Embodiments of the present disclosure provide apparatus, methods and computer programs for ultrasonic proximity-detection. In one embodiment, processing circuitry comprises: a first input for receiving an indication of an interrogating ultrasonic signal; a second input for receiving a detected ultrasonic return signal; an adaptive filter, coupled to the first and second inputs, operative to estimate a transfer function between the interrogating ultrasonic signal and the detected ultrasonic return signal; a feature extract module, coupled to the adaptive filter, operative to calculate statistical moments of one or more of: the estimated transfer function; an estimated ultrasonic return signal, calculated based on the interrogating ultrasonic signal and the estimated transfer function; and an error signal, representing the error between the estimated ultrasonic return signal and the detected ultrasonic return signal; and a classifier module, coupled to the feature extract module, operative to determine the presence of a nearby object based on the statistical moments.

An ultrasonic transceiver system includes a transmitter block, a receiver block, a state machine, a computer unit. The transmitter block contains circuitry configured to drive an ultrasound transducer. The receiver block contains circuitry configured to receive signals from the ultrasound transducer and convert the signals into digital data. The state machine is coupled to the transmitter and receiver blocks and contains circuitry configured to act as a controller for those blocks. The computing unit is coupled to the transmitter block, the receiver block, and the state machine and is configured to drive the transmitter block and process data received from the receiver block by executing instructions of a program. The program memory is coupled to the computing unit and is configured to store the program. The computing unit is configured to be reprogrammed with one or more additional programs stored in the program memory.

An ultrasonic transceiver system includes a transmitter block, a receiver block, a state machine, a computer unit. The transmitter block contains circuitry configured to drive an ultrasound transducer. The receiver block contains circuitry configured to receive signals from the ultrasound transducer and convert the signals into digital data. The state machine is coupled to the transmitter and receiver blocks and contains circuitry configured to act as a controller for those blocks. The computing unit is coupled to the transmitter block, the receiver block, and the state machine and is configured to drive the transmitter block and process data received from the receiver block by executing instructions of a program. The program memory is coupled to the computing unit and is configured to store the program. The computing unit is configured to be reprogrammed with one or more additional programs stored in the program memory.

An ultrasonic transceiver system includes a transmitter block, a receiver block, a state machine, a computer unit. The transmitter block contains circuitry configured to drive an ultrasound transducer. The receiver block contains circuitry configured to receive signals from the ultrasound transducer and convert the signals into digital data. The state machine is coupled to the transmitter and receiver blocks and contains circuitry configured to act as a controller for those blocks. The computing unit is coupled to the transmitter block, the receiver block, and the state machine and is configured to drive the transmitter block and process data received from the receiver block by executing instructions of a program. The program memory is coupled to the computing unit and is configured to store the program. The computing unit is configured to be reprogrammed with one or more additional programs stored in the program memory.

An ultrasonic transceiver system includes a transmitter block, a receiver block, a state machine, a computer unit. The transmitter block contains circuitry configured to drive an ultrasound transducer. The receiver block contains circuitry configured to receive signals from the ultrasound transducer and convert the signals into digital data. The state machine is coupled to the transmitter and receiver blocks and contains circuitry configured to act as a controller for those blocks. The computing unit is coupled to the transmitter block, the receiver block, and the state machine and is configured to drive the transmitter block and process data received from the receiver block by executing instructions of a program. The program memory is coupled to the computing unit and is configured to store the program. The computing unit is configured to be reprogrammed with one or more additional programs stored in the program memory.

Circuitry comprising excitation circuitry for supplying a transducer with an excitation signal to generate a detection signal and current monitor circuitry for monitoring current through the transducer.

In an embodiment an ultrasonic transducer includes a container having an opening, a base and a wall, a piezoelectric disk arranged within the container on the base, a cover closing the container and an electronics system integrated in the cover, wherein the electronics system makes electrical contact with the piezoelectric disk and is configured to control and to read the piezoelectric disk.

In an embodiment an ultrasonic transducer includes a container having an opening, a base and a wall, a piezoelectric disk arranged within the container on the base, a cover closing the container and an electronics system integrated in the cover, wherein the electronics system makes electrical contact with the piezoelectric disk and is configured to control and to read the piezoelectric disk.

Techniques are disclosed for modifying the acoustic signature of plastic structures. An example structure implementing the techniques includes an inner wall forming an inner shell of the structure, the inner wall having a first edge and a second edge opposing the first edge, and an outer wall forming an outer shell of the structure, the outer wall having a first edge and a second edge opposing the first edge. The structure also includes an upper wall member joining the first edge of the inner wall to the first edge of the outer wall and a lower wall member joining the second edge of the inner wall to the second edge of the outer wall to form a wall cavity, an infill structure within the wall cavity, and at least two holes in the structure providing an opening from an exterior of the structure to the wall cavity.

An ultrasound circuit comprising a trans-impedance amplifier (TIA) with built-in time gain compensation functionality is described. The TIA is coupled to an ultrasonic transducer to amplify an electrical signal generated by the ultrasonic transducer in response to receiving an ultrasound signal. The TIA is, in some cases, followed by further analog and digital processing circuitry.