Transmit operation of an ultrasonic sensor
First Claim
1. An ultrasonic sensor comprising:
- a two-dimensional array of ultrasonic transducers;
a signal generator configured to generate a plurality of transmit signals, wherein each transmit signal of the plurality of transmit signals has a different phase delay relative to other transmit signals of the plurality of transmit signals;
a plurality of signal lines, wherein a signal line of the plurality of signal lines is configured to transmit one ultrasonic signal of the plurality of ultrasonic signals, wherein each ultrasonic transducer of the two-dimensional array of ultrasonic transducers is independently and selectively coupled to the plurality of signal lines for receiving any transmit signal of the plurality of transmit signals;
a plurality of shift registers configured to store control bits for applying a beamforming space comprising a beamforming pattern to the two-dimensional array of ultrasonic transducers, wherein the beamforming pattern identifies a transmit signal of the plurality of transmit signals that is applied to each ultrasonic transducer of the beamforming space that is activated during a transmit operation by identifying a signal line of the plurality of signal lines to drive each ultrasonic transducer identified by the beamforming pattern; and
an array controller configured to control activation of ultrasonic transducers during a transmit operation according to the beamforming pattern and configured to shift a position of the beamforming space within the plurality of shift registers such that the beamforming space moves within and relative to the two-dimensional array of ultrasonic transducers, wherein the beamforming space is applied to the two-dimensional array of ultrasonic transducers at a plurality of positions simultaneously such that a plurality of ultrasonic beams are generated simultaneously at the plurality of positions.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An ultrasonic sensor includes a two-dimensional array of ultrasonic transducers. A signal generator is configured to generate a plurality of transmit signals, wherein each transmit signal of the plurality of transmit signals has a different phase delay relative to other transmit signals of the plurality of transmit signals. A plurality of shift registers is configured to store a beamforming space including a beamforming pattern to apply to the two-dimensional array, wherein the beamforming pattern identifies a transmit signal of the plurality of transmit signals that is applied to each ultrasonic transducer of the beamforming space that is activated during a transmit operation. An array controller is configured to control activation of ultrasonic transducers during a transmit operation according to the beamforming pattern and configured to shift a position of the beamforming space within the plurality of shift registers such that the beamforming space moves within the two-dimensional array.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An ultrasonic sensor comprising:
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a two-dimensional array of ultrasonic transducers; a signal generator configured to generate a plurality of transmit signals, wherein each transmit signal of the plurality of transmit signals has a different phase delay relative to other transmit signals of the plurality of transmit signals; a plurality of signal lines, wherein a signal line of the plurality of signal lines is configured to transmit one ultrasonic signal of the plurality of ultrasonic signals, wherein each ultrasonic transducer of the two-dimensional array of ultrasonic transducers is independently and selectively coupled to the plurality of signal lines for receiving any transmit signal of the plurality of transmit signals; a plurality of shift registers configured to store control bits for applying a beamforming space comprising a beamforming pattern to the two-dimensional array of ultrasonic transducers, wherein the beamforming pattern identifies a transmit signal of the plurality of transmit signals that is applied to each ultrasonic transducer of the beamforming space that is activated during a transmit operation by identifying a signal line of the plurality of signal lines to drive each ultrasonic transducer identified by the beamforming pattern; and an array controller configured to control activation of ultrasonic transducers during a transmit operation according to the beamforming pattern and configured to shift a position of the beamforming space within the plurality of shift registers such that the beamforming space moves within and relative to the two-dimensional array of ultrasonic transducers, wherein the beamforming space is applied to the two-dimensional array of ultrasonic transducers at a plurality of positions simultaneously such that a plurality of ultrasonic beams are generated simultaneously at the plurality of positions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for controlling an ultrasonic sensor, the method comprising:
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generating a plurality of transmit signals at a signal generator of the ultrasonic sensor, wherein each transmit signal of the plurality of transmit signals has a different phase delay relative to other transmit signals of the plurality of transmit signals; storing control bits for applying a beamforming space to a two-dimensional array of ultrasonic transducers at a plurality of shift registers of the ultrasonic sensor, the beamforming space comprising a beamforming pattern to apply to the two-dimensional array of ultrasonic transducers, wherein the beamforming pattern identifies a transmit signal of the plurality of transmit signals that is applied to each ultrasonic transducer of the beamforming space that is activated during a transmit operation; transmitting the plurality of transmit signals over a plurality of signal lines, wherein a signal line of the plurality of signal lines is configured to transmit one ultrasonic signal of the plurality of ultrasonic signals, wherein each ultrasonic transducer of the two-dimensional array of ultrasonic transducers is independently and selectively coupled to the plurality of signal lines for receiving any transmit signal of the plurality of transmit signals; controlling activation of ultrasonic transducers during a transmit operation by identifying a signal line of the plurality of signal lines to drive each ultrasonic transducer according to the beamforming pattern, wherein the beamforming space is applied to the two-dimensional array of ultrasonic transducers at a plurality of positions simultaneously such that a plurality of ultrasonic beams are generated simultaneously at the plurality of positions; and shifting a position of the beamforming space within the plurality of shift registers such that the beamforming space moves within and relative to the two-dimensional array of ultrasonic transducers. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An ultrasonic sensor control system comprising:
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a signal generator configured to generate a plurality of transmit signals, wherein each transmit signal of the plurality of transmit signals has a different phase delay relative to other transmit signals of the plurality of transmit signals; a plurality of signal lines, wherein a signal line of the plurality of signal lines is configured to transmit one ultrasonic signal of the plurality of ultrasonic signals, wherein each ultrasonic transducer of a two-dimensional array of ultrasonic transducers is independently and selectively coupled to the plurality of signal lines for receiving any transmit signal of the plurality of transmit signals; a plurality of shift registers configured to store control bits for applying a beamforming space comprising a beamforming pattern to the two-dimensional array of ultrasonic transducers, wherein the beamforming pattern identifies a transmit signal of the plurality of transmit signals that is applied to each ultrasonic transducer of the beamforming space that is activated during a transmit operation by identifying a signal line of the plurality of signal lines to drive each ultrasonic transducer identified by the beamforming pattern; and an array controller configured to control activation of ultrasonic transducers during a transmit operation according to the beamforming pattern and configured to shift a position of the beamforming space within the plurality of shift registers such that the beamforming space moves within and relative to the two-dimensional array of ultrasonic transducers, wherein the beamforming space is applied to the two-dimensional array of ultrasonic transducers at a plurality of positions simultaneously such that a plurality of ultrasonic beams are generated simultaneously at the plurality of positions. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification