Method to provide a TOF estimate by a TOF device. The method comprises: generating an electric echo signal indicative of an ultrasonic echo signal returned by a target body by the ultrasonic source signal; determining an envelope signal indicative of an envelope of the electric echo signal; generating a first TOF estimate by processing the electric echo signal; determining an envelope signal portion of the envelope signal based on a non-PSOA hyperparameter; and generating a second TOF estimate by processing the envelope signal portion through PSOA, the second TOF estimate having a measurement accuracy value greater than that of the first TOF estimate. PSOA is optimized based on a PSOA hyperparameter set. The non-PSOA hyperparameter and the PSOA hyperparameter set are selected among a plurality of choices based on the first TOF estimate, so as to obtain the second TOF estimate which has greater accuracy than the first TOF estimate.

An image forming apparatus 10 is configured to detect a human present in a first range (detection area A1) from the image forming apparatus 10 using an ultrasonic wave that is output at a first frequency from an ultrasonic sensor 611. If a human is detected in the detection area A1, the image forming apparatus 10 switches the frequency of the ultrasonic wave that is output from the ultrasonic sensor 611 to a second frequency that is lower than the first frequency, and is controlled to detect the human in a second range (detection area A2) that is smaller than the detection area A1. When a human is detected in the detection area A2, data communication is started using the ultrasonic wave output from the ultrasonic sensor 611.

An image forming apparatus 10 is configured to detect a human present in a first range (detection area A1) from the image forming apparatus 10 using an ultrasonic wave that is output at a first frequency from an ultrasonic sensor 611. If a human is detected in the detection area A1, the image forming apparatus 10 switches the frequency of the ultrasonic wave that is output from the ultrasonic sensor 611 to a second frequency that is lower than the first frequency, and is controlled to detect the human in a second range (detection area A2) that is smaller than the detection area A1. When a human is detected in the detection area A2, data communication is started using the ultrasonic wave output from the ultrasonic sensor 611.

An ultrasonic detection device has an ultrasonic probe, which transmits ultrasonic waves and receives echoes; a reflector, arranged spaced apart from the ultrasonic probe, which redistributes the energy of the ultrasonic wave to change the detection range of the ultrasonic wave. The ultrasonic detection method changes from original direct type to a horizontal type, optimizes the ultrasonic detection range to adapt to the actual detection space, and improves the accuracy of the detection.

An ultrasonic detection device has an ultrasonic probe, which transmits ultrasonic waves and receives echoes; a reflector, arranged spaced apart from the ultrasonic probe, which redistributes the energy of the ultrasonic wave to change the detection range of the ultrasonic wave. The ultrasonic detection method changes from original direct type to a horizontal type, optimizes the ultrasonic detection range to adapt to the actual detection space, and improves the accuracy of the detection.

The present invention provides a system for use in a vehicle for determining an indication of the type of terrain in the vicinity of the vehicle. The system comprises a processor arranged to receive acoustic sensor output data from at least one vehicle-mounted acoustic sensor, the or each acoustic sensor being arranged to receive a reflected signal from the terrain in the vicinity of the vehicle, the processor also being arranged to calculate at least one acoustic parameter in dependence on the acoustic sensor output data. The system also comprises a data memory arranged to store pre-determined data relating the at least one acoustic parameter to a particular terrain type. The processor is arranged to compare the at least one acoustic parameter with the pre-determined data to determine an indication of the particular terrain type based on the acoustic sensor output data only.

An image forming apparatus 10 is configured to detect a human present in a first range (detection area A1) from the image forming apparatus 10 using an ultrasonic wave that is output at a first frequency from an ultrasonic sensor 611. If a human is detected in the detection area A1, the image forming apparatus 10 switches the frequency of the ultrasonic wave that is output from the ultrasonic sensor 611 to a second frequency that is lower than the first frequency, and is controlled to detect the human in a second range (detection area A2) that is smaller than the detection area A1. When a human is detected in the detection area A2, data communication is started using the ultrasonic wave output from the ultrasonic sensor 611.

Some embodiments are directed to methods of detecting a target that include: receiving signals reflected from a target of interest, the signals having a bandwidth large enough to provide a plurality of range cells along an expected target, and processing the received signal(s) by (i) determining the phases of contiguous groups of range cells, the group size selected to approximate to sizes of targets of interest, (ii) phase-shifting the returns within a group to increase constructive interference and thereby signal power; and (iii) combining the phase shifted returns to produce phase-adjusted combined returns, and performing a detection on those combined returns. Some embodiments may provide enhanced target detection capabilities. The process may be repeated for different potential target sizes, and may be performed either on real time data, or off-line on recorded data, and is applicable to both radar and sonar.

Some embodiments are directed to methods of detecting a target that include: receiving signals reflected from a target of interest, the signals having a bandwidth large enough to provide a plurality of range cells along an expected target, and processing the received signal(s) by (i) determining the phases of contiguous groups of range cells, the group size selected to approximate to sizes of targets of interest, (ii) phase-shifting the returns within a group to increase constructive interference and thereby signal power; and (iii) combining the phase shifted returns to produce phase-adjusted combined returns, and performing a detection on those combined returns. Some embodiments may provide enhanced target detection capabilities. The process may be repeated for different potential target sizes, and may be performed either on real time data, or off-line on recorded data, and is applicable to both radar and sonar.

A method for mapping a source location by an electronic device is described. The method includes obtaining sensor data. The method also includes mapping a source location to electronic device coordinates based on the sensor data. The method further includes mapping the source location from electronic device coordinates to physical coordinates. The method additionally includes performing an operation based on a mapping.