RECEIVE OPERATION OF AN ULTRASONIC SENSOR
First Claim
1. An ultrasonic sensor comprising:
- a two-dimensional array of ultrasonic transducers comprising a plurality of sub-arrays of ultrasonic transducers, wherein a sub-array of ultrasonic transducers of the plurality of sub-arrays of ultrasonic transducers is independently controllable, and wherein a sub-array of ultrasonic transducers has an associated receive channel;
a plurality of shift registers configured to select a receive pattern of ultrasonic transducers of the two-dimensional array of ultrasonic transducers to activate during a receive operation; and
an array controller configured to control selection of the ultrasonic transducers during the receive operation according to the receive pattern and configured to shift a position of the receive pattern within the plurality of shift registers such that the ultrasonic transducers activated during the receive operation moves relative to and within the two-dimensional array of ultrasonic transducers.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An ultrasonic sensor includes a two-dimensional array of ultrasonic transducers including a plurality of sub-arrays of ultrasonic transducers, wherein a sub-array of ultrasonic transducers of the plurality of sub-arrays of ultrasonic transducers is independently controllable, and wherein a sub-array of ultrasonic transducers has an associated receive channel. A plurality of shift registers is configured to select a receive pattern of ultrasonic transducers of the two-dimensional array of ultrasonic transducers to activate during a receive operation. An array controller is configured to control selection of the ultrasonic transducers during the receive operation according to the receive pattern and configured to shift a position of the receive pattern within the plurality of shift registers such that the ultrasonic transducers activated during the receive operation moves relative to and within the two-dimensional array of ultrasonic transducers.
46 Citations
24 Claims
-
1. An ultrasonic sensor comprising:
-
a two-dimensional array of ultrasonic transducers comprising a plurality of sub-arrays of ultrasonic transducers, wherein a sub-array of ultrasonic transducers of the plurality of sub-arrays of ultrasonic transducers is independently controllable, and wherein a sub-array of ultrasonic transducers has an associated receive channel; a plurality of shift registers configured to select a receive pattern of ultrasonic transducers of the two-dimensional array of ultrasonic transducers to activate during a receive operation; and an array controller configured to control selection of the ultrasonic transducers during the receive operation according to the receive pattern and configured to shift a position of the receive pattern within the plurality of shift registers such that the ultrasonic transducers activated during the receive operation moves relative to and within the two-dimensional array of ultrasonic transducers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A method for controlling an ultrasonic sensor, the method comprising:
-
selecting a receive pattern of ultrasonic transducers of a two-dimensional array of ultrasonic transducers to activate during a receive operation using a plurality of shift registers, wherein the two-dimensional array of ultrasonic transducers comprises a plurality of sub-arrays of ultrasonic transducers, wherein a sub-array of ultrasonic transducers of the plurality of sub-arrays of ultrasonic transducers is independently controllable, and wherein a sub-array of ultrasonic transducers has an associated receive channel; controlling selection of the ultrasonic transducers activated during the receive operation according to the receive pattern; and shifting a position of the receive pattern within the plurality of shift registers such that the ultrasonic transducers activated during the receive operation moves relative to and within the two-dimensional array of ultrasonic transducers. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. An ultrasonic sensor control system comprising:
-
a plurality of shift registers configured to select a receive pattern of ultrasonic transducers of a two-dimensional array of ultrasonic transducers to activate during a receive operation, the two-dimensional array of ultrasonic transducers comprising a plurality of sub-arrays of ultrasonic transducers, wherein a sub-array of ultrasonic transducers of the plurality of sub-arrays of ultrasonic transducers is independently controllable, and wherein a sub-array of ultrasonic transducers has an associated receive channel; and an array controller configured to control selection of the ultrasonic transducers during the receive operation according to the receive pattern and configured to shift a position of the receive pattern within the plurality of shift registers such that the ultrasonic transducers activated during the receive operation moves relative to and within the two-dimensional array of ultrasonic transducers. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
-
Specification