An environment detection system includes a sound wave transmitter, a sound wave receiver, and a control unit. The sound wave transmitter transmits a detection sound wave to a target space. The sound wave receiver receives the detection sound wave transmitted by the sound wave transmitter. The control unit controls the sound wave transmitter. The environment detection system detects at least either a temperature distribution or an air velocity distribution in the target space. The control unit executes a first control to regulate at least either a volume or a frequency of the detection sound wave transmitted by the sound wave transmitter so that a volume of the detection sound wave received by the sound wave receiver is higher than or equal to a predetermined reference reception volume.

An environment detection system includes a sound wave transmitter, a sound wave receiver, and a control unit. The sound wave transmitter transmits a detection sound wave to a target space. The sound wave receiver receives the detection sound wave transmitted by the sound wave transmitter. The control unit controls the sound wave transmitter. The environment detection system detects at least either a temperature distribution or an air velocity distribution in the target space. The control unit executes a first control to regulate at least either a volume or a frequency of the detection sound wave transmitted by the sound wave transmitter so that a volume of the detection sound wave received by the sound wave receiver is higher than or equal to a predetermined reference reception volume.

A method and system are provided with which it is possible to detect non-firing and untimely firing events in internal combustion and, if necessary, the temperature of the gas in the exhaust gas pipe. This is performed in general by measuring the speed of sound and determining the phase angle between the sender and receiver either arranged on different sides of the exhaust gas pipe or on the same side of the exhaust gas pipe. The receiver, depending on the measurement principle, can include one, two, or in special applications three receivers. Additionally, if necessary, it is possible to suppress the structure-borne sound influence on a speed of sound measurement with low cost and high stability.

An environment detection system includes a sound wave transmitter, a sound wave receiver, and a determination unit. The sound wave transmitter transmits a detection sound wave to a target space where an environment control device that conditions air in a space is installed. The sound wave receiver receives the detection sound wave transmitted by the sound wave transmitter. The determination unit determines a temperature or an air velocity in a first region near the environment control device, based on predetermined acquired information acquired from the environment control device. The environment detection system obtains a temperature or air velocity distribution in the target space, based on measured sound wave data. A temperature or air velocity distribution in a second region is obtained based on at least either the temperature or the air velocity in the first region determined by the determination unit and the measured sound wave data.

A medical ultrasound device is disclosed. The device comprises an elongated body having a proximal end, a distal end (10) and a distal end region (1). One or more ultrasound transducers (4) for generating acoustic radiation are positioned in the distal end region, inside the elongated body. A transmission element (5) which is substantially transparent to acoustic radiation is positioned in the radiation path of the acoustic radiation, and a controller unit is operatively connected to the ultrasound transducer. The controller unit detects the acoustic path length through the transmission element and determines the temperature at the distal end from the detected acoustic path length. In an embodiment, the medical device is an ultrasound RF ablation catheter.

A medical ultrasound device is disclosed. The device comprises an elongated body having a proximal end, a distal end (10) and a distal end region (1). One or more ultrasound transducers (4) for generating acoustic radiation are positioned in the distal end region, inside the elongated body. A transmission element (5) which is substantially transparent to acoustic radiation is positioned in the radiation path of the acoustic radiation, and a controller unit is operatively connected to the ultrasound transducer. The controller unit detects the acoustic path length through the transmission element and determines the temperature at the distal end from the detected acoustic path length. In an embodiment, the medical device is an ultrasound RF ablation catheter.

Various embodiments include a method for determining the mixing ratio R of a fluid comprising a mixture of at least two different fluids for a technical process in a device comprising: irradiating an ultrasonic signal with a transmission level along a measuring distance running inside a measuring section; measuring a receiving level of the ultrasonic signal at one end of the measuring distance; determining an ultrasonic attenuation of the ultrasonic signal attenuated by the fluid based at least on the transmission and receiving levels of the ultrasonic signal; measuring a temperature of the fluid flowing through the measuring section; and determining a mixing ratio of the at least two different fluids from the determined ultrasonic attenuation and from the measured fluid temperature.

A measurement apparatus comprises a memory that stores instructions. The measurement apparatus comprises a processor that executes the instructions stored in the memory to: identify a propagation distance which is a length of a propagation path that a sound wave transmitted from a transmitting apparatus takes before reaching a receiving apparatus; determine, based on the identified propagation distance, a method to be used to identify a propagation time for the sound wave transmitted from the transmitting apparatus to reach the receiving apparatus from among a plurality of methods for identifying a propagation time of a sound wave; identify the propagation time for the sound wave transmitted from the transmitting apparatus to reach the receiving apparatus by the determined method; and measure an air characteristic of a location on the propagation path based on the identified propagation time and the identified propagation distance.

A liquid immersion sensor for a mobile device with at least two acoustic transducers is described. The liquid immersion sensor may include a signal generator having a signal generator output configured to generate a signal for transmission via a first acoustic transducer, and a signal receiver having a signal receiver input configured to receive a delayed version of the generated signal via a second acoustic transducer. The signal receiver includes a signal receiver output. The liquid immersion sensor includes a controller having a first controller input for receiving a reference signal and a second controller input coupled to the signal receiver output. The controller determines a time lag value between the reference signal and the delayed signal and generates a control output signal dependent on the phase difference. The control output signal indicates if the mobile device is immersed in liquid.

A sensor with a mechanical waveguide may be characterized using test ultrasonic signals to generate a baseline signature, and the baseline signature may later be used to detect faults in the sensor.