Short-Range Sonar
AssigneeIntellibot Robotics LLC
InventorsStephen J. Balas, Ralph C. McCann, III
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A short-range sonar assembly. The assembly includes a local controller operably connected to a processing device and configured to receive instructions from the processing device, a first transducer operably connected to the local controller, a second transducer operably connected to the local controller; and a flared bell configured to house the local controller, first transducer, and second transducer. The flared bell includes a first enclosure configured to receive and house the first transducer and a second enclosure configured to receive and house the second transducer. The first transducer is configured to transmit one or more pulses and the second transducer is configured to receive echoed pulses.
Claims18
A short-range sonar assembly comprising:
- a local controller operably connected to a processing device and configured to receive instructions from the processing device;
- a first transducer operably connected to the local controller;
- a second transducer operably connected to the local controller;
- and
- a flared bell configured to house the local controller, first transducer, and second transducer, the flared bell comprising:
- a first enclosure configured to receive and house the first transducer, and
- a second enclosure configured to receive and house the second transducer.
A robotic device comprising:
- a processing device;
- a short-range sonar assembly comprising:
- a local controller operably connected to the processing device and configured to receive instructions from the processing device,
- a first transducer operably connected to the local controller,
- a second transducer operably connected to the local controller, and
- a sonar horn configured to house the local controller, first transducer, and second transducer, the sonar horn comprising:
- a first enclosure configured to receive and house the first transducer,
- a second enclosure configured to receive and house the second transducer, and
- a third enclosure configured to receive and house the local controller;
- and
- a transportation mechanism operably connected to the processing device and configured to move the robotic device in various directions in response to instructions from the processing device.
A method of detecting objects with a short-range sonar, the method comprising:
- transmitting, via a first transducer, one or more pulses, wherein the first transducer is mounted in a first enclosure such that the one or more pulses are transmitted in a narrow beam;
- receiving, via a second transducer, the one or more pulses as echo pulses having reflected off an object, wherein the second transducer is mounted in a second enclosure such that the echo pulses are received as a narrow beam;
- detecting, at a local controller operably connected to the second transducer, the echo pulses;
- and
- determining, by a processing device operably connected to the local controller, a position of the object.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.