Design Of Ultrasonic Linear Array System For Multi-object Identification

This paper deals with the development of a str- ategy for fast multi-object identification which utilizes a time-of-flight(T0F) based ultrasonic linear array consisting of commercially available inexpensive ultrasonic transduc- ers. By applying computer controlled delayed pulses to the transducers, the linear array system can perform beam steering through a scan range of 0" +60" in a programable scan angle steps. The system has a beam scan capability ranging from 0" to 60" with a scan step of 2" in a time period of 630 ms for detecting a single object(when the maximum distance is less than 3.4 meters) and a corres- ponding time period of 830ms when detecting multi-object. The approach is illustrated by results produced by computer generated real world 2-D maps. System errors including distance errors, phase errors and the defor- mation of the array radiation pattern are reviewed and the work performance of the device is evaluated.