Abstract: An illustrative controller includes: a transmitter to drive the acoustic transducer to generate a series of acoustic bursts; a receiver coupled to the acoustic transducer to sense a response for each acoustic burst in the series; and a processing circuit to derive output data from said responses in part by determining a difference between one of the responses and at least a portion of another one of the responses. Another illustrative controller includes: a transmitter to drive the acoustic transducer to generate a series of acoustic bursts with signature sequence of frequency displacements; a receiver coupled to the acoustic transducer to sense a response for each acoustic burst in the series; and a processing circuit to derive output data from said responses in part by suppressing any peaks not conforming to the signature sequence.

Abstract: Various sensors, sensor controllers, and sensing methods are suitable for use in a multi-channel ultrasonic sensor array such as those used in systems for parking assistance, blind spot monitoring, and driver assistance. One illustrative acoustic sensing method includes: driving an acoustic transducer to send acoustic bursts each including an up-chirp in a first frequency band and a down-chirp in a second frequency band; receiving echo signals responsive to the acoustic bursts from the transducer; and using the echo signals to determine a distance or time of flight from the transducer. Another acoustic sensing method includes: driving an acoustic transducer to send acoustic bursts each including a concurrent up-chirp and down-chirp; receiving echo signals responsive to the acoustic bursts from the transducer; and using the echo signals to determine a distance or time of flight from the transducer.

Abstract: An acoustic distance measurement circuit includes a transmitter, a receiver, and a controller. The transmitter has an output adapted to be coupled to an acoustic transducer for providing a selected one of an amplitude-modulation (AM) signal in an AM mode and a chirp signal in a chirp mode. The receiver has an input adapted to be coupled to the acoustic transducer, and an output for providing a digital received signal. The controller is operative during a first measurement period to: place the transmitter into one of the AM mode and the chirp mode using a first channel, selectively detect a direct echo in the first channel of the digital received signal of the one of the AM signal and the chirp signal, and selectively detect an indirect echo in a second channel of the digital received signal of another one of the AM signal and the chirp signal.

Abstract: One implementation of a sensing method includes: correlating a receive signal with a waveform template to obtain a correlation signal in which echoes would be represented as peaks; and varying the waveform template based on time elapsed from a measurement start time.

Abstract: One implementation of a sensing method includes: correlating a receive signal with a waveform template to obtain a correlation signal in which echoes would be represented as peaks; and varying the waveform template based on time elapsed from a measurement start time.

Abstract: An illustrative controller includes: a transmitter to drive the acoustic transducer to generate acoustic bursts; a receiver to sense a response of the acoustic transducer to echoes; and a processing circuit coupled to the transmitter and to the receiver, the processing circuit configured to convert said received response into output data by: correlating said response to a driving signal to obtain a correlation response; distinguishing peak areas from non-peak areas in said correlation response; deriving a noise level in a portion of said correlation response based on the non-peak areas within said portion; calculating a signal to noise ratio (SNR) for a peak signal within the portion as a ratio of a peak value for the peak signal to the noise level in said portion of said correlation response; and accepting the peak signal as an echo only if the SNR for said peak signal exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: The various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to devices, system and processes for detecting saturation of a received signal in a PAS system. A process may include detecting, in a received signal and during a measurement interval, one or more correlated signal levels. Based on one or more results of the detecting, the process may include identifying in a correlated output signal portions of the received signal which exceed a given magnitude threshold during the measurement interval and providing the correlated output signal to an electronic control unit (ECU). A magnitude detector outputs the correlated output signal. A saturation detector determines whether the received signal is saturated during a portion of a measurement interval. When the received signal is saturated, a saturation signal is generated and provided on a delayed basis to the ECU such that it is provided substantially contemporaneously with the correlated output signal.

Abstract: One implementation of a sensing method includes: correlating a receive signal with a first channel waveform template to obtain a first channel correlation signal in which first channel echoes would be represented as peaks; correlating the receive signal with a second channel waveform template to obtain a second channel correlation signal in which second channel echoes would be represented as peaks; and varying the first channel waveform template and the second channel waveform template based on time elapsed from a measurement start time. A sensor array implementation includes: multiple acoustic transducers that operate concurrently to send acoustic bursts in different frequency channels, each of the multiple acoustic transducers configured to use the foregoing method.

Abstract: An illustrative controller includes: a transmitter to drive the acoustic transducer to generate acoustic bursts; a receiver to sense a response of the acoustic transducer to echoes; and a processing circuit coupled to the transmitter and to the receiver, the processing circuit configured to convert said received response into output data by: correlating said response to a driving signal to obtain a correlation response; distinguishing peak areas from non-peak areas in said correlation response; deriving a noise level in a portion of said correlation response based on the non-peak areas within said portion; calculating a signal to noise ratio (SNR) for a peak signal within the portion as a ratio of a peak value for the peak signal to the noise level in said portion of said correlation response; and accepting the peak signal as an echo only if the SNR for said peak signal exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: An illustrative controller includes: a transmitter to drive the acoustic transducer to generate a series of acoustic bursts; a receiver coupled to the acoustic transducer to sense a response for each acoustic burst in the series; and a processing circuit to derive output data from said responses in part by determining a difference between one of the responses and at least a portion of another one of the responses. Another illustrative controller includes: a transmitter to drive the acoustic transducer to generate a series of acoustic bursts with signature sequence of frequency displacements; a receiver coupled to the acoustic transducer to sense a response for each acoustic burst in the series; and a processing circuit to derive output data from said responses in part by suppressing any peaks not conforming to the signature sequence.

Abstract: One implementation of a sensing method includes: correlating a receive signal with a first channel waveform template to obtain a first channel correlation signal in which first channel echoes would be represented as peaks; correlating the receive signal with a second channel waveform template to obtain a second channel correlation signal in which second channel echoes would be represented as peaks; and varying the first channel waveform template and the second channel waveform template based on time elapsed from a measurement start time. A sensor array implementation includes: multiple acoustic transducers that operate concurrently to send acoustic bursts in different frequency channels, each of the multiple acoustic transducers configured to use the foregoing method.

Abstract: Sensors, sensor controllers, and sensor control methods may employ an echo-magnification technique to improve threshold-based echo detection. In one illustrative embodiment, a sensor controller includes: a transmitter, a receiver, and a processing circuit coupled to the transmitter and to the receiver. The transmitter drives a piezoelectric element to generate acoustic bursts. The receiver senses a response of the piezoelectric element to echoes of each acoustic burst. The processing circuit is operable to apply echo-detection processing to the response by: identifying an interval of the response representing at least a portion of a potential echo; deriving a modified response from the response by selectively magnifying the response during said interval; and using the modified response to detect an echo.

Abstract: The various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to devices, system and processes for detecting saturation of a received signal in a PAS system. A process may include detecting, in a received signal and during a measurement interval, one or more correlated signal levels. Based on one or more results of the detecting, the process may include identifying in a correlated output signal portions of the received signal which exceed a given magnitude threshold during the measurement interval and providing the correlated output signal to an electronic control unit (ECU). A magnitude detector outputs the correlated output signal. A saturation detector determines whether the received signal is saturated during a portion of a measurement interval. When the received signal is saturated, a saturation signal is generated and provided on a delayed basis to the ECU such that it is provided substantially contemporaneously with the correlated output signal.

Abstract: Sensors, sensor controllers, and sensor control methods may employ an echo- magnification technique to improve threshold-based echo detection. In one illustrative embodiment, a sensor controller includes: a transmitter, a receiver, and a processing circuit coupled to the transmitter and to the receiver. The transmitter drives a piezoelectric element to generate acoustic bursts. The receiver senses a response of the piezoelectric element to echoes of each acoustic burst. The processing circuit is operable to apply echo-detection processing to the response by: identifying an interval of the response representing at least a portion of a potential echo; deriving a modified response from the response by selectively magnifying the response during said interval; and using the modified response to detect an echo.