Patent ID: 6556511
Filing Date: 2003-04-29
Classification: G01F,G01S,Y10S

Abstract:
A method for acquiring the position of at least one object within an overall detection range, comprising the steps of:providing at least one sampling window, the sampling window corresponding to a portion of the detection range; obtaining an echo comprising the steps of: transmitting a pulse at a desired frequency from a transducer; scanning for echoes within the sampling window by a receiver; and receiving at least one echo of the pulse at the receiver which are within the sampling window, the at least one echo having a frequency that matches the frequency of the outgoing pulse; repeating the foregoing step of obtaining an echo a predetermined number of times within the sampling window; determining which of the at least one echoes received by the receiver comprises a valid echo, wherein a valid echo comprises an echo having a plurality of successive waveform minima and maxima which are determined by obtaining values within the at least one echo which exceed a predetermined threshold value; determining if any of the at least one echoes occurred in substantially the same position for a majority of the predetermined number of times within the sampling window; and designating each such determined at least one echoes as corresponding to a valid target.