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US5779638A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Ultrasound-based 3-D tracking system using a digital signal processor
Assignee: Sonometrics Corp
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Filing: 1997-04-17
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Granted: 1998-07-14
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Expires: 2017-04-17
Abstract
Abstract A system for determining a time delay of a signal propagating through a medium. The time delay is used to determine the distance between transducers arrangable within a body. One or more Digital Signal Processors (DSP) are programmed to recognize various waveform patterns by matching a received waveform to a template waveform.
Inventors
- 👤 Ivan Vesely
- 👤 Wayne L. Smith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 20:51
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/24; A61B5/25; A61B5/279; A61B5/28; A61B5/283; A61B5/287; A61B8/00; A61B8/08; A61B8/0833; A61B8/48; A61B8/483; A61B90/00; A61B90/10; A61B90/14; A61B90/17; A61B90/36; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/01; A61M25/0105; G; G01; G01H; G01H3/00; G01H5/00; G01S; G01S11/00; G01S11/14; G01S15/00; G01S15/66; G01S15/87; G01S15/876; G01S15/88; G01S5/00; G01S5/18; G01S7/00; G01S7/52; G01S7/52017; G01S7/52053; G01S7/52057; G01S7/5206; G01S7/52074; G01S7/56; G01S7/62; G01S7/6245; A61B17/00; A61B17/34; A61B17/3403; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/12; A61B18/14; A61B34/00; A61B34/20; A61B2034/2046; A61B2034/2051; A61B2034/2063; A61B2090/363; A61B90/39; A61B2090/3904; A61B2090/3908; A61B2090/3925; A61B2090/3929; A61B2090/3954; A61B2090/3958; A61B2560/00; A61B2560/04; A61B2560/0443; A61B2560/045; A61B2562/00; A61B2562/04; A61B2562/043; A61B8/12; A61B8/42; A61B8/4245; A61B90/11; A61M2025/0166; G01S15/02; G01S15/06; G01S15/08; G01S15/10; G01S15/101; G01S15/86; G01S7/52003; G01S7/52079
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
143 words
A system for determining a propagation time delay of a transmit waveform initiated by an associated transmitter means and received by an associated receiver means, wherein said receiver means generates an output in the form of an output waveform in response to receipt of the transmit waveform, the system comprising: template storage means for storing template waveform data representative of a characteristic output waveform; sampling means for sampling the output of the receiver means at a predetermined sampling rate and converting the output waveform to digital output waveform data; comparison means for comparing the digital output waveform data to the template waveform data to determine the digital output waveform data corresponding to the beginning of the output waveform; and computation means for computing the propagation time delay in accordance with the digital output waveform data corresponding to the beginning of the output waveform.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
143 words
A system for determining a propagation time delay of a transmit waveform initiated by an associated transmitter means and received by an associated receiver means, wherein said receiver means generates an output in the form of an output waveform in response to receipt of the transmit waveform, the system comprising: template storage means for storing template waveform data representative of a characteristic output waveform; sampling means for sampling the output of the receiver means at a predetermined sampling rate and converting the output waveform to digital output waveform data; comparison means for comparing the digital output waveform data to the template waveform data to determine the digital output waveform data corresponding to the beginning of the output waveform; and computation means for computing the propagation time delay in accordance with the digital output waveform data corresponding to the beginning of the output waveform.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein said comparison means includes a convolving means for convolving said digital output waveform data and said template waveform data.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein said comparison means includes an autocorrelation means for correlating said digital output waveform data with said template waveform data.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein said transmitter means and receiver means are piezoelectric transducer means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
A system according to claim 4, wherein said characteristic output waveform is characteristic of piezoelectric crystal oscillations.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
80 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein said sampling means stores the digital output waveform data in a memory array having a respective position for each item of digital output waveform data, and said computation means includes means for computing the product of (1) the position in the memory array of the digital output waveform data corresponding to the beginning of the output waveform and (2) the predetermined sampling rate, wherein said product is indicative of the propagation time delay.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein said system further comprises a timer means for determining a waiting time beginning with initiation of the transmit waveform and ending before generation of the output waveform.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
90 words
A system according to claim 7, wherein said sampling means stores the digital output waveform data in a memory array having a respective position for each item of digital output waveform data, and said computation means includes means for computing the product of (1) the position in the memory array of the digital output waveform data corresponding to the beginning of the output waveform and (2) the predetermined sampling rate, and means for summing the product with said waiting time, wherein the sum is indicative of the propagation time delay.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
A system according to claim 8, wherein said timer means includes a counter means.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
129 words
A method for determining a propagation time delay of a transmit waveform initiated by an associated transmitter means and received by an associated transmitter means, wherein said receiver means generates an output in the form of an output waveform in response to receipt of the transmit waveform, the method comprising: obtaining template waveform data representative of a characteristic output waveform; sampling the output of the receiver means at a predetermined sampling rate and converting the output waveform to digital output waveform data; comparing the digital output waveform data to the template waveform data to determine the digital output waveform data corresponding to the beginning of the output waveform; and computing the time delay in accordance with the digital output waveform data corresponding to the beginning of the output waveform.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
129 words
A method for determining a propagation time delay of a transmit waveform initiated by an associated transmitter means and received by an associated transmitter means, wherein said receiver means generates an output in the form of an output waveform in response to receipt of the transmit waveform, the method comprising: obtaining template waveform data representative of a characteristic output waveform; sampling the output of the receiver means at a predetermined sampling rate and converting the output waveform to digital output waveform data; comparing the digital output waveform data to the template waveform data to determine the digital output waveform data corresponding to the beginning of the output waveform; and computing the time delay in accordance with the digital output waveform data corresponding to the beginning of the output waveform.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 10, wherein said step of comparing includes the step of convolving said digital output waveform data and said template waveform data.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 10, wherein said comparing step includes the step of correlating said digital output waveform data with said template waveform data.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 10, wherein said transmitter means and receiver means are piezoelectric transducer means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 13, wherein said characteristic output waveform is characteristic of piezoelectric crystal oscillations.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
87 words
A method according to claim 10, wherein said step of sampling includes the step of storing the digital output waveform data in a memory array having a respective position for each item of digital output waveform data, and said step of computing includes the step of computing the product of (1) the position in the memory array of the digital output waveform data corresponding to the beginning of the output waveform and (2) the predetermined sampling rate, wherein said product is indicative of the propagation time delay.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method according to claim 10, wherein said method further comprises the step of determining a waiting time beginning with initiation of the transmit waveform and ending before generation of the output waveform.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
97 words
A method according to claim 16, wherein said step of sampling includes the step of storing the digital output waveform data in a memory array having a respective position for each item of digital output waveform data, and said step of computing includes the steps of: (a) computing the product of (1) the position in the memory array of the digital output waveform data corresponding to the beginning of the output waveform and (2) the predetermined sampling rate, and (b) summing the product with said waiting time, wherein the sum is indicative of the propagation time delay.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
87 words
A method for determining a time delay of a signal propagating through a medium comprising: initiating a transmit waveform from a first location; generating an output waveform at a second location in response to receipt of the transmit waveform; storing template waveform data representative of a standard output waveform; digitizing the output waveform into digital output waveform data; and comparing the digital output waveform data to the template waveform data to determine the time delay between initiation of the transmit waveform and generation of the output waveform.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
87 words
A method for determining a time delay of a signal propagating through a medium comprising: initiating a transmit waveform from a first location; generating an output waveform at a second location in response to receipt of the transmit waveform; storing template waveform data representative of a standard output waveform; digitizing the output waveform into digital output waveform data; and comparing the digital output waveform data to the template waveform data to determine the time delay between initiation of the transmit waveform and generation of the output waveform.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-07-13 | 2002-01-12 | 2002-07-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-07-13 | 2006-01-12 | 2006-07-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-07-13 | 2010-01-12 | 2010-07-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |