Ultrasonic Sensor Multiple Echo Spectral Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ultrasonic sensors face limitations in determining the separation of objects due to the decay time of piezoelectric transducers and inadequate signal quality, particularly for close-range measurements, which restricts their precision and minimum detectable separation.
Innovation Solution
The method involves performing spectral analysis on the detection signal to determine the multiple echo frequency, using fast Fourier transformation and centroid interpolation to enhance precision, allowing for reliable separation determination even at close ranges by utilizing the information from multiple echoes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the ultrasonic transducer is excited with a voltage to emit ultrasonic pulses, then the ultrasonic pulse is emitted and can be reflected by an object, but the transducer cannot immediately be used for receiving the echo because the piezoelectric crystal decays over a finite time, limiting the minimum object separation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing spectral analysis on the entire detection signal including multiple echoes before the transducer fully decays. By analyzing the frequency spectrum of all received echoes rather than waiting for the transducer to settle, the system can determine object separation without being limited by the transducer decay time, thus enabling detection of closer objects
2Device complexity
If only the first echo is used for evaluation, then the determination process is simple, but the precision is inadequate due to frequently inadequate signal quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple echo signals into a single spectral analysis. By combining the information from all detected echoes (first echo, second echo, third echo, etc.) and performing a unified spectral analysis on the composite signal, the system achieves higher measurement precision while maintaining relatively simple evaluation complexity through the use of fast Fourier transformation
3Measurement precision
If spectral analysis is performed on the detection signal to determine multiple echo frequency, then the separation determination precision is significantly improved, but the evaluation process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex time-domain signal processing with frequency-domain spectral analysis. By substituting the mechanical/time-based approach of analyzing individual echo arrivals with a spectral analysis approach using fast Fourier transformation, the system achieves higher precision while the computational complexity is managed through efficient algorithms
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 improves the precision of separation determination, enabling the ultrasonic sensor to detect closer objects with increased accuracy and opens up new application possibilities by effectively utilizing the information from multiple echoes.
Implementation Method 1
In most sensors a piezoelectric system serves as the ultrasonic transducer. Following transducer excitation which takes place over a period of a few microseconds, the ultrasonic transducer is used as a receiver. The emitted ultrasonic pulse is reflected on an object and travels back to the sensor. The ultrasonic transducer transforms the echo pulse into an electrical voltage
Implementation Method 2
The emitted ultrasonic pulse is reflected on an object and travels back to the sensor. The ultrasonic transducer transforms the echo pulse into an electrical voltage and on the basis of a measured sound travel time the separation of the object from the sensor is calculated
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for determining a separation, spacing or distance of an object from an ultrasonic sensor, in which ultrasonic pulses are emitted by a transducing or sensing element and in which ultrasonic pulses reflected by the object are detected by the same transducing element. According to the invention, the method is characterized in that there is a spectral analysis of the signal detected by the transducing element, that the multiple echo frequency attributed to multiple echoes of the ultrasonic pulses is determined in the spectrum of the detection signal and that on the basis of the multiple echo frequency the separation of the object from the ultrasonic sensor is determined. The invention also relates to an ultrasonic sensor for determining the separation of an object.