Method and apparatus for acoustic sensing of structures
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for sensing characteristics associated with a structure, comprising:
- an acoustic generator operable to generate acoustic waves directed into an entrance of the structure, said acoustic waves generating acoustic resonance within at least a portion of the structure, said acoustic resonance generating resonance acoustic waves;
an acoustic receiver operable to receive said resonance acoustic waves from the entrance of the structure; and
a control system operably interconnected to said acoustic generator and said acoustic receiver and operable to receive a signal from said acoustic receiver corresponding to said resonance acoustic waves and analyze said signal to determine at least one of direction and position of an object that is moving within the portion of the structure associated with said acoustic resonance.
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Abstract
A method and system provides for acoustic sensing of structures, including a general shape and/or configuration of the structure and movement within the structure. Acoustic waves are used to characterize structures, including any activity within. As waves from a sound source travel into the structure, they resonate within cavities and connecting tunnels or halls. This acoustic resonance is received at an acoustic receiver. The received signal is analyzed in comparison to the generated signal, and properties of the structure are determined, including the size and shape of the structure, as well as movement of objects within the structure.
19 Citations
21 Claims
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1. An apparatus for sensing characteristics associated with a structure, comprising:
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an acoustic generator operable to generate acoustic waves directed into an entrance of the structure, said acoustic waves generating acoustic resonance within at least a portion of the structure, said acoustic resonance generating resonance acoustic waves; an acoustic receiver operable to receive said resonance acoustic waves from the entrance of the structure; and a control system operably interconnected to said acoustic generator and said acoustic receiver and operable to receive a signal from said acoustic receiver corresponding to said resonance acoustic waves and analyze said signal to determine at least one of direction and position of an object that is moving within the portion of the structure associated with said acoustic resonance. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An apparatus for sensing characteristics associated with a structure, comprising:
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an acoustic generator operable to generate acoustic waves directed into an entrance of the structure, said acoustic waves generating acoustic resonance within at least a portion of the structure, said acoustic resonance generating resonance acoustic waves; an acoustic receiver operable to receive said resonance acoustic waves from the entrance of the structure; and a control system operably interconnected to said acoustic generator and said acoustic receiver and operable to receive a signal from said acoustic receiver corresponding to said resonance acoustic waves and analyze said signal to determine at least a movement of an object within the portion of the structure associated with said acoustic resonance; wherein said acoustic receiver comprises; a microphone; a preamplifier operably interconnected to said microphone; a spectrum analyzer operably interconnected to said preamilifier and operable to generate a spectra of signals received at said microphone; and a structural characteristics estimator operably interconnected to said spectrum analyzer and operable to receive said spectra of signals from said spectrum analyzer and analyze said spectra to generate an estimation of the structural characteristics of the portion of the structure generating said resonance acoustic waves.
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8. An apparatus for sensing characteristics of a structure, comprising:
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an acoustic generator operable to generate acoustic waves directed into an entrance of the structure, said acoustic waves generating acoustic resonance within at least a portion of the structure, said acoustic resonance generating resonance acoustic waves; an acoustic receiver operable to receive said resonance acoustic waves from the entrance of the structure; and a control system operably interconnected to said acoustic generator and said acoustic receiver and operable to receive a signal from said acoustic receiver corresponding to said resonance acoustic waves and analyze said signal to determine at least one of a dimension and location of connecting chambers and/or connecting segments within the portion of the structure associated with said acoustic resonance.
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9. An apparatus for sensing characteristics of a structure, comprising:
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an acoustic generator operable to generate acoustic waves directed into an entrance of the structure, said acoustic waves generating acoustic resonance within at least a portion of the structure, said acoustic resonance generating resonance acoustic waves; an acoustic receiver operable to receive said resonance acoustic waves from the entrance of the structure; and a control system operably interconnected to said acoustic generator and said acoustic receiver and operable to receive a signal from said acoustic receiver corresponding to said resonance acoustic waves and analyze said signal to determine at least one of a size and location of connecting chambers and/or connecting segments within the portion of the structure associated with said acoustic resonance; wherein said control system comprises a structural characteristics estimator operable to determine resonance peaks of said resonance acoustic waves and compare said resonance peaks to predetermined resonance peaks of known structural characteristics and determine said structural characteristics based on said comparison. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. An apparatus for sensing characteristics of a structure, comprising:
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an acoustic generator operable to generate acoustic waves directed into an entrance of the structure, said acoustic waves generating acoustic resonance within at least a portion of the structure, said acoustic resonance generating resonance acoustic waves; an acoustic receiver operable to receive said resonance acoustic waves from the entrance of the structure; and a control system operably interconnected to said acoustic generator and said acoustic receiver and operable to receive a signal from said acoustic receiver corresponding to said resonance acoustic waves and analyze said signal to determine at least one of a size and location of connecting chambers and/or connecting segments within the portion of the structure associated with said acoustic resonance; wherein said acoustic receiver comprises; a microphone; a preamplifier operably interconnected to said microphone. a spectrum analyzer operably interconnected to said preamilifier and operable to generate a spectra of signals received at said microphone; and a motion and direction detector operably interconnected with said spectrum analyzer and operable to receive a plurality of spectra from said spectrum analyzer and generate an estimation of motion of objects within the portion of the structure generating the resonance acoustic waves. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A method of sensing activity within a structure, comprising:
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sending acoustic waves into an interior portion of the structure; measuring acoustic waves returning as reflections from walls and objects within the interior portion of the structure; calculating a frequency spectrum of the acoustic waves returned from the structure interior; and deriving from resonance peaks of said frequency spectrum a measure of the activity within the structure. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of determining characteristics associated with a structure, comprising:
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sending acoustic waves into an interior space of the structure; measuring acoustic waves returning as reflections from walls and objects within the interior space; calculating a frequency spectrum of the acoustic waves returned from the interior space; and deriving from resonance peaks of said spectrum an estimate of at least one of a size and location of chambers and/or connecting segments within the interior space. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification