implemented, then measurement precision is improved, but computing time and energy consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential directional information from ultrasonic signals using thresholding and phase detection, eliminating the need for complex FFT and correlation processing. This extraction approach maintains measurement precision while dramatically reducing computing time by removing unnecessary processing steps.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of applying complex signal processing to extract information, the patent inverts the approach by directly detecting phase information from the raw signals and transforming them into pulses. This inversion eliminates the computational burden of traditional methods while preserving the essential measurement capabilities.
2Measurement precision
If complex signal-processing steps are implemented, then measurement precision is improved, but energy consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential directional information from ultrasonic signals using thresholding and phase detection, eliminating the need for complex FFT and correlation processing. This extraction approach maintains measurement precision while dramatically reducing computing time by removing unnecessary processing steps.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of applying complex signal processing to extract information, the patent inverts the approach by directly detecting phase information from the raw signals and transforming them into pulses. This inversion eliminates the computational burden of traditional methods while preserving the essential measurement capabilities.
3Measurement precision
If beamforming techniques are used to improve angular resolution, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases due to component dimensioning constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical beamforming systems with a simplified electronic processing approach. By using phase detection and signal transformation methods, the system achieves angular resolution improvement without requiring complex component arrangements or mechanical adjustments, thereby reducing device complexity.
4Measurement precision
If intermediate representations of the signal are stored, then processing accuracy is maintained, but hardware resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts essential phase information directly from the signals and transforms it into pulse representations for processing. This extraction method maintains processing accuracy by preserving critical information while eliminating the need to store complete intermediate signal representations, thereby reducing hardware resource requirements.
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 significantly reduces computing and energy consumption while enhancing the quality and accuracy of information processing, improving angular resolution and reducing the complexity of ultrasonic sensor systems.
Implementation Method 1
These pulses propagate through the air at the speed of sound
Implementation Method 2
When they encounter an object, they are reflected and return to the sensor in the form of an echo
Implementation Method 3
a thresholding unit configured so as to apply, for each signal received from a transducer, thresholding to a signal derived from said signal received from the transducer
Implementation Method 4
so as to extract directional information contained in the phase of the derived signal
Implementation Method 5
the processing system comprises a pulse processing unit configured so as to process the pulses delivered by the coupling device in order to determine at least one characteristic item of information relating to the detected object
Data Source
AI summary
A processing system for processing signals from a plurality of transducers of an ultrasonic sensor in order to determine characteristic information relating to an object detected by the ultrasonic sensor is provided. The system comprises a coupling device for transforming the signals received from the transducers into pulses, and a pulse processing unit for determining the characteristic information based on the pulses delivered by the coupling device. The coupling device comprises: a thresholding unit for applying, for each signal received from a transducer, thresholding to a signal derived from the signal received from the transducer and extracting directional information contained in the phase of the derived signal; a transformation unit for transforming the derived signal into pulses containing the phase of the signal, using the information extracted by the thresholding unit.