Audio compass for motion tracking

• US 7,952,961 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2007
• Issued: 05/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Prado, Edward R., Guyette, Andrew W., Souders, Keith A., Haque, Jamal
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza; Thomas H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ratcliffe; Luke D
• Application Number:
  US11/872,450
• Publication Number:
  US 20090097359A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,324 Days
• Field of Search: 367141-190
• US Class Current: 367/118
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/802 Systems for determining direction or deviation from predetermined direction
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/001 Acoustic presence detection

Abstract

A method for tracking motion using an audio compass is disclosed. The method comprises receiving motion sensor data indicating seismic activity recorded by at least two seismic sensors, and converting the received motion sensor data into audio signals for interpretation at an audio compass. The method uses the audio compass to determine a current distance to the seismic activity based on an interpreted signal intensity of the audio signals. The method further uses the audio compass to identify a current position of the audio compass relative to the seismic activity.

Claims

1. A method for tracking motion using an audio compass, the method comprising:

receiving motion sensor data indicating seismic activity recorded by at least two seismic sensors;

converting the received motion sensor data into audio signals for interpretation at an audio compass;

determining a current distance to the seismic activity based on an interpreted signal intensity of the audio signals; and

identifying a current position of the audio compass relative to the seismic activity.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising locating the source of the seismic activity while the audio compass is in motion.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the motion sensor data indicating the seismic activity recorded by the at least two seismic sensors comprises detecting seismic signals within a secured perimeter defined by the at least two seismic sensors.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein converting the received seismic activity data into audio signals further comprises:

shifting a seismic frequency spectrum over an audible frequency bandwidth; and

processing the audio signals for transmission as stereo audio signals in the audio compass.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the current distance to the seismic activity based on the interpreted signal intensity comprises synchronizing one or more variations in the signal intensity transmitted from each of the sensors based on the proximity of each of the sensors to the seismic activity.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the current position of the audio compass relative to the seismic activity further comprises providing audio or visual feedback to a user of the audio compass.

7. A computer-readable medium having executable instructions for a method for tracking motion using an audio compass according to claim 1.

8. An audio compass, comprising:

an audio receiver;

a signal processing unit responsive to the audio receiver, the signal processing unit operable to convert motion sensor data from a seismic energy source into audio signals;

at least two audio outputs coupled to the signal processing unit; and

a gyroscope in operative communications with the audio receiver and the signal processing unit;

wherein the audio compass is operable to determine at least one of a current orientation, direction, and distance to the seismic energy source.

9. The audio compass of claim 8, wherein the audio compass is a personal audio headset.

10. The audio compass of claim 8, further comprising an input/output (I/O) monitor in operative communications with the signal processing unit, the I/O monitor operable to provide situational awareness of the seismic energy source to a user.

11. The audio compass of claim 8, wherein the audio receiver is operable to detect the motion sensor data as seismic readings from at least two seismic sensors.

12. The audio compass of claim 8, wherein the signal processing unit is operable to shift a seismic frequency spectrum for transmission as stereophonic audio within an audible frequency bandwidth.

13. The audio compass of claim 8, wherein the signal processing unit is further operable to synchronize variations in motion sensor signal intensities received from a plurality of seismic sensors for estimating the distance to the seismic energy source based on sound localization.

14. The audio compass of claim 8, wherein the gyroscope is operable to orient the audio compass to the seismic energy source.

15. A motion tracking system, comprising:

at least two seismic sensors having a first arrangement;

an audio compass in communication with the at least two seismic sensors, the audio compass operable to convert seismic readings from the at least two seismic sensors into audio signals;

wherein the system is operable to determine a current orientation, direction, and distance to at least one seismic energy source within a measurement range of the at least two seismic sensors; and

wherein the audio compass is operable to locate the at least one seismic energy source while the audio compass is in motion.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein each of the at least two seismic sensors comprise a piezoelectric seismic sensing node.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the audio compass further comprises:

an audio receiver operable to detect the seismic readings from the at least two seismic sensors;

a signal processing unit responsive to the audio receiver;

at least two audio outputs coupled to the signal processing unit; and

a gyroscope in operable communications with the audio receiver and the signal processing unit.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the audio compass comprises a headset.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the gyroscope comprises a micro electro-mechanical systems device with at least one axis of rotation.

20. The system of claim 15, further comprising an input/output (I/O) monitor coupled to the audio compass, the I/O monitor operable to provide situational awareness of the at least one seismic energy source to a user.