# US 12,007,464 B2 · Method for ascertaining at least one physical parameter of a system by exploiting the reflection from a reference object > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,007,464 B2 - Document ID: US12007464B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/978,326 - Filed: 2019-03-05 - Published: 2021-02-11 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2018-03-05 - Assignees: Universität Stuttgart - Applicants: UniversitäT Stuttgart - Inventors: Ingmar Kallfass; Christopher Grötsch; Benjamin Schoch - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12007464B2 ## CPC - G01S 13/34: using transmission of continuous, frequency-modulated waves while heterodyning the received signal, or a signal derived therefrom, with a locally-generated signal related to the contemporaneously transmitted signal - G01S 13/88: Radar or analogous systems specially adapted for specific applications (electromagnetic prospecting or detecting of objects, e.g. near-field detection, G01V3/00) - G01N 22/00: Investigating or analysing materials by the use of microwaves or radio waves, i.e. electromagnetic waves with a wavelength of one millimetre or more (G01N3/00 - G01N17/00, G01N24/00 take precedence) - G01N 29/12: by measuring frequency or resonance of acoustic waves {(measuring frequency or resonant frequency of mechanical vibrations or acoustic waves in general G01H1/06, G01H3/04, G01H13/00; acoustic resonators G10K11/04; vibration or shock testing of structures G01M7/00)} - G01S 15/34: using transmission of continuous, frequency-modulated waves while heterodyning the received signal, or a signal derived therefrom, with a locally-generated signal related to the contemporaneously transmitted signal - G01S 15/88: Sonar systems specially adapted for specific applications (seismic or acoustic prospecting or detecting G01V1/00) - 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 - 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) ## Abstract A method for determining at least one physical parameter of a system comprising at least two reflection objects is presented, comprising: producing a transmission signal comprising at least one modulated electromagnetic or acoustic wave; receiving a first reception signal that is based on the transmission signal reflected by a first reflection object; receiving a second reception signal that is based on the transmission signal reflected by a second reflection object; receiving a third or further reception signal(s) that is/are based on the transmission signal reflected by a first or second or further reflection object(s); ascertaining the at least one physical parameter of the system on the basis of the first reception signal and further reception signals; ascertaining unknown distances between reflection objects or material properties, composition or nature of the media between the reflection objects of the system on the basis of the first reception signal and further reception signals. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for determining at least one physical parameter of a system with at least two reflection objects, comprising: generating a transmission signal comprising at least one modulated wave; receiving a first reception signal, wherein the first reception signal is based on the transmission signal reflected by a first reflection object; receiving a second reception signal, wherein the second reception signal is based on the transmission signal reflected by a second reflection object; and determining the at least one physical parameter of the system based on the first reception signal and the second reception signal, wherein determining the at least one physical parameter of the system occurs without including the transmission signal. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one modulated wave comprises a modulated electromagnetic wave and/or a modulated acoustic wave. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the transmission signal comprises a frequency-modulated wave, a phase-modulated wave, an amplitude-modulated wave and/or a pulse-modulated wave. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one physical parameter is a distance between the first reflection object and the second reflection object. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein if a distance between the first reflection object and the second reflection object is known, the presence of a medium between the first reflection object and the second reflection object is determined as the at least one physical parameter of the system. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method according to claim 5, wherein at least one physical parameter of the medium, in particular dielectric properties of the medium, is determined as the at least one physical parameter of the system. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the second reflection object is at least partially surrounded by the first reflection object; and/or wherein the transmission signal propagates at least partially through the first reflection object and exits it before being reflected by the second reflection object. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the transmission signal reflected by the second reflection object propagates at least partially through the first reflection object. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein a spatial distance between the first reflection object and the second reflection object is determined based on a divergence of the modulation of the first reception signal and the second reception signal. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one physical parameter of the system, in particular a distance between the first reflection object and the second reflection object, is determined based on a frequency difference between the first reception signal and the second reception signal. ### Claim 11 A device for determining at least one physical parameter of a system with at least two reflection objects, comprising: a receiving device with a receiving antenna, configured to: receive a first reception signal, wherein the first reception signal is based on a signal, comprising at least one modulated wave, reflected by a first reflection object; receive a second reception signal, wherein the second reception signal is based on a signal, comprising at least one modulated wave, reflected by a second reflection object; and determine the at least one physical parameter of the system based on the first reception signal and the second reception signal, wherein determining the at least one physical parameter of the system occurs without including a transmission signal. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The device according to claim 11, wherein the at least one modulated wave comprises a modulated electromagnetic wave and/or a modulated acoustic wave. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The device according to claim 11, wherein the receiving device comprises a mixer stage configured to determine a frequency difference between the first reception signal and the second reception signal, wherein the at least one physical parameter of the system is determinable based on the determined frequency difference. ### Claim 14 A system for determining at least one physical parameter of a system with at least two reflection objects, comprising: a transmitting device with a transmitting antenna, configured to transmit a transmission signal comprising at least one modulated wave; and a receiving device with a receiving antenna, configured to: receive a first reception signal, wherein the first reception signal is based on the transmission signal reflected by a first reflection object; receive a second reception signal, wherein the second reception signal is based on the transmission signal reflected by a second reflection object; and determine the at least one physical parameter of the system based on the first reception signal and the second reception signal, wherein determining the at least one physical parameter of the system occurs without including the transmission signal. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system according to claim 14, wherein the at least one modulated wave comprises a modulated electromagnetic wave and/or a modulated acoustic wave. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The system according to claim 14, wherein the system is a mobile system, in particular a portable system.