Method and apparatus for performing ultrasonic presence detection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016154089-A1
Application number	US-201514859093-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 18, 2015
Priority date	Dec 2, 2014
Publication date	Jun 2, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Disclosed is an apparatus and method for detecting presence of persons or objects within an environment. The apparatus and method may determine a difference in relative position between transmitters having an unknown room position. A transmitter may emit coded signals that may be detected by other transmitters within the room and properties of the coded signal can form a baseline for comparison to new signals after the baseline is established. Through the use of coded signals and relative distance location between transmitters, movement and position of persons or objects within the room may be determined.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method for target detection within a room, the method comprising:
determining a difference in relative position between a first transmitter and a second transmitter, wherein one or both of the first transmitter or the second transmitter have an unknown position within the room; emitting, from one or both of the first transmitter or the second transmitter, a coded signal within the room; detecting the coded signal at one or both of the first transmitter or the second transmitter; comparing signal properties of the coded signal to a baseline for the room; and determining, according to a result of comparing the signal properties, and the relative position of the first transmitter and the second transmitters, a position of the target within the room.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the difference in relative position comprises:
measuring one or both of ultrasound or radio frequencies between the first transmitter and the second transmitter, wherein the first transmitter and the second transmitters are communicatively coupled.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein measuring ultrasound between the first transmitter and the second transmitter comprises:
synchronizing an internal clock between the first transmitter or the second transmitter, and measuring timing of a received ultrasound according to the internal clock.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the coded signal is continuous or intermittent.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the signal properties comprise one or more of: delay, amplitude, Doppler shift, or any combination thereof.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein one or both of the emitting or detecting are performed by the same device.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein in response to determining the target's position within the room, a device or feature of a device is triggered.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the device is one or more of a: light bulb, alarm system, entertainment system, or any combination thereof.

9 . A device for target detection within a room, the device comprising:
memory; and a processor coupled to the memory and configured to: determine a difference in relative position between a first transmitter and a second transmitter, wherein the first or second transmitter have an unknown position within the room; emit, from one or both of the first transmitter or the second transmitter, a coded signal within the room; detect the coded signal at one or both of the first transmitter or the second transmitter; compare signal properties of the coded signal to a baseline for the room; and determine, according to a result of comparing the signal properties, and the relative position of the first transmitter and the second transmitters, a position of the target within the room.

10 . The device of claim 9 , wherein determining the difference in relative position comprises instructions to:
measure one or both of ultrasound or radio frequencies between the first transmitter and the second transmitter, wherein the first transmitter and the second transmitters are communicatively coupled.

11 . The device of claim 10 , wherein measuring ultrasound between the first transmitter or the second transmitter comprises instructions to:
synchronize an internal clock between the first transmitter or the second transmitter, and measure timing of a received ultrasound according to the internal clock.

12 . The device of claim 9 , wherein the coded signal is continuous or intermittent.

13 . The device of claim 9 , wherein the signal properties comprise one or more of: delay, amplitude, Doppler shift, or any combination thereof.

14 . The device of claim 9 , wherein one or both of the emitting or detecting are performed by the same device.

15 . The device of claim 9 , wherein in response to determining the target's position within the room one or both of: an other device or feature of the other device is triggered.

16 . The device of claim 15 , wherein the other device is one or more of a: light bulb, alarm system, entertainment system, or any combination thereof.

17 . A machine readable non-transitory storage medium having stored therein program instructions that are executable by a processor to:
determine a difference in relative position between a first transmitter and a second transmitter, wherein the first or second transmitter have an unknown position within a room; emit, from one or both of the first transmitter or the second transmitter, a coded signal within the room; detect the coded signal at one or both of the first transmitter or the second transmitter; compare signal properties of the coded signal to a baseline for the room; and determine, according to a result of comparing the signal properties, and the relative position of the first transmitter and the second transmitters, a position of the target within the room.

18 . The medium of claim 17 , wherein determining the difference in relative position comprises instructions to:
measure one or both of ultrasound or radio frequencies between the first transmitter and the second transmitter, wherein the first transmitter and the second transmitters are communicatively coupled.

19 . The medium of claim 18 , wherein measurement of ultrasound between the first transmitter and the second transmitter comprises instructions to:
synchronize an internal clock between the first transmitter and the second transmitter, and measure timing of a received ultrasound according to the internal clock.

20 . The medium of claim 17 , wherein the coded signal is continuous or intermittent.

21 . The medium of claim 17 , wherein the signal properties comprise one or more of: delay, amplitude, Doppler shift, or any combination thereof.

22 . The medium of claim 17 , wherein one or both of the emitting or detecting are performed by the same device.

23 . The medium of claim 17 , wherein in response to determining the target's position within the room, a device or feature of a device is triggered.

24 . The medium of claim 23 , wherein the device is one or more of a: light bulb, alarm system, entertainment system, or any combination thereof.

25 . An apparatus for target detection within a room, the apparatus comprising:
means for determining a difference in relative position between a first transmitter and a second transmitter, wherein the first or second transmitter have an unknown room position; means for emitting, from one or both of the first transmitter or the second transmitter, a coded signal within the room; means for detecting the coded signal at one or both of the first transmitter or the second transmitter; means for comparing signal properties of the coded signal to a baseline for the room; and means for determining, according to a result of comparing the signal properties, and the relative position of the first transmitter and the second transmitters, a position of the target within the room.

26 . The apparatus of claim 25 , wherein determining the difference in relative position comprises:
means for measuring one or both of ultrasound or radio frequencies between the first transmitter and the second transmitter, wherein the first transmitter and the second transmitters are communicatively coupled.

27 . The apparatus of claim 26 , wherein means for measuring ultrasound between the first transm

Assignees

• Qualcomm Inc

Inventors

• Altman Nathan

Classifications

• G08B13/1618

  using ultrasonic detection means · CPC title

• G01S7/52004 Primary

  Means for monitoring or calibrating (short-range imaging G01S7/5205) · CPC title

• G01S15/878

  wherein transceivers are operated, either sequentially or simultaneously, both in bi-static and in mono-static mode, e.g. cross-echo mode · CPC title

• G01S15/523

  for presence detection (burglar, theft or intruder alarms G08B13/00, e.g. G08B13/16) · CPC title

• G08B29/26

  by updating and storing reference thresholds · CPC title