# US 11,442,185 B2 · Method and apparatus for noise control in ultrasonic sensors

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- Number: US 11,442,185 B2
- Document ID: US11442185B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/313,766
- Filed: 2021-05-06
- Published: 2021-10-21
- Granted: 2022-09-13
- Earliest claimed: 2013-03-15
- Assignees: The Watt Stopper, Inc.
- Applicants: The Watt Stopper, Inc.
- Inventors: Louia Weidman; Aizhong Chen; Chenghao Fan
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11442185B2

## CPC

- G01V 1/247: {Digital recording of seismic data, e.g. in acquisition units or nodes}
- G01N 29/34: Generating the ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves {, e.g. electronic circuits specially adapted therefor}
- G01S 7/52004: {Means for monitoring or calibrating (short-range imaging G01S7/5205)}
- G01S 15/04: Systems determining presence of a target
- G01V 1/001: {Acoustic presence detection}
- G01V 1/3852: {to the seabed}
- H05B 47/105: in response to determined parameters
- H05B 47/115: by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
- G01V: GEOPHYSICS; GRAVITATIONAL MEASUREMENTS; DETECTING MASSES OR OBJECTS; TAGS (means for indicating the location of accidentally buried, e.g. snow-buried, persons A63B29/02)
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)
- G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
- H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL

## Abstract

The adjustable voltage regulator under control of a microcontroller applies controlled amplitude voltage in the range of 5 to 9 VDC to the sensor transmitter to adjust the output amplitude of the transmitter. The adjustable amplitude transmitter allows an occupancy sensor to have its total output energy adjusted to reduce environmental noise-induced false triggering and to conform to the area to be covered. Lowering the total ultrasonic energy in the monitored space lowers the sensitivity of the receiver to inappropriate activations. Lowering the input power to the transmitter also lowers the total internal system noise and provides an improved signal to noise ratio in the receiver.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of operating an active ultrasonic occupancy sensor comprising the steps of:
providing an ultrasonic occupancy sensor comprising:
an ultrasonic transmitter;
an ultrasonic receiver;
a power supply operably connected to the ultrasonic transmitter that includes a main power supply and produces a main output power and an adjustable voltage regulator that produces regulated, controlled output power, the power supply also includes a fixed voltage regulator which receives the main output power, transforms the main power into intermediate power and applies the intermediate power to the adjustable voltage regulator; and
a controller operably connected to the ultrasonic transmitter, the ultrasonic receiver and the power supply;
processing a received ultrasonic signal to generate a first signal representing an ultrasonic voltage envelope;
processing the first signal to generate an ultrasonic peak noise signal; and
controlling the regulated controlled output power of the adjustable voltage regulator according to sensitivity input of the sensor and an ultrasonic peak noise signal.