Abstract: An ultrasonic pulse echo apparatus detects an object that is moving with respect to stationary objects. An ultrasonic transducer transmits a series of ultrasound pulses in a direction that intersects a path of the moving object. An ultrasound receiver receives a series of lines of echoes from objects in the field of view of the ultrasonic signal. Each echo line corresponds to one of the ultrasonic pulses. A signal processor processes the echo lines from the moving object. The echo lines are time shifted by different amounts and combined at different time shifts to produce different composite lines. The composite line having an optimal signal-to-noise ratio is selected. Other signal processing enhancements are performed.

Abstract: An ultrasonic pulse echo apparatus detects an object that is moving with respect to stationary objects. An ultrasonic transducer transmits a series of ultrasound pulses in a direction that intersects a path of the moving object. An ultrasound receiver receives a series of lines of echoes from objects in the field of view of the ultrasonic signal. Each echo line corresponds to one of the ultrasonic pulses. A signal processor processes the echo lines from the moving object. The echo lines are time shifted by different amounts and combined at different time shifts to produce different composite lines. The composite line having an optimal signal-to-noise ratio is selected. Other signal processing enhancements are performed.

Abstract: A calibration device is described for use in calibrating an ultrasonic pulse echo apparatus for detecting a moving object in a fluid, where the ultrasonic pulse echo apparatus includes an ultrasonic transducer and calibration circuitry. A connector has a first end for connecting with a first fluid conduit and a second end for connecting with a second fluid conduit. A cavity between the first and second ends permits the fluid containing the moving object from the first conduit to flow through the connector cavity to the second fluid conduit. A first calibration sphere is positioned relative to the connector for reflecting an ultrasonic pulse signal transmitted by the ultrasonic transducer. The reflected ultrasonic pulse signal is useable by the calibration circuitry to calibrate the ultrasonic pulse echo apparatus.

Abstract: A calibration device is described for use in calibrating an ultrasonic pulse echo apparatus for detecting a moving object in a fluid, where the ultrasonic pulse echo apparatus includes an ultrasonic transducer and calibration circuitry. A connector has a first end for connecting with a first fluid conduit and a second end for connecting with a second fluid conduit. A cavity between the first and second ends permits the fluid containing the moving object from the first conduit to flow through the connector cavity to the second fluid conduit. A first calibration sphere is positioned relative to the connector for reflecting an ultrasonic pulse signal transmitted by the ultrasonic transducer. The reflected ultrasonic pulse signal is useable by the calibration circuitry to calibrate the ultrasonic pulse echo apparatus.

Abstract: A signal processor with an embedded Viterbi co-processor which works in parallel with the signal processor is disclosed.

Abstract: There is an equalizer or a receiver including an equalizer which has means to factor detected symbols transmitted over a transmission channel into a magnitude portion and a repetitive phase portion. The receiver further has means to generate modified tap weights by multiplying the repetitive phase portion by tap weights representative of the channel. Modified tap weights are generated by multiplying the repetitive phase portion by tap weights representative of the channel. The modified tap weights are convolved with bits of possible states to generate possible transmitted symbols. A maximum likelihood sequence estimation is performed on the possible transmitted symbols comparing each possible transmitted symbol to a received symbol to generate an MLSE detected symbol. The detected symbol is multiplied by a rotating vector to generate a decoded symbol.