Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
367117000 | PLURAL TRANSMITTERS TO RECEIVER OR TRANSMITTER TO PLURAL RECEIVERS | 36 |
20080219098 | Acoustic Waveguide Plate With Nonsolid Cores - An acoustic (sound or ultrasound) wave transmitter having a plurality of waveguides is described, and a method of making such a transmitter is described. Each waveguide may have a cladded core. The core may be a liquid such as water, alcohol or mineral oil. Alternatively, the core may be a colloidal gel, such as gelatin dissolved in at least one of water, vinyl plastisol or silicone gel. The cladded core is capable of transmitting acoustic wave energy from a first end surface to a second end surface of the cladded core. The waveguides may be substantially fixed relative to each other by a binder. The binder may be formed by fusing the claddings together, potting a material between the waveguides and/or mechanically holding the waveguides. | 09-11-2008 |
20080259729 | Method of characterizing a vehicle crash event based on shear waves in the vehicle frame - A vehicle crash event is detected and characterized based on the transmission of acoustical shear waves through the vehicle frame. At least three, and preferably four or more, acoustical emission sensors longitudinally and laterally distributed on the vehicle frame produce acoustical signals that are processed to extract the shear wave energy due to impacts. Since shear waves are non-dispersive and travel through the vehicle frame at a known velocity, they can be detected in any part of the frame. The extracted shear wave signals are used not only to judge the severity of the impact, but also to characterize the type of crash and determine the direction of the impact based on when the shear wave is detected by each of the acoustical emission sensors. | 10-23-2008 |
20080304360 | Systems and Methods of Sonic Communication - In one embodiment the present invention includes a method of wireless communication. The method comprises receiving a sonic signal and determining a sequence of sonic tones from a received sonic signal. The receiving includes receiving the sonic signal at an electronic device using a microphone. The sonic signal includes a sequence of sonic tones. The receiving results in the received sonic signal. The sequence of sonic tones contains predefined timing. The timing includes the duration of each sonic tone and a set of intervals between successive sonic tones. | 12-11-2008 |
20100157737 | MICROHYDRAULIC FRACTURING WITH DOWNHOLE ACOUSTIC MEASUREMENT - Methods and related systems are described for measuring acoustic signals in a borehole during a fracturing operation. The system includes a downhole toolstring designed and adapted for deployment in a borehole formed within a subterranean rock formation. A downhole rock fracturing tool opens and propagates a fracture in the subterranean rock formation. Dipole and/or quadrupole acoustic sources transmit acoustic energy into the subterranean rock formation. A receiver array measures acoustic energy traveling through the subterranean rock formation before, during and after the fracture induction. Geophones mounted on extendable arms can be used to measure shear wave acoustic energy travelling in the rock formation. The toolstring can be constructed such that the sources and receivers straddle the fracture zone during the fracturing. Alternatively, the sources or the receivers can co-located axially with the fracture zone, or the toolstring can be repositioned following fracturing such that the fracture zone is between the acoustic sources and receivers. | 06-24-2010 |
20100322034 | ACOUSTIC COMMUNICATION AND LOCATING DEVICES FOR UNDERGROUND MINES - A system and method are described for locating and communicating with miners in an underground mine, in which miners carry a battery-powered signal unit with an impact actuator engagable with a wall, floor, or ceiling surface of the mine to transmit acoustic signals through the ground, and actuate controls on the unit to send a predefined message or a specific message via the impact actuator to ground-coupled acoustic receivers coupled with a base station that includes a decoder to determine the message sent by the miner and a location component to determine the miner's location based on the received signals. | 12-23-2010 |
20110096631 | AUDIO PROCESSING DEVICE - In an audio processing device, a target sound emphasizer generates a target sound emphasized component by emphasizing a target sound component contained in a plurality of audio signals generated by a plurality of sound receiving devices. A stereo processor generates a stereo component of a plurality of channels from the plurality of audio signals. A first adjuster adjusts a sound pressure level of the target sound emphasized component according to a first adjustment value, and a second adjuster adjusts a sound pressure level of the stereo component according to a second adjustment value. A variable setter variably sets a zoom value which is changeable between a wide angle side and a telephoto side relative to a target. An adjustment controller controls the first adjustment value according to the zoom value such that the sound pressure level of the target sound emphasized component exponentially decreases as the zoom value changes toward the wide-angle side and controls the second adjustment value according to the zoom value such that the sound pressure level of the stereo component increases as the zoom value changes toward the wide-angle side. | 04-28-2011 |
20110141853 | UNDERWATER ACOUSTIC NAVIGATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS - An acoustic underwater navigation system is disclosed. For instance, an underwater receiver determines its position using signals broadcast from an array of acoustic transmitters located near the surface. The position of the array is measured using global positioning system (GPS) technology and the transmitters collectively produce an acoustic signal in which the position and attitude of the array and the GPS time of transmission are encoded. An underwater receiver which is synchronized with the GPS time uses the transmitted position and attitude of the array and the transmission time information to calculate its position. | 06-16-2011 |
20120236688 | BARRIER DETECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD - Embodiments of the invention provide a barrier detection system that includes a plurality of sensors that are coupled in series to a seismograph. The seismograph receives a signal from the sensors. The system includes a computer system including computer storage and a processor. The computer system is in communication with the seismograph so that the computer system receives signals from seismograph and stores them in the computer storage. The system can include an object detection system that can process the signals received by the computer system from the seismograph. The object detection system can select a first portion of the signal to analyze based a predetermined time interval, create a baseline value for the first portion, and select a plurality of peaks from the first portion. The object detection can also analyze an amplitude, frequency, and periodicity of the first portion to assess the origin of the signal. | 09-20-2012 |
20130336094 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETECTING DRIVER PHONE USE LEVERAGING CAR SPEAKERS - Systems and methods for determining a location of a device in a space in which speakers are disposed. The methods involve receiving a Combined Audio Signal (“CAS”) by an MCD microphone. The CAS is defined by a Discrete Audio Signal (“DAS”) output from the speakers. DAS may comprise at least one Sound Component (“SC”) having a frequency greater than frequencies within an audible frequency range for humans. The MCD analyzes CAS to detect an Arriving Time (“AT”) of SC of DAS output from a first speaker and an AT of SC of DAS output from a second speaker. The MCD then determines a first Relative Time Difference (“RTD”) between the DASs arriving from the first and second speakers based on the ATs which were previously detected. The first RTD is used to determine the location of the MCD within the space. | 12-19-2013 |
20130343161 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR TRANSMITTING ACOUSTIC SIGNAL USING HUMAN BODY - An apparatus and method for transmitting an acoustic signal using a human body are disclosed. The acoustic signal transmitting apparatus includes: a pre-processor configured to perform processing for compensating for transfer distortion of an acoustic signal; a controller configured to control beamforming of the acoustic signal whose transfer distortion has been compensated for; and a plurality of acoustic devices configured to transfer the acoustic signal to a human body which the plurality of acoustic devices have contacted, through beamforming according to a control of the controller. Accordingly, it is possible to to transmit acoustic signals using a human body as a medium with minimum signal loss and distortion. | 12-26-2013 |
20140043942 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IDENTIFYING POSTURE - A method and an apparatus can be used for identifying a posture. The method includes obtaining information about sending an ultrasonic wave by one or more ultrasonic transmitters and obtaining information about receiving the ultrasonic wave by ultrasonic receivers. The one or more ultrasonic transmitters are fixed on an object to be identified. The number of the one or more ultrasonic transmitters is at least one and the number of the ultrasonic receivers is at least three. A posture of the object to be identified can be identified according to the obtained information about sending an ultrasonic wave by one or more ultrasonic transmitters and information about receiving the ultrasonic wave by ultrasonic receivers. | 02-13-2014 |
20140092710 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR LOCATING AN ACOUSTIC SOURCE - A method and a system are provided, in which acoustic signals received by distributed acoustic sensors are processed in order to determine the position of a source or sources of the acoustic signals. The method and system are able to determine the position of several acoustic sources simultaneously, by measuring the corresponding several acoustic signals. Furthermore, the strength of the acoustic signal or signals can be determined. The location of the acoustic source may be overlaid on a map of an area being monitored, or be used to generate an alarm if perceived to correspond to a threat or an intrusion, for example in a pipeline monitoring application. Alternatively, the method and systems can be used to monitor a hydraulic fracturing process. | 04-03-2014 |
20140126334 | UNDERWATER ACOUSTIC NAVIGATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS - An acoustic underwater navigation system is disclosed. For instance, an underwater receiver determines its position using signals broadcast from an array of acoustic transmitters located near the surface. The position of the array is measured using global positioning system (GPS) technology and the transmitters collectively produce an acoustic signal in which the position and attitude of the array and the GPS time of transmission are encoded. An underwater receiver which is synchronized with the GPS time uses the transmitted position and attitude of the array and the transmission time information to calculate its position. | 05-08-2014 |
20140169136 | LOCATION SYSTEM - Static transmitter stations are used to determine the position of a mobile receiver unit. Each transmitter station transmits an ultrasonic signal including a transmitter-specific phase-shifting signature. The receiver unit receives a signal and identifies a transmitter station by its signature. It uses the received signal and the identity of the source transmitter station to determine the position of the mobile receiver unit. The signature may include two patterns phase-shift-key (PSK)-encoded on respective carrier signals of the same frequency but different phase, with the patterns being offset from each other by a transmitter-specific offset. The signal from the transmitter station may also include a PSK-encoded message. | 06-19-2014 |
20140192622 | Method and System for Ultrasonic Signaling, Ranging and Location Tracking - An indoor ultrasonic location tracking system that can utilize standard audio speakers to provide indoor ranging information to modern mobile devices like smartphones and tablets. The method uses a communication scheme based on linearly increasing frequency modulated chirps in the audio bandwidth just above the human hearing frequency range where mobile devices are still sensitive. The method uses gradual frequency and amplitude changes that minimize human perceivable (psychoacoustic) artifacts derived from the non-ideal impulse response of audio speakers. Chirps also benefit from Pulse Compression, which improves ranging resolution and resilience to both Doppler shifts and multi-path propagation that plague indoor environments. The method supports the decoding of multiple unique identifier packets simultaneously. A Time-Difference-of-Arrival pseudo-ranging technique allows for localization without explicit synchronization with the broadcasting infrastructure. An alternate received signal strength indicator based localization technique allows less accurate localization at the benefit of sparser transmission infrastructure. | 07-10-2014 |
20140204714 | SOUND SOURCE DETECTION DEVICE - Disclosed is a sound source detection device | 07-24-2014 |
20140269194 | Three Dimensional Touch by Acoustic Waves - The three-dimensional touch system by acoustic waves comprises of a plurality of sensors and their controllers. The three-dimensional touch system implements the any or a combination of three different sensing methods. The first is an active wave triangulation location method that involves a plurality of receivers and an active wave transceiver. The second is a passive wave triangulation location method that involves a plurality of transceivers and a passive wave receiver. The last method, multi-triangulation location, uses different transceivers (or receivers) to input a multitude of different acoustic waves. Also, it is important that a calibration system be used to ensure that the transceivers and receivers are accurate in their readings. | 09-18-2014 |
20140286133 | DEVICE-TO-DEVICE ANGLE DETECTION WITH ULTRASOUND AND WIRELESS SIGNAL - A method for determining orientation of an electronic device relative to another electronic device is described. The method includes synchronizing internal clock of a first electronic device with internal clock of a second electronic device using electromagnetic signals communicated between the first electronic device and the second electronic device, sending two or more sound waves from the second electronic device, receiving the two or more sound waves at the first electronic device, and calculating orientation of the first electronic device relative to the second electronic device based on a difference in time of arrival of the two or more sound waves at the first electronic device. The first electronic device and the second electronic device each have at least one transceiver configured to send and receive electromagnetic signals. The first electronic device has two or more acoustoelectric transducers and the second electronic device has one or more acoustoelectric transducer. | 09-25-2014 |
20140313857 | Acoustic propagation method - Array of acoustic infrasonic transmitters are deployed around an area of target interest and continuously transmit acoustic time marked signals. An unintentional transduction of these acoustic time mark signals is made by a person of nefarious intent, and the resultant live or recorded signal is delivered to the receiver. In the case of many terrorist recordings the transduction is a handheld VTR recording of some political speech or event and the recording of that event is made available thought videotapes delivered to local media. The transduction is analyzed for acoustic time mark signals, which when processed using reverse TDOA methods provides the location of the signal transduction. | 10-23-2014 |
20140340994 | ULTRASONIC LOCATIONING USING ENROLLMENT MODE - An ultrasonic locationing method and system for ultrasonic locationing of a mobile device within an environment includes a plurality of fixed ultrasonic emitters to transmit an instruction to listen for an enrollment tone to at least one communication device, and to sequentially emit an enrollment tone from each emitter at specific times to be received by those communication devices that implemented the instruction. A controller receives a response from each of those communication devices, the respective response including an identity of the communication device, a time the enrollment tone was received, and an indication of a hardware platform of the communication device. The controller can then assign a locationing mode to each communication device in accordance with its hardware platform. The communication device provides locationing information using its assigned locationing mode and locationing tones from active emitters. | 11-20-2014 |
20150029825 | SYSTEM FOR ULTRASOUND LOCALIZATION OF A TOOL IN A WORKSPACE, CORRESPONDING METHOD AND PROGRAM PRODUCT - A method for locating a tool in a work space via ultrasound includes associating an ultrasound transmitter to a tool and calculating a position of the tool on the basis of determination of the position of the transmitter. At least three ultrasound receivers for receiving ultrasound signals from the transmitter are set in positions relative to the work space. A calculation of a position of the transmitter includes using a trilateration procedure that includes a change of reference of the positions of the receivers and is carried out to reference them in a second simplified reference system. An unknown point in the second simplified reference system is obtained. A rototranslation of the position of the unknown point obtained from the second simplified reference system is carried out into a first reference system, and a corresponding rototranslation matrix is calculated such that the unknown point is used as position of the transmitter. | 01-29-2015 |
20150036462 | DETECTION OF MULTIPATH AND TRANSMIT LEVEL ADAPTATION THERETO FOR ULTRASONIC LOCATIONING - A system and method for detection of multipath and transmit level adaptation thereto in ultrasonic locationing of a mobile device within an environment includes providing fixed ultrasonic emitters for transmitting ultrasonic bursts at predetermined times. A communication device measuring at least a direct signal of each ultrasonic burst and detecting multipath of each ultrasonic burst by comparing an amplitude of the direct signal with other signals related to the ultrasonic burst. If multipath is detected a controller increasing a transmit power level of the ultrasonic burst to insure the direct signal reliably remains above the detection threshold. If multipath is not detected reduce a transmit power level to the point detection is just possible. Results from non-multipath conditions are more heavily weighted when determining position as they are typically more accurate. | 02-05-2015 |
20150043309 | ULTRASONIC LOCATIONING USING FLIGHT TIME CALCULATED FROM COUNTER OFFSETS - Using counter offsets to allow flight time calculation in an ultrasonic locationing system includes ultrasonic transmitters for emitting ultrasonic bursts, each transmitter having a counter and a synchronization server. A backend controller schedules periodic bursts from each transmitter. A mobile device also has a counter and can receive the ultrasonic bursts, wherein the mobile device can determine a relative counter offset between itself and a transmitter. The mobile device can calculate a corrected reception time of ultrasonic bursts from the transmitters based on the counter value when the burst is detected and the relative counter offset between the mobile device and the transmitter, and report the corrected time to the backend controller for locationing of the mobile device. | 02-12-2015 |
20150117153 | ADAPTIVE TRANSMITTER CLUSTER AREA FOR ULTRASONIC LOCATIONING SYSTEM - A system and method for ultrasonic locationing of a mobile device within an environment using an adaptive transmitter cluster area includes a first step of providing a plurality of fixed ultrasonic transmitters operable to be activated to provide active clusters of transmitters to service mobile devices within a predefined coverage area of the environment. A next step includes transmitting ultrasonic bursts by the transmitters to mobile communication devices to be located within the environment. A next step includes determining a location of mobile devices within the environment using the ultrasonic bursts. A next step includes establishing a density of active clusters within the environment. A next step includes adapting an area of each cluster in response to the active cluster density. | 04-30-2015 |
20150301165 | Architecture of Single Substrate Ultrasonic Imaging Devices, Related Apparatuses, and Methods - Aspects of the technology described herein relate to ultrasound device circuitry as may form part of a single substrate ultrasound device having integrated ultrasonic transducers. The ultrasound device circuitry may facilitate the generation of ultrasound waveforms in a manner that is power- and data-efficient. | 10-22-2015 |
20150378003 | METHOD OF PROCESSING POSITIONING SIGNALS IN POSITIONING SYSTEMS TO ACCURATELY DETERMINE A TRUE ARRIVAL TIME OF EACH SIGNAL - A method of determining of a true time of arrival of an energy pulse in a positioning system using arrivals times of such pulses at a device after emission of the pulses from respective transmitters. A sampled signal is cross-correlated with the expected form of the energy pulse from the transmitter, and a highest peak in the correlated signal is located and selected to represent a possible time of arrival of the energy pulse. A sequentially preceding peak in the correlated signal is then selected has its magnitude compared with a threshold. This step is repeated until the magnitude of the currently selected peak is less than the threshold, at which point the last-selected peak whose magnitude exceeded the threshold marks the true time of arrival. This process avoids false time of arrival readings caused by reflected pulses. | 12-31-2015 |
20160025879 | BARRIER DETECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD - Embodiments of the invention provide a barrier detection system that includes a plurality of sensors that are coupled in series to a seismograph. The seismograph receives a signal from the sensors. The system includes a computer system including computer storage and a processor. The computer system is in communication with the seismograph so that the computer system receives signals from seismograph and stores them in the computer storage. The system can include an object detection system that can process the signals received by the computer system from the seismograph. The object detection system can select a first portion of the signal to analyze based a predetermined time interval, create a baseline value for the first portion, and select a plurality of peaks from the first portion. The object detection can also analyze an amplitude, frequency, and periodicity of the first portion to assess the origin of the signal. | 01-28-2016 |
20160033618 | TWO PASS DETECTION TECHNIQUE FOR NON-ECHO PULSED RANGING - A technique for non-echo pulsed ranging of a mobile device within an environment includes a plurality of emitters within the environment transmitting signal pulses of a predefined frequency to a mobile device that can receive a signal pulse, convert the signal pulse into a digital waveform, store the digital waveform into a buffer having a predetermined length of time, and analyze the digital waveform to detect a signal pulse at the predefined frequency. If a signal pulse is detected, the mobile device can re-analyze the digital waveform that was stored in the buffer to see if another signal pulse can be detected within the waveform, indicating the existence of a reflected signal. If another signal pulse is detected, the mobile device can select the signal pulse that was received first in time, i.e. the direct signal, for use in ranging of the mobile device. | 02-04-2016 |
20160077192 | ULTRASONIC LOCATIONING INTERLEAVED WITH ALTERNATE AUDIO FUNCTIONS - Ultrasonic locationing interleaved with alternate audio functions includes a plurality of transmitters for emitting ultrasonic bursts and alternate audio signals. A backend controller schedules the ultrasonic bursts and alternate audio signals from each transmitter. The backend controller can characterize an interference effect of defined interference parameters for each alternate audio signal, with respect to the ultrasonic bursts, and modify interleave scheduling of the ultrasonic bursts and alternate audio signals in accordance with the respective interference effect. A mobile device can receive the ultrasonic bursts for locationing of the mobile device, while a user or other device that can act on information in the alternate audio signals. Input from a user to an interface device can trigger the backend controller to schedule an alternate audio signal containing information related to the input. | 03-17-2016 |
20160103203 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING POSITION OF A WIRELESS ELECTRONIC DEVICE WITHIN A VOLUME - A system for locating a mobile electronic device includes a plurality of acoustic transmitters arranged in a selected pattern within a volume. A first processor is in signal communication with each of the acoustic transmitters. The processor is programmed to drive each of the transmitters with a different coded signal. The signals are substantially decorrelated with each other. An electromagnetic signal transceiver is in signal communication with the processor. The processor is programmed to communicate a time reference signal to the mobile electronic device. The mobile device includes an acoustic receiver for detecting signals from the transmitters and an electromagnetic transceiver for receiving the time reference signal. The mobile device includes a second processor programmed for cross-correlating signals detected by the acoustic receiver with a replica of each of the different coded signals. The second processor has instructions programmed therein for calculating an acoustic travel time of acoustic signals between each transmitter and the acoustic receiver from the cross-correlated signals. At least one of the first processor and the second processor is programmed to determine the position of the mobile electronic device from the travel times. | 04-14-2016 |
20160109558 | POSITIONING SYSTEM, POSITIONING METHOD, AND POSITIONING PROGRAM - The purpose of the present invention is to reduce the introduction cost of an indoor positioning system using inaudible sound. A positioning system according to one embodiment includes a first acquisition unit, a second acquisition unit, and a positioning unit. The first acquisition unit acquires a reception log indicating that a fixed receiver receives signal source-specific inaudible sounds from multiple signal sources. The second acquisition unit acquires, from a storage unit, signal source information on multiple signal sources corresponding to a fixed receiver installed near a mobile terminal. Here, the signal source information contains information for identifying a signal source from inaudible sound, the transmission timing of inaudible sound at the signal source, and the location of the signal source. | 04-21-2016 |
20160116567 | REDUCING INTERFERENCE FROM ADJACENT UNCOORDINATED LOCATIONING SYSTEMS - A technique that reduces interference from an adjacent uncoordinated locationing system includes a plurality of transmitters to transmit signals in accordance with a transmission timing sequence. At least one receiver receives said signals. A backend controller can detect interference from an adjacent uncoordinated locationing system using the receiver, whereupon the controller is operable to modify the transmission timing sequence of the signals emitted by the transmitters, and determine a change in the interference in order to select a sequence that minimizes interference. The controller can modify the transmission timing sequence of the signals emitted by those transmitters near the interference and not modify the sequence of the signals emitted by transmitters that are not subject to the interference. | 04-28-2016 |
20160116569 | POSITIONING SYSTEM USING SOUND WAVES - Disclosed is a positioning system using sound waves. The system provides the current location of a user carrying a dedicated terminal or any portable equipment possessing a microphone and a speaker in real time by using sound waves propagating in slow speed in various indoor spaces such as shopping malls, museums, and art galleries where GPS signals are not received. | 04-28-2016 |
20160161595 | NARROWCAST MESSAGING SYSTEM - A narrowcast messaging system which includes an ultrasound beacon field whereby a directionally discriminating acoustic sensor is associated with a device which identifies the relative direction between the sensor and two or more acoustic beacons and is thus able to determine the location of the directionally discriminating acoustic sensor. The system is able to transmit messages to a personal communication device associated with the directionally discriminating acoustic sensor on the basis of its location within the ultrasonic beacon field. | 06-09-2016 |
20170234724 | DEVICE FOR UAV DETECTION AND IDENTIFICATION | 08-17-2017 |
20170234966 | DEVICE FOR UAV DETECTION AND IDENTIFICATION | 08-17-2017 |