Steered beam ultrasonic sensor for object location and classification
First Claim
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1. An acoustic wave transmitter comprising:
- a resonator body;
a plurality of air chamber resonators arranged in an array in the resonator body to form an array of exit holes;
a plurality of transducers corresponding to the plurality of air chamber resonators, wherein the transducers are acoustically coupled to the air chamber resonators and drive the air chamber resonator to generate an acoustic signal;
wherein a spacing provided between adjacent exit holes is not greater than one wavelength of the acoustic signal; and
tuning means for tuning a resonance and phase of each of said air chamber resonators.
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Abstract
A vehicle occupant sensor which utilizes an acoustic system for determining object range, extent, and direction. The system is composed of an ultrasonic transmitter formed from an array of air chamber resonator elements driven in relative phase to each other to produce a steered acoustic beam. Electrical excitation circuitry converts waveform data stored in memory elements to electrical signals to drive the transmitter. One or more ultrasonic receivers receives the acoustic waves reflected from objects, and a processor determines the range, extent and direction of the objects based on the received acoustic waves.
15 Citations
17 Claims
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1. An acoustic wave transmitter comprising:
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a resonator body;
a plurality of air chamber resonators arranged in an array in the resonator body to form an array of exit holes;
a plurality of transducers corresponding to the plurality of air chamber resonators, wherein the transducers are acoustically coupled to the air chamber resonators and drive the air chamber resonator to generate an acoustic signal;
wherein a spacing provided between adjacent exit holes is not greater than one wavelength of the acoustic signal; and
tuning means for tuning a resonance and phase of each of said air chamber resonators. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An acoustic wave transmitter comprising:
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a resonator body;
a plurality of air chamber resonators arranged in an array in the resonator body to form an array of exit holes;
a plurality of transducers corresponding to the plurality of air chamber resonators, wherein the transducers are acoustically coupled to the air chamber resonators and drive the air chamber resonator to generate an acoustic signal;
a control circuit that converts waveform data stored in a memory element to drive electrical drive signals that are supplied to the transducers; and
wherein a spacing provided between adjacent exit holes is not greater than one wavelength of the acoustic signal. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
an addressable memory containing digital waveform data for driving each air chamber resonator;
a register for selecting regions of the addressable memory in which the waveform data reside; and
a counter for cycling through the selected regions to present the waveform data to the transducers at a desired rate.
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11. An acoustic wave transmitter comprising:
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a resonator body;
a plurality of air chamber resonators arranged in an array in the resonator body to form an array of exit holes;
a plurality of transducers corresponding to the plurality of air chamber resonators, wherein the transducers are acoustically coupled to the air chamber resonators and drive the air chamber resonator to generate an acoustic signal;
wherein a spacing provided between adjacent exit holes is not greater than one wavelength of the acoustic signal; and
wherein the transducers drive the chamber resonators in relative phase to each other to produce a steered acoustic beam as the acoustic signal.
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12. A detection apparatus for detecting an object within a compartment of a vehicle:
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an acoustic wave transmitter that generates a steered acoustic signal;
a receiver that receives a reflected acoustic signal generated by the reflection of the steered acoustic signal off objects located within the vehicle compartment;
a controller coupled to the receiver;
wherein the controller, using the reflected steered acoustic signal, determines at least one of range, angular extent and angular direction of the object;
wherein the acoustic wave transmitter includes;
a resonator body;
a plurality of air chamber resonators arranged in an array in the resonator body to form an array of exit holes; and
a plurality of transducers corresponding to the plurality of air chamber resonators, wherein the transducers are acoustically coupled to the air chamber resonators and drive the air chamber resonators to generate the steered acoustic signal. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
an addressable memory containing digital waveform data for driving each air chamber resonator;
a register for selecting regions of the addressable memory in which the waveform data reside; and
a counter for cycling through the selected regions to present the waveform data to the transducers at a desired rate.
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Specification