US 11,442,155 B2 · Devices, systems and processes for detecting saturation of received echo signals

Abstract

The various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to devices, system and processes for detecting saturation of a received signal in a PAS system. A process may include detecting, in a received signal and during a measurement interval, one or more correlated signal levels. Based on one or more results of the detecting, the process may include identifying in a correlated output signal portions of the received signal which exceed a given magnitude threshold during the measurement interval and providing the correlated output signal to an electronic control unit (ECU). A magnitude detector outputs the correlated output signal. A saturation detector determines whether the received signal is saturated during a portion of a measurement interval. When the received signal is saturated, a saturation signal is generated and provided on a delayed basis to the ECU such that it is provided substantially contemporaneously with the correlated output signal.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A process, for detecting saturation of a received signal, comprising:

detecting, in a received signal and during a measurement interval, one or more correlated signal levels;
based on one or more results of the detecting,
identifying, in a correlated output signal, portions of the received signal which exceed a given magnitude threshold during the measurement interval;
providing the correlated output signal to an electronic control unit (ECU);
wherein the correlated output signal is output by a magnitude detector;
determining, by a saturation detector, whether the received signal is saturated during one or more portions of the measurement interval;
when the received signal is saturated,
generating a saturation signal;
and
delaying the saturation signal to generate a delayed saturation signal;
and
providing the delayed saturation signal to the ECU substantially contemporaneously with the providing of the correlated output signal to the ECU.

9 more elements

A system comprising:

a transducer configured to emit a ranging signal and receive a received signal during a measurement interval;
wherein, when an obstacle is within a given distance of the transducer, the received signal includes an echo of the ranging signal reflected off the obstacle;
a gain stage, coupled to the transducer, configured to increase a received signal strength of the received signal;
at least one of a saturation detector and a saturation threshold detector;
wherein each of the saturation detector and the saturation threshold detector are coupled to the gain stage;
wherein the saturation detector is configured to detect saturation of the received signal during one or more portions of the measurement interval;
wherein the saturation threshold detector is configured to determine a saturation threshold for the received signal;
a digital filter, coupled to the gain stage, configured to convert the received signal into a filtered received signal;
and
a magnitude detector, coupled to the digital filter, configured to:
detect, during the measurement interval, one or more portions of the filtered received signal which exceed a given threshold and are each a potential echo;
and
based on such detecting, output a correlated received signal indicative thereof.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Devices, systems and processes for detecting saturation of received echo signals

Life of this patent

Devices, systems and processes for detecting saturation of received echo signals

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20