Method and apparatus for performing ultrasonic presence detection

• US 10,126,406 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2015
• Issued: 11/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Altman, Nathan
• Primary Examiner(s): Pihulic, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US14/859,093
• Publication Number:
  US 20160154089A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,152 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 11/08 using synchronised clocks
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/04 Systems determining presence of a target
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/325 using transmission of coded signals, e.g. of phase-shift keyed [PSK] signals
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/523 for presence detection burglar, theft or intruder alarms G08B13/00, e.g. G08B13/16
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/878 wherein transceivers are operated, either sequentially or simultaneously, both in bi-static and in mono-static mode, e.g. cross-echo mode
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0252 Radio frequency fingerprinting
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/18 using ultrasonic, sonic, or infrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52004 Means for monitoring or calibrating short-range imaging G01S7/5205
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1618 using ultrasonic detection means
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/26 by updating and storing reference thresholds

Abstract

Disclosed is an apparatus and method for detecting presence of persons or objects within an environment. The apparatus and method may determine a difference in relative position between transmitters having an unknown room position. A transmitter may emit coded signals that may be detected by other transmitters within the room and properties of the coded signal can form a baseline for comparison to new signals after the baseline is established. Through the use of coded signals and relative distance location between transmitters, movement and position of persons or objects within the room may be determined.

Claims

1. A method for target detection within a room, the method comprising:

determining a difference in relative position between a first transmitter and a second transmitter, wherein one or both of the first transmitter or the second transmitter have an unknown position within the room;

emitting, from one or both of the first transmitter or the second transmitter, a coded signal within the room;

detecting the coded signal, as reflected by a target, at one or both of the first transmitter or the second transmitter;

comparing signal properties of the detected coded signal to a baseline for the room; and

determining, according to a result of comparing the signal properties, and the determined difference in relative position, a position of the target within the room,

wherein the position of the target within the room is independent of a position of the first transmitter within the room, and the position of the target within the room is independent of a position of the second transmitter within the room.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the difference in relative position comprises:

measuring one or both of ultrasound or radio frequencies between the first transmitter and the second transmitter, wherein the first transmitter and the second transmitters are communicatively coupled.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the measuring comprises:

synchronizing an internal clock between the first transmitter or the second transmitter, and

measuring timing of a received ultrasound according to the internal clock.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the coded signal comprises a continuous carrier signal.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal properties comprise delay, amplitude, Doppler shift, or any combination thereof.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the emitting and the detecting are performed by the first transmitter.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein in response to determining the target'"'"'s position within the room, one or both of a device or a feature of a device is triggered, and

wherein the device is a light bulb, an alarm system, an entertainment system, or any combination thereof.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein the baseline comprises signal properties measured when the target is not within the room.

30. The method of claim 6, wherein the detecting comprises detecting the coded signal, as reflected by the target, at the second transmitter.

8. A device for target detection within a room, the device comprising:

memory; and

a processor coupled to the memory and configured to;

determine a difference in relative position between a first transmitter and a second transmitter, wherein the first or second transmitter have an unknown position within the room;

emit, from one or both of the first transmitter or the second transmitter, a coded signal within the room;

detect the coded signal, as reflected by a target, at one or both of the first transmitter or the second transmitter;

compare signal properties of the detected coded signal to a baseline for the room; and

determine, according to a result of comparing the signal properties, and the determined difference in relative position, a position of the target within the room,

wherein the position of the target within the room is independent of a position of the first transmitter within the room, and the position of the target within the room is independent of a position of the second transmitter within the room.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the processor is configured to determine the difference in relative position by executing instructions to:

measure one or both of ultrasound or radio frequencies between the first transmitter and the second transmitter, wherein the first transmitter and the second transmitters are communicatively coupled.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the instructions to measure comprise instructions to:

synchronize an internal clock between the first transmitter or the second transmitter, and

measure timing of a received ultrasound according to the internal clock.

11. The device of claim 8, wherein the coded signal comprises a continuous carrier signal.

12. The device of claim 8, wherein the signal properties comprise delay, amplitude, Doppler shift, or any combination thereof.

13. The device of claim 8, wherein the emitting and the detecting are performed by the first transmitter.

14. The device of claim 8, wherein in response to determining the target'"'"'s position within the room one or both of an other device or a feature of the other device is triggered.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the other device is light bulb, alarm system, entertainment system, or any combination thereof.

16. A machine readable non-transitory storage medium having stored therein program instructions that are executable by a processor to:

determine a difference in relative position between a first transmitter and a second transmitter, wherein the first or second transmitter have an unknown position within a room;

emit, from one or both of the first transmitter or the second transmitter, a coded signal within the room;

detect the coded signal, as reflected by a target, at one or both of the first transmitter or the second transmitter;

compare signal properties of the detected coded signal to a baseline for the room; and

determine, according to a result of comparing the signal properties, and the determined difference in relative position, a position of the target within the room,

wherein the position of the target within the room is independent of a position of the first transmitter within the room, and the position of the target within the room is independent of a position of the second transmitter within the room.

17. The medium of claim 16, wherein the instructions to determine the difference in relative position comprise instructions to:

measure one or both of ultrasound or radio frequencies between the first transmitter and the second transmitter, wherein the first transmitter and the second transmitters are communicatively coupled.

18. The medium of claim 17, wherein the instructions to measure comprise instructions to:

synchronize an internal clock between the first transmitter and the second transmitter, and

measure timing of a received ultrasound according to the internal clock.

19. The medium of claim 16, wherein the coded signal comprises a continuous carrier signal.

20. The medium of claim 16, wherein the signal properties comprise delay, amplitude, Doppler shift, or any combination thereof.

21. The medium of claim 16, wherein the emitting and the detecting are performed by the first transmitter.

22. The medium of claim 16, wherein in response to determining the target'"'"'s position within the room, one or both of a device or a feature of a device is triggered, and

wherein the device is a light bulb, an alarm system, an entertainment system, or any combination thereof.

23. An apparatus for target detection within a room, the apparatus comprising:

means for determining a difference in relative position between a first transmitter and a second transmitter, wherein the first or second transmitter have an unknown room position;

means for emitting, from one or both of the first transmitter or the second transmitter, a coded signal within the room;

means for detecting the coded signal, as reflected by a target, at one or both of the first transmitter or the second transmitter;

means for comparing signal properties of the detected coded signal to a baseline for the room; and

means for determining, according to a result of comparing the signal properties, and the determined difference in relative position, a position of the target within the room,

wherein the position of the target within the room is independent of a position of the first transmitter within the room, and the position of the target within the room is independent of a position of the second transmitter within the room.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the means for determining the difference in relative position comprises:

means for measuring one or both of ultrasound or radio frequencies between the first transmitter and the second transmitter, wherein the first transmitter and the second transmitters are communicatively coupled.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the means for measuring comprises:

means for synchronizing an internal clock between the first transmitter and the second transmitter, and

means for measuring timing of a received ultrasound according to the internal clock.

26. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the coded signal comprises a continuous carrier signal.

27. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the signal properties comprise delay, amplitude, Doppler shift, or any combination thereof.

28. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein in response to determining the target'"'"'s position within the room, one or both of a device or a feature of a device is triggered.