WO2011066662A1 - Procedure for detecting the movements of an ultrasound emitter and device detecting the three-dimensional movements of an ultrasound emitter - Google Patents

Procedure for detecting the movements of an ultrasound emitter and device detecting the three-dimensional movements of an ultrasound emitter Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2011066662A1
WO2011066662A1 PCT/CH2010/000287 CH2010000287W WO2011066662A1 WO 2011066662 A1 WO2011066662 A1 WO 2011066662A1 CH 2010000287 W CH2010000287 W CH 2010000287W WO 2011066662 A1 WO2011066662 A1 WO 2011066662A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
emitter
movements
signal
phase difference
fact
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/CH2010/000287
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French (fr)
Inventor
Enrico Geiler
Original Assignee
Enrico Geiler
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Publication date
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Publication of WO2011066662A1 publication Critical patent/WO2011066662A1/en

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01S—RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
    • G01S11/00—Systems for determining distance or velocity not using reflection or reradiation
    • G01S11/14—Systems for determining distance or velocity not using reflection or reradiation using ultrasonic, sonic, or infrasonic waves
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01S—RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
    • G01S15/00—Systems using the reflection or reradiation of acoustic waves, e.g. sonar systems
    • G01S15/003—Bistatic sonar systems; Multistatic sonar systems
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01S—RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
    • G01S15/00—Systems using the reflection or reradiation of acoustic waves, e.g. sonar systems
    • G01S15/02—Systems using the reflection or reradiation of acoustic waves, e.g. sonar systems using reflection of acoustic waves
    • G01S15/06—Systems determining the position data of a target
    • G01S15/08—Systems for measuring distance only
    • G01S15/32—Systems for measuring distance only using transmission of continuous waves, whether amplitude-, frequency-, or phase-modulated, or unmodulated
    • G01S15/36—Systems for measuring distance only using transmission of continuous waves, whether amplitude-, frequency-, or phase-modulated, or unmodulated with phase comparison between the received signal and the contemporaneously transmitted signal
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01S—RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
    • G01S15/00—Systems using the reflection or reradiation of acoustic waves, e.g. sonar systems
    • G01S15/02—Systems using the reflection or reradiation of acoustic waves, e.g. sonar systems using reflection of acoustic waves
    • G01S15/50—Systems of measurement, based on relative movement of the target
    • G01S15/58—Velocity or trajectory determination systems; Sense-of-movement determination systems
    • G01S15/586—Velocity or trajectory determination systems; Sense-of-movement determination systems using transmission of continuous unmodulated waves, amplitude-, frequency-, or phase-modulated waves and based upon the Doppler effect resulting from movement of targets
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01S—RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
    • G01S15/00—Systems using the reflection or reradiation of acoustic waves, e.g. sonar systems
    • G01S15/02—Systems using the reflection or reradiation of acoustic waves, e.g. sonar systems using reflection of acoustic waves
    • G01S15/50—Systems of measurement, based on relative movement of the target
    • G01S15/58—Velocity or trajectory determination systems; Sense-of-movement determination systems
    • G01S15/588—Velocity or trajectory determination systems; Sense-of-movement determination systems measuring the velocity vector
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01S—RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
    • G01S15/00—Systems using the reflection or reradiation of acoustic waves, e.g. sonar systems
    • G01S15/74—Systems using reradiation of acoustic waves, e.g. IFF, i.e. identification of friend or foe
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01S—RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
    • G01S3/00—Direction-finders for determining the direction from which infrasonic, sonic, ultrasonic, or electromagnetic waves, or particle emission, not having a directional significance, are being received
    • G01S3/80—Direction-finders for determining the direction from which infrasonic, sonic, ultrasonic, or electromagnetic waves, or particle emission, not having a directional significance, are being received using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
    • G01S3/802—Systems for determining direction or deviation from predetermined direction
    • G01S3/8022—Systems for determining direction or deviation from predetermined direction using the Doppler shift introduced by the relative motion between source and receiver
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01S—RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
    • G01S3/00—Direction-finders for determining the direction from which infrasonic, sonic, ultrasonic, or electromagnetic waves, or particle emission, not having a directional significance, are being received
    • G01S3/80—Direction-finders for determining the direction from which infrasonic, sonic, ultrasonic, or electromagnetic waves, or particle emission, not having a directional significance, are being received using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
    • G01S3/802—Systems for determining direction or deviation from predetermined direction
    • G01S3/8027—By vectorial composition of signals received by plural, differently-oriented transducers
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01S—RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
    • G01S3/00—Direction-finders for determining the direction from which infrasonic, sonic, ultrasonic, or electromagnetic waves, or particle emission, not having a directional significance, are being received
    • G01S3/80—Direction-finders for determining the direction from which infrasonic, sonic, ultrasonic, or electromagnetic waves, or particle emission, not having a directional significance, are being received using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
    • G01S3/802—Systems for determining direction or deviation from predetermined direction
    • G01S3/808—Systems for determining direction or deviation from predetermined direction using transducers spaced apart and measuring phase or time difference between signals therefrom, i.e. path-difference systems
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01S—RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
    • G01S5/00—Position-fixing by co-ordinating two or more direction or position line determinations; Position-fixing by co-ordinating two or more distance determinations
    • G01S5/18—Position-fixing by co-ordinating two or more direction or position line determinations; Position-fixing by co-ordinating two or more distance determinations using ultrasonic, sonic, or infrasonic waves
    • G01S5/22—Position of source determined by co-ordinating a plurality of position lines defined by path-difference measurements

Definitions

  • the invented procedure and device are included in the electronics technology field.
  • the invention concern a method for determining the displacement along the axes x, y, z of an ultrasound emitter and a device that can detect with great accuracy the movements of the ultrasound emitter.
  • the invented procedure uses the measurement of phase difference between an ultrasonic signal emitted by a mobile emitter and a similar reference signal located in a fixed receiver.
  • the emitter and the receiver are synchronized by a signal transmitted by wire, radio or something else.
  • the receiver By equipping the receiver with three or more microphones, it is possible to determine in the three dimensions x, y, z the movement of the ultrasound emitter that, for example, could be incorporated into a computer mouse or can also be used for three-dimensional drawings or for a joystick for game consoles.
  • the invented procedure can detect the movement even when there are obstacles between the emitter module (1) and the receiver module (3).
  • the device working with this invented process does not require a supporting or reference surface.
  • the energy consumption is low.
  • the initial position of the emitter module can be determined by measuring the travelling time of the ultrasounds from the emitter module (1 ) to the various microphones (12).
  • the initial position of the emitter module (1 ) can also be detected by counting the number of waves (6) present between the emitter module (1 ) and the receiver module (3).
  • the number of waves (6) can be counted by stopping the emission of the ultrasonic signal (2) and counting the waves (6, Fig 1) that are still reaching the microphone (12) until the end of the signal (2). Because the wave length (6) is well known it is easy to determine the distance (9) of the emitter module (1 ) or the reflecting surface (23). The quantification of the distance (9) will later allow to determine with a good approximation the location of the emitter module (1 ) in relation to the receiver module (3).
  • An application of the invented principle and device could be, for example, to monitor and quantify with precision the movements in close range space of an object or a remote control.
  • a variant of the invented device contemplates that the displacements are detected by comparing the ultrasonic signal reflected by an object or a surface, with one equal default signal already present in the device. The phase difference between the two signals will quantify the movement of the object or the reflecting surface.
  • the frequencies of the ultrasonic signal may be adjusted and adapted to each case.
  • the ultrasonic detectors and similar devices known today are based on the echo and the speed of the sound in air.
  • An emitter emits an ultrasonic signal or similar and it is measured the time that the reflection of that signal takes to return to the starting point. Knowing the speed of sound or of the signal it is possible calculate the distance between the emitter and the detected object.
  • These detectors use the same operating principle of SONAR or RADAR.
  • the mouses that are actually being used detect the movement by a mechanical relationships or through a light emitted to a surface on which they move.
  • FIG. 2 shows an operational diagram of an example of realization of the invention
  • Fig. 1 represents the invented process:
  • No. 1 represents the emitter module emitting the ultrasounds 2.
  • the emitter module 1 is mobile.
  • No. 2 shows the ultrasounds waves emitted by the emitter module 1.
  • a single wave of the emitted ultrasounds is represented by no 6.
  • No. 3 shows the receiver module in which there is the ultrasound reference signal 4.
  • No. 5 represents the phase difference (or phase shift) between the ultrasounds 2 emitted by the mobile emitter module 1 and the given ultrasound reference signal 4.
  • the difference of the phase 5 is due to the physical movement of the emitter module 1 , for example, in the direction of the arrow 7.
  • the phase difference 5 is detected by comparing the phases and is measured with close intermittences. This measurement allows to precisely quantifying the physical movement performed by the ultrasound emitter module 1 in relation to the receiver module 3.
  • No. 6 shows a single wave of the ultrasonic signal.
  • No. 7 shows the direction arrow of a possible movement direction of the mobile emitter module 1.
  • No. 8 indicates the connection used to synchronize the ultrasounds 2 emitted by the emitter module 1 with the reference signal 4 located in the receiver module 3.
  • this synchronization connection 8 is done through a radio signal, a wire or something else.
  • the emitted ultrasound signal 2 has therefore the same frequency as the reference signal 4.
  • the synchronization may be omitted if, through the use of two identical frequency generators, the output signal of the emitter module is perfectly identical to the reference signal.
  • No. 9 shows the distance between the emitter module 1 and the receiver module 3. This distance can be detected and quantified by measuring the travelling time of the ultrasound from the emitter module 1 to a receiver module 3. This technology is known, however it is original and inedited its combination with a movement detection system by measuring the phase difference.
  • the quantification of the distance 9 allows to define with a good approximation the initial position of the emitter module 1 in relation to the receiver module 3.
  • Fig. 2 shows an operational diagram of an example of realization of the invention:
  • the default synchronization signal 20 is transmitted as a radio signal through the radio emitter 17 and the radio receiver 19 to the emitter module 1.
  • the default signal passes through the regulation 18 (filter, amplifier, etc.) and arrives synchronized to the same frequency as the reference signal (4, fig. 1 ) to the ultrasound speaker 10.
  • the signal leaves in the form of ultrasounds 2 and is detected by one or more microphones 12 of the receiver module 3 arranged in a triangle.
  • the ultrasound signal 2 picked up by the microphones 12 passes into the regulation block 13 (typically one for each microphone) which is processed in various ways (amplification, AGC, power control, filters, etc.).
  • phase comparator 14 From here the signal arrives in phase comparator 14 (there should be one for each microphone and can be composed of a logic gate AND or OR, but can be integrated directly into the microcontroller 15).
  • the phase comparator 14 the incoming signal is compared with the signal generated by the reference frequency generator 16, then the phase difference (5, Fig. 1) between the two signals is detected and highlighted all the time.
  • the result of the comparison i.e. the phase difference, is directly related to the movement of the source of ultrasounds.
  • the phase difference is measured and quantified in the microcontroller MCU 15.
  • the variation of this phase difference (5, fig.1 ) allows to detect and to quantify the physical movement of the emitter module 1.
  • the microcontroller can calculate the movement and the position in the three dimensions x, y, z.
  • the microcontroller 15 can also measure and quantify the travelling time of an ultrasonic signal from the emitter module to the receiver module quantifying with a good approximation the distance between the two modules, thus also the initial position of the emitter module in three dimensions x, y, z.
  • the data processed by the microcontroller MCU 15 are transmitted to the user computer through for example a cable, USB door or something else.
  • Fig. 3 represents a variant of realization of the invented device:
  • the ultrasonic frequency generator 16 frequency multiplier, filters, oscillator, etc.
  • the signal with the predefined frequency passes through the regulation 18 and arrives to the ultrasound speaker 10. From there it leaves as an ultrasonic signal 2 to the object or a surface 23 from which is reflected 22 and arrives to one or more microphones 12.
  • the signal 22 picked up by one or more microphones 12 passes through the control block 13 (typically one for each microphone) where is processed in various ways. From here the signal arrives into the phase comparator 14 (there should be one for each microphone and can be composed by a logic gate AND or OR, but can be also integrated directly into the microcontroller 15). In the phase comparator 14 the incoming signal is compared with the reference signal generated by the frequency generator 16, then the phase difference (5, Fig. 1 ) between the two signals is detected and highlighted all the time. The result of the comparison is directly related to the movement of the object or the surface 23 which reflects ultrasounds.
  • phase difference is measured and quantified in the microcontroller MCU 15.
  • the variation of this phase difference (5, Fig.1 ) allows to continuously detect and to quantify the physical movements of the object 23.
  • the microcontroller 15 can also detect, measure and quantify the travelling time of the ultrasound signal 2 from speaker 10 to the object/surface and return 22, therefore quantifying with a good approximation the distance between speaker and object/surface in order to define the initial position of object/surface 23.
  • the data processed by the microcontroller MCU 15 are transmitted to the user computer 21 through for example a cable, USB door or something else.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Radar, Positioning & Navigation (AREA)
  • Remote Sensing (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • Measurement Of Velocity Or Position Using Acoustic Or Ultrasonic Waves (AREA)
  • Length Measuring Devices Characterised By Use Of Acoustic Means (AREA)

Abstract

The procedure and the invented device use the collection, the comparison, the measurement and the assessment of the phase difference between an ultrasonic signal emitted by an emitter and a similar reference signal present in a receiver to detect and quantify with precision every displacement made by an ultrasound emitter. The emitter and the receiver are synchronized by a signal transmitted by wire, radio or something else. By using three or more microphones, it is possible to determine the movement in three dimensions x, y, z of the ultrasound emitter that, for example, could be incorporated into a computer mouse, which can also be used for three- dimensional drawings or in a remote controler for a game console. Instead of using ultrasounds emitted by one emitter it is also possible to compare only the ultrasounds reflected by a passive mobile object.

Description

PROCEDURE FOR DETECTING THE MOVEMENTS OF AN ULTRASOUND EMITTER AND DEVICE DETECTING THE THREE-DIMENSIONAL MOVEMENTS OF AN ULTRASOUND EMITTER
DESCRIPTION
Field of the invention
The invented procedure and device are included in the electronics technology field. The invention concern a method for determining the displacement along the axes x, y, z of an ultrasound emitter and a device that can detect with great accuracy the movements of the ultrasound emitter.
The invented procedure uses the measurement of phase difference between an ultrasonic signal emitted by a mobile emitter and a similar reference signal located in a fixed receiver. The emitter and the receiver are synchronized by a signal transmitted by wire, radio or something else.
By equipping the receiver with three or more microphones, it is possible to determine in the three dimensions x, y, z the movement of the ultrasound emitter that, for example, could be incorporated into a computer mouse or can also be used for three-dimensional drawings or for a joystick for game consoles.
There are also other possible scientific applications in all areas where it is necessary to accurately detect the movement in real-time on a bidimensional plane or in three-dimensional space, of individual objects located within a few meters.
The invented procedure can detect the movement even when there are obstacles between the emitter module (1) and the receiver module (3). The device working with this invented process does not require a supporting or reference surface. In addition, the energy consumption is low.
As a variant for the comparison of the phases it is also conceivable that can be used only the ultrasound reflected by the examined mobile object, thus making the emitter module unnecessary. This process would greatly improve the sensitivity and accuracy of current proximity sensors and ecographs which are currently based solely on the detection of ultrasound echo. The initial position of the emitter module can be determined by measuring the travelling time of the ultrasounds from the emitter module (1 ) to the various microphones (12).
This technology is known, however it is original and inedited its combination with a movement detection system by measuring the phase difference.
The initial position of the emitter module (1 ) can also be detected by counting the number of waves (6) present between the emitter module (1 ) and the receiver module (3).
The number of waves (6) can be counted by stopping the emission of the ultrasonic signal (2) and counting the waves (6, Fig 1) that are still reaching the microphone (12) until the end of the signal (2). Because the wave length (6) is well known it is easy to determine the distance (9) of the emitter module (1 ) or the reflecting surface (23). The quantification of the distance (9) will later allow to determine with a good approximation the location of the emitter module (1 ) in relation to the receiver module (3).
An application of the invented principle and device could be, for example, to monitor and quantify with precision the movements in close range space of an object or a remote control.
A variant of the invented device contemplates that the displacements are detected by comparing the ultrasonic signal reflected by an object or a surface, with one equal default signal already present in the device. The phase difference between the two signals will quantify the movement of the object or the reflecting surface.
To avoid interferences, the frequencies of the ultrasonic signal may be adjusted and adapted to each case.
Moving the emitter module generates a Doppler effect. If the emitter module does not move at high speeds, the Doppler effect does not have much influence. In case of fast movements, it is possible compensate the Doppler effect with appropriate adjustments. Prior art
To determine the location and movement of an object in space the ultrasonic detectors and similar devices known today are based on the echo and the speed of the sound in air. An emitter emits an ultrasonic signal or similar and it is measured the time that the reflection of that signal takes to return to the starting point. Knowing the speed of sound or of the signal it is possible calculate the distance between the emitter and the detected object. These detectors use the same operating principle of SONAR or RADAR.
It is known the method to detect movements in three dimensions by using a video camera combined with an image processor that calculates the distance based on the size of the object. It is also well known the method of using two cameras to determine the location of the object by a triangulation procedure, but this requires a lot of energy and a complex image analysis and therefore calculation power.
Another possibility is to use infrared sensors which, however, determine the location and distance of the object with a certain approximation. With this method it is difficult to determine the position or the movements of an object in the three dimensions.
The mouses that are actually being used, detect the movement by a mechanical relationships or through a light emitted to a surface on which they move.
In portable computers a small surface is used as a sensor. In other cases it is the hand of the operator that is being used as a reference surface. Anyway there is always the need for a supporting or reference surface.
There are no known systems for detecting the movement of one ultrasound emitter by measuring the phase difference. It is also not known the combination of a system quantifying the distance by using the travelling time of ultrasonic waves with the movement detection system measuring the phase difference. Detailed description of the drawings
Referring to the drawings:
- Fig. 1 represents the theoretical principles underlying the invented process
- Fig. 2 shows an operational diagram of an example of realization of the invention
- Fig. 3 represents an application variant of the invented process Fig. 1 represents the invented process:
No. 1 represents the emitter module emitting the ultrasounds 2. Preferably the emitter module 1 is mobile.
No. 2 shows the ultrasounds waves emitted by the emitter module 1. A single wave of the emitted ultrasounds is represented by no 6.
No. 3 shows the receiver module in which there is the ultrasound reference signal 4.
No. 5 represents the phase difference (or phase shift) between the ultrasounds 2 emitted by the mobile emitter module 1 and the given ultrasound reference signal 4. The difference of the phase 5 is due to the physical movement of the emitter module 1 , for example, in the direction of the arrow 7. Inside the receiver module 3 the phase difference 5 is detected by comparing the phases and is measured with close intermittences. This measurement allows to precisely quantifying the physical movement performed by the ultrasound emitter module 1 in relation to the receiver module 3.
No. 6 shows a single wave of the ultrasonic signal.
No. 7 shows the direction arrow of a possible movement direction of the mobile emitter module 1.
No. 8 indicates the connection used to synchronize the ultrasounds 2 emitted by the emitter module 1 with the reference signal 4 located in the receiver module 3. Preferably, this synchronization connection 8 is done through a radio signal, a wire or something else. The emitted ultrasound signal 2 has therefore the same frequency as the reference signal 4. The synchronization may be omitted if, through the use of two identical frequency generators, the output signal of the emitter module is perfectly identical to the reference signal.
SUBSTITUTE SHEET^RULE 26) No. 9 shows the distance between the emitter module 1 and the receiver module 3. This distance can be detected and quantified by measuring the travelling time of the ultrasound from the emitter module 1 to a receiver module 3. This technology is known, however it is original and inedited its combination with a movement detection system by measuring the phase difference.
The quantification of the distance 9 allows to define with a good approximation the initial position of the emitter module 1 in relation to the receiver module 3.
Fig. 2 shows an operational diagram of an example of realization of the invention:
From the ultrasound frequency generator 16 (frequency multiplier, filters, oscillator, etc.) the default synchronization signal 20 is transmitted as a radio signal through the radio emitter 17 and the radio receiver 19 to the emitter module 1. Here the default signal passes through the regulation 18 (filter, amplifier, etc.) and arrives synchronized to the same frequency as the reference signal (4, fig. 1 ) to the ultrasound speaker 10. From here the signal leaves in the form of ultrasounds 2 and is detected by one or more microphones 12 of the receiver module 3 arranged in a triangle. The ultrasound signal 2 picked up by the microphones 12 passes into the regulation block 13 (typically one for each microphone) which is processed in various ways (amplification, AGC, power control, filters, etc.). From here the signal arrives in phase comparator 14 (there should be one for each microphone and can be composed of a logic gate AND or OR, but can be integrated directly into the microcontroller 15). In the phase comparator 14 the incoming signal is compared with the signal generated by the reference frequency generator 16, then the phase difference (5, Fig. 1) between the two signals is detected and highlighted all the time. The result of the comparison, i.e. the phase difference, is directly related to the movement of the source of ultrasounds. The phase difference is measured and quantified in the microcontroller MCU 15. The variation of this phase difference (5, fig.1 ) allows to detect and to quantify the physical movement of the emitter module 1. By using three microphones the microcontroller can calculate the movement and the position in the three dimensions x, y, z. The microcontroller 15 can also measure and quantify the travelling time of an ultrasonic signal from the emitter module to the receiver module quantifying with a good approximation the distance between the two modules, thus also the initial position of the emitter module in three dimensions x, y, z. At the end of the process, the data processed by the microcontroller MCU 15 are transmitted to the user computer through for example a cable, USB door or something else.
Fig. 3 represents a variant of realization of the invented device:
From the ultrasonic frequency generator 16 (frequency multiplier, filters, oscillator, etc.) the signal with the predefined frequency passes through the regulation 18 and arrives to the ultrasound speaker 10. From there it leaves as an ultrasonic signal 2 to the object or a surface 23 from which is reflected 22 and arrives to one or more microphones 12.
The signal 22 picked up by one or more microphones 12 passes through the control block 13 (typically one for each microphone) where is processed in various ways. From here the signal arrives into the phase comparator 14 (there should be one for each microphone and can be composed by a logic gate AND or OR, but can be also integrated directly into the microcontroller 15). In the phase comparator 14 the incoming signal is compared with the reference signal generated by the frequency generator 16, then the phase difference (5, Fig. 1 ) between the two signals is detected and highlighted all the time. The result of the comparison is directly related to the movement of the object or the surface 23 which reflects ultrasounds.
The phase difference is measured and quantified in the microcontroller MCU 15. The variation of this phase difference (5, Fig.1 ) allows to continuously detect and to quantify the physical movements of the object 23.
The microcontroller 15 can also detect, measure and quantify the travelling time of the ultrasound signal 2 from speaker 10 to the object/surface and return 22, therefore quantifying with a good approximation the distance between speaker and object/surface in order to define the initial position of object/surface 23. At the end of the process, the data processed by the microcontroller MCU 15 are transmitted to the user computer 21 through for example a cable, USB door or something else.

Claims

1 Procedure for the detection of movements, based on the detection, comparison, measurement and evaluation of the phase difference (5, Fig.1 ) between an ultrasonic signal (2, Fig.1) emitted by an emitter (1 , Fig.1 ) and a similar reference signal (4, Fig.1 ) located in a receiver (3, Fig.1).
2 Device, according to claim 1 , detecting the movements of a mobile ultrasound emitter characterized by the fact that, to detect and quantify the movements, is using the detection, comparison, measurement and evaluation of the phase difference between an ultrasonic signal emitted by a emitter (1 , Fig.2) and a similar reference signal located into a receiver (3, Fig.2).
3 Device, according to claims 1 and 2, characterized by the fact that the ultrasonic signal emitted by the emitter is synchronized with the reference signal located in the receiver.
4 Device, according to claims 1 , 2 and 3, characterized by the fact that the synchronization is preferably done by a signal transmitted wth radio waves (20, Fig.2).
5 Device, according to claims 1 and 2, characterized by the fact that to detect and quantify the movements of the emitter (1 , Fig.2) along the axes x, y and z the receiver has one or more microphones (12, Fig.2) which are not alligned. Device, according to claims 1 and 2, characterized by the fact that to detect and quantify the movements of a mobile object (23, Fig. 3), it detects and evaluates the phase difference between the echo (22, Fig. 3) of the emitted ultrasound signal (2, Fig. 3) and a reference signal. Device, according to claims 1 , 2 and 6, characterized by the fact that the emitted ultrasound signal (2, Fig. 3) and the reference signal have the same frequency. Device, according to claims 1 , 2 and 6, characterized by the fact that the detection of the movements based on the measurement of the phase difference is combined with the distance detection based on the measurement of the travelling time (go and return) (2 e 22, Fig. 3) of the ultrasound signal between the emitter and the surface (23, Fig. 3) reflecting this signal. Device, according to claims 1 , 2 and 6, characterized by the fact that the detection of the movements by the measurement of the phase difference is combined with the detection of the distance based on the counting of the waves (6, Fig.1 ) that still reach the microphone (12) after stopping the emission of ultrasonic signal.
PCT/CH2010/000287 2009-12-01 2010-11-17 Procedure for detecting the movements of an ultrasound emitter and device detecting the three-dimensional movements of an ultrasound emitter WO2011066662A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CH1847/09 2009-12-01
CH18472009A CH702398A2 (en) 2009-12-01 2009-12-01 Procedure for detection of movement of a emettore of ultrasound and device for detection of movement of a three-dimensional emettore of ultrasound.

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Cited By (2)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2013078002A1 (en) * 2011-11-23 2013-05-30 Qualcomm Incorporated Acoustic echo cancellation based on ultrasound motion detection
EP3861720B1 (en) * 2019-12-03 2023-07-26 Discovery Communications, LLC Non-intrusive 360 view without camera at the viewpoint

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DE2620437A1 (en) * 1976-05-08 1977-11-24 Pfeiff Werner Ultrasonic range finder for reflection free operation - has separate remote transmitter triggered from receiver via transmission link
DE3331837A1 (en) * 1983-09-03 1985-04-04 Joachim 6530 Bingen Frank Process and device for determining the length of a sound path

Patent Citations (2)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2620437A1 (en) * 1976-05-08 1977-11-24 Pfeiff Werner Ultrasonic range finder for reflection free operation - has separate remote transmitter triggered from receiver via transmission link
DE3331837A1 (en) * 1983-09-03 1985-04-04 Joachim 6530 Bingen Frank Process and device for determining the length of a sound path

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2013078002A1 (en) * 2011-11-23 2013-05-30 Qualcomm Incorporated Acoustic echo cancellation based on ultrasound motion detection
US9363386B2 (en) 2011-11-23 2016-06-07 Qualcomm Incorporated Acoustic echo cancellation based on ultrasound motion detection
EP3861720B1 (en) * 2019-12-03 2023-07-26 Discovery Communications, LLC Non-intrusive 360 view without camera at the viewpoint

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