Localization system and associated method

A localization system for determining a localization parameter of an object comprising:

• a receiver including:
• a first channel including (i) a first lens for receiving a first portion of an optical signal from the object, and (ii) a first photodetector for converting the received first portion into a first electrical signal having the first frequency-domain amplitude, the optical signal including a baseband signal modulated at a first temporal frequency;
• a second channel including (i) a second lens for directing a second portion of the optical signal toward a slow-varying optical mask having first spatially-varying transmissivity, and (ii) a second photodetector for converting the second portion, transmitted through the slow-varying optical mask, into a second electrical signal;
• a third channel including (i) a third lens for directing a third portion of the optical signal toward a fast-varying optical mask having a second spatially-varying transmissivity that differs from the first spatially-varying transmissivity, and (ii) a third photodetector for converting the third portion, transmitted through the fast-varying optical mask, into a third electrical signal;
• a memory storing non-transitory computer-readable instructions and configured to store the baseband signal that includes the first temporal frequency and, corresponding thereto, the first frequency-domain amplitude;
• and
• a microprocessor adapted to execute the instructions to:
• generate a plurality of estimates of the first frequency-domain amplitude, wherein each of the plurality of estimates corresponds to a respective one of a plurality of temporal segments of the baseband signal;
• bin the plurality of estimates into a plurality of bins, each of the plurality of bins corresponding to a respective one of a first plurality of intervals between a maximum of the plurality of estimates and a minimum of the plurality of estimates;
• and
• determine the first frequency-domain amplitude as an estimate within one of the plurality bins that corresponds to the interval, of the first plurality of intervals, having the greatest number of estimates;
• and
• determine the localization parameter based on the first frequency-domain amplitude.

A frequency-domain analyzer comprising:

• a receiver including:
• a first channel including (i) a first lens for receiving a first portion of an optical signal from the object, and (ii) a first photodetector for converting the received first portion into a first electrical signal having the first frequency-domain amplitude, the optical signal including a baseband signal modulated at a first temporal frequency;
• a second channel including (i) a second lens for directing a second portion of the optical signal toward a slow-varying optical mask having first spatially-varying transmissivity, and (ii) a second photodetector for converting the second portion, transmitted through the slow-varying optical mask, into a second electrical signal;
• a third channel including (i) a third lens for directing a third portion of the optical signal toward a fast-varying optical mask having a second spatially-varying transmissivity that differs from the first spatially-varying transmissivity, and (ii) a third photodetector for converting the third portion, transmitted through the fast-varying optical mask, into a third electrical signal;
• a memory storing non-transitory computer-readable instructions and configured to store the baseband signal that includes the first temporal frequency and, corresponding thereto, the first frequency-domain amplitude;
• the instructions, when executed by a microprocessor, causing the microprocessor to:
• generate a plurality of estimates of the first frequency-domain amplitude each corresponding to a respective one of a plurality of temporal segments of the baseband signal;
• bin the plurality of estimates into a plurality of bins, each bin corresponding to a respective one of a first plurality of intervals between a maximum of the plurality of estimates and a minimum of the plurality of estimates;
• and
• determine the first frequency-domain amplitude an estimate within one of the plurality of bins corresponding to the interval, of the first plurality of intervals, having the greatest number of estimates.