Self-contained range detection systems with reconfigurable chatter-mitigated output indication
Apparatus and associated methods relate to detection systems with chatter-mitigated output indication. In an illustrative example, a sensor may generate a detection signal as a function of a physical relationship of a target to the sensor. A control circuit may, for example, generate a control signal in response to the detection signal and as a function of a predetermined indication response profile defining a transition threshold for each of multiple nominal transition points. A light-emitting indicator array may, for example, generate spatially distributed indication in response to the control signal. The indication may, for example, change from a first spatial distribution to a second spatial distribution in response to the detection signal crossing a first nominal transition point by at least a corresponding transition threshold (δ 1i ). Various embodiments may, for example, advantageously prevent the visual indication from responding to perturbations in the detection signal.
1 . A detection system with chatter-mitigated output indication, the system comprising:
a housing;
a sensor coupled to the housing, configured to be affixed to a stationary object and to generate a detection signal, in response to detection of at least one target in a detection field, as a function of a spatial relationship of the at least one target to the sensor;
a control circuit coupled to the housing, configured to generate a control signal, in response to the detection signal, as a function of a predetermined indication response profile, wherein the predetermined indication response profile comprises:
a plurality of continuous but non-overlapping output ranges (O I ) corresponding to the detection signal, wherein each of the output ranges are separated by a plurality of nominal transition points (T N ) corresponding to distance thresholds for the detection signal, and a transition threshold (δ Ni ) for each of the nominal transition points, the transition thresholds implemented as hysteresis lines; and,
a light-emitting indicator array comprising a plurality of spatially-distributed visual indications, each corresponding to one of the plurality of output ranges, and wherein, in response to the control signal, the light-emitting indicator array is configured to generate one of the spatially-distributed visual indications corresponds to the spatial relationship between the at least one target and the sensor, wherein:
when the spatially-distributed visual indication generated by the light-emitting indicator array changes from a first spatial distribution (S 1 ) to a second spatial distribution (S 2 ) in response to the control signal as a function of a change in the spatial relationship represented by the detection signal crossing a first nominal transition point (T 1 ) by at least a corresponding transition threshold (δ 1i ), the spatially-distributed visual indication does not respond to perturbations in the detection signal causing the detection signal to cross the nominal transition point T 1 by less than the corresponding transition threshold δ 1i , and,
the light-emitting indicator array is coupled to the housing, such that the sensor, the control circuit, and the light-emitting indicator array are unitary and configured as a single unit for functional and physical manipulation;
wherein the control circuit applies a smoothing function to the detection signal to generate a conditioned signal, the smoothing function being configured to attenuate perturbations and transient fluctuations in the detection signal.
2 . The detection system of claim 1 , wherein:
the transition threshold δ Ni for each corresponding T N is an upper transition threshold, and,
the control signal is generated such that the visual indication changes from S 1 to S 2 in response to an increase in the detection signal from below T 1 to above T 1 only when the detection signal exceeds T1 by δ 1i .
3 . The detection system of claim 1 , wherein:
the predetermined indication response profile further defines a lower transition threshold (δ Nj ) for each corresponding T N , and,
the control signal is generated such that the visual indication changes from S 1 to a third spatial distribution (S 3 ) in response to a decrease in the detection signal from above T 1 to below T 1 only when the detection signal decreases below T 1 by a corresponding lower transition threshold (δ 1j ).
4 . The detection system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises:
an emitter configured to launch a first electromagnetic signal; and,
a receiver configured to generate, in response to receiving a reflected electromagnetic signal from reflection of the first electromagnetic signal off the at least one target, the detection signal.
5 . The detection system of claim 1 , wherein:
the sensor comprises a distance sensor, and,
the spatial relationship comprises distance from the at least one target to the sensor.
6 . The detection system of claim 1 , wherein:
the predetermined indication response profile further defines a plurality of predetermined spectral bands corresponding to at least one of the T N such that the control signal is generated as a function of at least one corresponding predetermined spectral band, and,
the indicator array is further configured to generate the visual indication in response to the control signal such that the visual indication is spectrally distributed,
wherein the generated visual indication changes from a first spectral distribution (C 1 ) to a second spectral distribution (C 2 ) in response to the detection signal crossing a second nominal transition point (T 2 ) by a corresponding transition threshold (δ 2i ) such that spectral distribution of the visual indication does not respond to perturbations in the detection signal causing the detection signal to cross T 2 by less than δ 2i .
7 . The detection system of claim 6 , wherein T 2 is T 1 .
8 . The detection system of claim 6 , wherein δ 2i is δ 1i .
9 . The detection system of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit further comprise a training module configured to train the predetermined indication response profile as a function of user input and the detection signal.
10 . A detection system with chatter-mitigated output indication, the system comprising:
a sensor configured to be affixed to an object and to generate a detection signal, in response to detection of at least one target in a detection field, as a function of a physical relationship of the at least one target to the sensor;
a control circuit configured to generate a control signal, in response to the detection signal, as a function of a predetermined indication response profile, wherein the predetermined indication response profile comprises:
a plurality of nominal transition points (T N ) corresponding to distance thresholds for the detection signal, and a transition threshold (δ Ni ) for each of the nominal transition points, the transition thresholds implemented as hysteresis lines,
an indicator array comprising a plurality of spatially-distributed indications, wherein the indicator array is configured to generate one of the spatially-distributed indications in response to the control signal, such that the generated spatially-distributed indication corresponds to the physical relationship between the at least one target and the sensor; and,
a unitary housing configured to mechanically couple the sensor, the controller, and the indicator array into a unitary unit,
wherein:
when the spatially-distributed indication generated by the indicator array changes from a first spatial distribution (S 1 ) to a second spatial distribution (Sa) in response to the control signal as a function of a change in the physical relationship represented by the detection signal crossing a first nominal transition point (T 1 ) by at least a corresponding transition threshold (δ 1i ), the spatial distribution of the indication does not respond to perturbations in the detection signal causing the detection signal to cross the first nominal transition point T 1 by less than the corresponding transition threshold δ 1i ;
wherein the control circuit applies a smoothing function to the detection signal to generate a conditioned signal, the smoothing function being configured to attenuate perturbations and transient fluctuations in the detection signal.
11 . The detection system of claim 10 , wherein:
the transition threshold δ Ni for each corresponding T N is an upper transition threshold, and,
the control signal is generated such that the indication changes from S 1 to S 2 in response to an increase in the detection signal from below T 1 to above T 1 only when the detection signal exceeds T1 by δ 1i .
12 . The detection system of claim 10 , wherein:
the predetermined indication response profile further defines a lower transition threshold (δ Nj ) for each corresponding T N , and,
the control signal is generated such that the indication changes from S 1 to a third spatial distribution (S 3 ) in response to a decrease in the detection signal from above T 1 to below T 1 only when the detection signal decreases below T 1 by a corresponding lower transition threshold (61j).
13 . The detection system of claim 10 , wherein the unitary housing comprises mounting elements configured to affix the detection system to a stationary object.
14 . The detection system of claim 10 , wherein the sensor comprises:
an emitter configured to launch a first signal; and,
a receiver configured to generate, in response to receiving a reflected signal from reflection of the first signal off the at least one target, the detection signal.
15 . The detection system of claim 10 , wherein:
the sensor comprises a distance sensor, and,
the physical relationship comprises distance from the at least one target to the sensor.
16 . The detection system of claim 10 , wherein:
the predetermined indication response profile further defines a plurality of predetermined spectral bands corresponding to at least one of the T N such that the control signal is generated to cause the indicator array to generate the indication such that the indication is spectrally distributed,
wherein the generated indication changes from a first spectral distribution (C 1 ) to a second spectral distribution (C 2 ) in response to the detection signal crossing a second nominal transition point (T 2 ) by a corresponding transition threshold (δ 2i ) such that spectral distribution of the indication does not respond to perturbations in the detection signal causing the detection signal to cross T 2 by less than δ 2i .
17 . The detection system of claim 16 , wherein T 2 is T 1 .
18 . The detection system of claim 16 , wherein δ 2i is δ 1i .
19 . The detection system of claim 10 , wherein the control circuit further comprise a training module configured to train the predetermined indication response profile as a function of user input and the detection signal.
20 . The detection system of claim 10 , wherein the indicator array is configured to emit the spatially-distributed indication such that the spatially-distributed indication is a visible indication visible from a field of view of at least 180°.