Patent ID: 9618618
Date: 2017-04-11
CPC Classifications: G01S

Claim:
1. A method for determining positional data of a plurality of objects within a region, comprising: transmitting ultrasound, via an ultrasonic transmitter, into a region bounded by a first surface; receiving, via an ultrasonic receiver, a direct ultrasonic reflection from the plurality of objects within the region; generating direct, two-dimensional positional data associated with the plurality of objects based on the direct ultrasonic reflection, wherein the direct, two-dimensional positional data of the plurality of objects includes at least a first object and a second object that appear to be overlapping in a first plane such that the first object is at least partially indistinguishable from the second object; receiving, via the ultrasonic receiver, a rebounded ultrasonic reflection from the plurality of objects, wherein the rebounded ultrasonic reflection comprises ultrasound reflected by the plurality of objects and the first surface, and then received by the ultrasonic receiver, such that the rebounded ultrasonic reflection is reflected by the plurality of objects at an angle relative to the direct ultrasonic reflection; generating rebounded, two-dimensional positional data using the rebounded ultrasonic reflection of the plurality of objects from the first surface, wherein the rebounded, two-dimensional positional data of the plurality of objects includes the first object and the second objects in a second plane that is at an angle relative to the first plane; and generating enhanced positional data by combining the two-dimensional positional data in the first plane from the direct ultrasonic reflection and the two-dimensional data in the second plane from the rebounded ultrasonic reflection to distinguish the first object from the second object.