Abstract: Composite burst signaling to provide robust multi-channel sensor array performance in systems for parking assistance, blind spot monitoring, and driver assistance. An illustrative method embodiment includes driving an acoustic transducer to send composite acoustic bursts. Each composite acoustic burst includes multiple individual bursts associated with respective frequency bands, the frequency band arrangement providing a source-specific burst signature. The method further includes receiving self-generated echo signals responsive to the composite acoustic bursts from the transducer and potentially including extra echoes responsive to acoustic bursts from other sources; categorizing received echo signals by source based on the burst signature; and using the self-generated echoes exclusive of the extra echoes to determine a distance or time of flight from the transducer.

Abstract: An obstacle monitoring system includes a transducer that receives an ultrasonic echo from an obstacle and generates a signal based on the echo. The system further includes a controller coupled to the transducer that is calibrated based on a frequency response of the transducer and a coupling circuit. The system further includes circuitry generating a damping current, controlled by the controller, that reduces or eliminates reverberation of the transducer.

Abstract: An obstacle monitoring system includes a first transducer that obtains a first distance measurement to an obstacle using a first linear frequency modulated (“LFM”) chirp. The system further includes a second transducer, able to operate concurrently with the first transducer, that obtains a second distance measurement to the obstacle using a second LFM chirp. The second LFM chirp has an inverted slope or shifted center frequency compared to the first LFM chirp. The system further includes a controller that processes the first and second distance measurements to determine a motion-compensated distance measurement to the obstacle.

Abstract: An illustrative sensor controller embodiment includes: a transmitter that drives an ultrasonic transducer to produce a transmit pulse; a receiver that derives a sensor signal from the transducer; and a core logic that detects a trigger signal on an event signaling line and responsively provides one or more error reporting bits on the event signaling line before driving the event signaling line based on the sensor signal. An illustrative embodiment of a sensor control method includes: detecting a trigger signal on an event signaling line; providing at least one status bit on the event signaling line in response to the trigger signal; and after providing the at least one status bit, driving the event signaling line based upon on a sensor signal from a transducer. The transducer may be a piezoelectric element for producing and sensing ultrasonic pulses, particularly for use in parking-assist sensors and systems.

Abstract: In one form, an acoustic signal is generated for an acoustic transducer, where the acoustic transducer transmits the acoustic signal to determine a first position of an obstacle. In response to the acoustic signal encountering the obstacle within a predetermined distance, an echo, or pulse, is detected at the acoustic transducer. At a first time, a magnitude is detected in response to a rising edge of the pulse intersecting a determined threshold. A second magnitude is detected in response to the detection of a first peak of the pulse. A time of flight of the acoustic signal, within the predetermined distance, is determined when a compensation time is extracted from a correction calculation algorithm in response to detecting the first magnitude and the second magnitude. The compensation time is subtracted from the first time, and the difference of the compensation time and the first time is the time of flight.

Abstract: In one form, an acoustic signal is generated for an acoustic transducer, where the acoustic transducer is susceptible to reverberation that defines a close proximity indication zone. The start of a close proximity indication zone window is defined after the generation of the acoustic signal at a first time. During the close proximity indication zone window, a signal is received from the acoustic transducer. When the signal is received, an obstacle is detected in the close proximity indication zone if the magnitude of a first pulse received from the transducer at a second time is less than a first threshold but greater than a second threshold for a debounce time. Additionally, a magnitude of a second pulse received from the transducer outside the close proximity indication zone window at a third time should be less than the second threshold but greater than a third threshold for the debounce time.

Abstract: An illustrative sensor controller embodiment includes: a transmitter that drives an ultrasonic transducer to produce a transmit pulse; a receiver that derives a sensor signal from the transducer; and a core logic that detects a trigger signal on an event signaling line and responsively provides one or more error reporting bits on the event signaling line before driving the event signaling line based on the sensor signal. An illustrative embodiment of a sensor control method includes: detecting a trigger signal on an event signaling line; providing at least one status bit on the event signaling line in response to the trigger signal; and after providing the at least one status bit, driving the event signaling line based upon on a sensor signal from a transducer. The transducer may be a piezoelectric element for producing and sensing ultrasonic pulses, particularly for use in parking-assist sensors and systems.

Abstract: A device for supplying gasification agent to a reactor of a low-temperature gasifier, the device having at least one nozzle block joined at a first end by a pipe connection in a wall of the reactor to a manifold. Each nozzle block is located inside the reactor and the manifold is located outside the reactor. Each nozzle block includes at least two nozzle openings.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a transducer controller is configured to form an integrated distance measuring and diagnostic cycle that includes measuring a decay time of a transducer and to selectively adjust a period of the transmitted signal responsively to a value of a reverberation period.

Abstract: In an embodiment a semiconductor device correlates a received signal with a known pattern. A correlation output is used as a basis for forming a confidence reference level. The confidence reference level and the correlation output are compared to identify a peak in the received signal indicating that a present signal state of the received signal contains the known pattern.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a transducer controller is configured to form an integrated distance measuring and diagnostic cycle that includes measuring a decay time of a transducer and to selectively adjust a period of the transmitted signal responsively to a value of a reverberation period.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an acoustic distance measurement system can dynamically adjust its measurement frequency to a frequency that is within a preselected bandwidth of the resonant frequency of an acoustic transducer used in making acoustic distance measurements.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an acoustic distance measurement system can use a modulation pattern to modulate a carrier wave. The modulated carrier wave may be transmitted to an acoustic transducer. An echo of the transmitted signal can be detected by correlating the received signal with the modulation pattern. Subsequent to detecting sufficient correlation between the received signal and modulation pattern, a distance determination can be made to determine the distance to the object that produced the received echo.

Abstract: In an embodiment a semiconductor device correlates a received signal with a known pattern. A correlation output is used as a basis for forming a confidence reference level. The confidence reference level and the correlation output are compared to identify a peak in the received signal indicating that a present signal state of the received signal contains the known pattern.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an acoustic distance measurement system can use a modulation pattern to modulate a carrier wave. The modulated carrier wave may be transmitted to an acoustic transducer. An echo of the transmitted signal can be detected by correlating the received signal with the modulation pattern. Subsequent to detecting sufficient correlation between the received signal and modulation pattern, a distance determination can be made to determine the distance to the object that produced the received echo.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an acoustic distance measurement system can dynamically adjust its measurement frequency to a frequency that is within a preselected bandwidth of the resonant frequency of an acoustic transducer used in making acoustic distance measurements.