US 11,733,125 B2
Auto-adjusting analog ultrasonic sensor
William Bishop, Pleasantville, NY (US); and Gary Mohr, Cortlandt Manor, NY (US)
Assigned to U.E. SYSTEMS, INC., Elmsford, NY (US)
Filed by U.E. Systems, Inc., Elmsford, NY (US)
Filed on Nov. 18, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/530,249.
Application 17/530,249 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/131,523, filed on Dec. 22, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0196518 A1, Jun. 23, 2022
Int. Cl. G01M 13/045 (2019.01); G01M 3/24 (2006.01); H04B 11/00 (2006.01)
CPC G01M 13/045 (2013.01) [G01M 3/24 (2013.01); H04B 11/00 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An automatic sensitivity adjusting analog ultrasonic sensor comprising:
an ultrasonic transducer that converts ultrasonic vibrations into ultrasonic electrical signals;
a front end amplifier with an adjustable gain that receives the ultrasonic signal from the transducer and amplifies it by a variable gain;
a processor that generates a carrier signal;
a heterodyning circuit that combines the carrier signal and the amplified ultrasonic signal from the amplifier to form a modulated signal spectrum from which an audio spectrum signal is generated;
wherein the processor monitors the amplitude level of the audio spectrum signal and executes an auto sensitivity adjustment algorithm that automatically adjusts the sensitivity (the gain) of the analog front end amplifier down if the amplitude is above a preset upper threshold or up if the amplitude is below a present lower threshold.