Device and method for adaptive ultrasound sensing
First Claim
1. An adaptive ultrasound detecting method comprising:
- emitting an ultrasound beam along a scanning direction and receiving an echo value e(i) from a number I of sensing positions i along said scanning direction;
comparing each said echo value e(i) to a detection threshold dt(i) corresponding to said sensing position (i);
whereby, a detection occurs when said echo value e(i) is greater than said detection threshold dt(i);
the improvement wherein at least one of said detection thresholds dt(i) is revaluated over time to cope for environment changes at sensing position (i) corresponding to said at least one of said detection thresholds dt(i).
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Abstract
The adaptive system and method for ultrasound sensing comprises re-evaluating over time the detection threshold for predetermined sensing positions along the scanning direction to cope for the static target and environment changes at the sensing positions. The method includes comparing the measured echo value at each sensing position to a reference echo value corresponding to the same sensing position, and to iteratively determine a new reference value whenever the echo value is greater than the reference echo value and that the difference between the measured echo value and the reference echo value is lower than a detection assurance factor. The use of the adaptive ultrasound sensing system and method allows locating the sensor at different location without requiring a new calibration thereof, since the sensor learns the clutter dynamically and the detection thresholds are being built accordingly without being dependent on the environment in which the sensor is located.
32 Citations
23 Claims
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1. An adaptive ultrasound detecting method comprising:
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emitting an ultrasound beam along a scanning direction and receiving an echo value e(i) from a number I of sensing positions i along said scanning direction;
comparing each said echo value e(i) to a detection threshold dt(i) corresponding to said sensing position (i);
whereby, a detection occurs when said echo value e(i) is greater than said detection threshold dt(i);
the improvement wherein at least one of said detection thresholds dt(i) is revaluated over time to cope for environment changes at sensing position (i) corresponding to said at least one of said detection thresholds dt(i). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for determining ultrasound detection thresholds along a scanning direction, the method comprising:
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a) providing a reference echo (i) for each of a number I of sensing position (i) along a scanning direction;
b) providing at least one detection assurance factor;
for each sensing position (i) along the scanning direction;
c) emitting an ultrasound sensing beam along the scanning direction and receiving an echo value e(i) from said sensing positions (i);
d) comparing the echo value (i) obtained at sensing position (i) to said reference echo value (i) corresponding to said sensing position (i);
e) if said echo value (i) is lower or equal than said reference echo value (i) then the method stops, a target detection threshold for sensing position (i) being equal to the sum of the reference echo value (i) and said at least one assurance factor;
f) if said echo value (i) is greater than said reference echo value (i) then verifying whether a difference between said echo value (i) and said reference echo value (i) is lower than said detection assurance factor;
g) if said difference between said echo value (i) and said reference echo value (i) is lower than said detection assurance factor then gg1) storing said echo value (i) as said reference echo value (i) for sensing position (i) and, gg2) repeating steps c) to g);
h) if said difference between said echo value (i) and said reference echo value (i) is greater or equal than said detection assurance factor then a detection occurs and the method stops. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. An adaptive ultrasound detecting system comprising:
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an ultrasound pulse generator for generating an ultrasound pulse signal;
at least one transducer coupled to the ultrasound pulse signal generator for receiving said ultrasound pulse signal, for generating and ultrasound pulse, and for receiving echo indicative of targets in response to said pulse;
a controller for receiving said echo from said at least one transducer and for frequently computing a detection threshold by comparing said echo to a reference value and for re-evaluating said reference value; and
a power supply connected to said pulse generator, said at least one transducer and said controller for energizing said pulse generator, said at least one transducer, and said controller. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An adaptive ultrasound detecting system comprising:
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first means for generating an ultrasound pulse signal;
second means coupled to said means for generating an ultrasound pulse signal for receiving said ultrasound pulse signal and for generating and ultrasound pulse and for receiving echo reflected from targets in response to said pulse;
third means for receiving said echo from said transducer and for frequently computing a detection threshold by comparing said echo to a reference value and for re-evaluating said reference value; and
fourth means connected to said first, second, and third means for energizing said first, second and third means.
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Specification