Abstract: A method and device for ultrasonic ranging. As in prior art devices, ultrasound pulses are transmitted by the device towards a target, and echo pulses from the target are received. The timing of the maximum of the amplitude envelope of the echo pulses is picked and used as a measure of the return time of these pulses. This maximum envelope time is relatively independent of the speed of sound between the device and the target. Preferably, the duration of the echo pulses is less than the response time of the receiving circuit, to enable an accurate pick of the amplitude envelope maximum.