Object detection system

1. An obstacle detection system comprising:

an emitter configured to emit a signal;

a receiver configured to receive at least a portion of the signal;

a memory configured to store a baseline time window defined by a first time and a second time, the baseline time window representative of an unobstructed direct-path signal emitted from the emitter and received at the receiver, the memory further configured to store a baseline signal characteristic further representative of at least one of a phase and a frequency of the unobstructed direct-path signal emitted from the emitter and received at the receiver;

a processing device configured to operatively couple to the emitter, the receiver, and the memory, the processing device further configured to:

determine whether at least a portion of the signal was received within the baseline time window; and

determine whether a signal characteristic of the at least a portion of the signal received within the baseline time window corresponds to the baseline signal characteristic representative of the at least one of the phase and the frequency of the unobstructed direct-path signal;

wherein upon determination that at least a portion of the signal was not received within the baseline time window, the processing device is configured to effect transmission of a signal indicative of detection of an obstacle; and

wherein upon determination that the signal characteristic of the at least a portion of the signal received within the baseline time window does not correspond to the baseline signal characteristic representative of the at least one of the phase and the frequency of the unobstructed direct-path signal, the processing device is configured to effect transmission of a signal indicative of detection of an obstacle.

2. The obstacle detection system of claim 1 , wherein the emitter is configured to emit a signal having a transmission angle of at least 7 degrees.

3. The obstacle detection system of claim 1 , wherein the emitter is configured to emit at least one of a pulse and a continuous stream of emissions.

4. The obstacle detection system of claim 1 , wherein the processing device is configured to determine whether the signal characteristic of the at least a portion of the signal received within the baseline time window corresponds to the baseline signal characteristic comprises calculation of at least one of a Doppler shift and a phase shift.

5. The obstacle detection system of claim 1 , wherein the baseline signal characteristic comprises a baseline signal characteristic range of approximately 80-100% of the baseline signal characteristic.

6. The obstacle detection system of claim 1 , wherein upon determining the signal characteristic of the at least a portion of the signal received within the baseline time window does correspond to the baseline signal characteristic, the processing device is configured to effect transmission of a signal indicative of no detection of an obstacle.

7. The obstacle detection system of claim 1 , wherein the emitter and the receiver are positioned on opposing sides of a movable barrier.

8. The obstacle detection system of claim 1 , wherein the emitter and the receiver are positioned on a same side of a movable barrier.

9. The obstacle detection system of claim 1 , wherein upon transmitting the signal indicative of detection of the obstacle, movement of a movable barrier is stopped.

10. A method for detecting an object comprising:

emitting a signal from an emitter;

receiving at least a portion of the signal at a receiver;

determining whether at least a portion of the signal was received within a baseline time window, the baseline time window defined by a first time and a second time and representative of an unobstructed direct-path signal emitted from the emitter and received at the receiver;

in response to determining the at least a portion of the signal was not received within the baseline time window, transmitting a signal indicative of detection of an obstacle;

in response to determining the at least a portion of the signal was received within the baseline time window, determining whether a signal characteristic of the at least a portion of the signal received within the baseline time window corresponds to a baseline signal characteristic, the baseline signal characteristic representative of at least one of a phase and a frequency of the unobstructed direct-path signal emitted from the emitter and received at the receiver; and

in response to determining the signal characteristic of the at least a portion of the signal received within the baseline time window does not correspond to the baseline signal characteristic representative of the at least one of the phase and the frequency of the unobstructed direct-path signal, transmitting a signal indicative of detection of an obstacle.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

in response to determining the signal characteristic of the at least a portion of the signal received within the baseline time window does correspond to the baseline signal characteristic, transmitting a signal indicative of no detection of an obstacle.

12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

storing at least one of the baseline signal characteristic and the baseline time window in a memory.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein determining whether the signal characteristic of the at least a portion of the signal received within the baseline time window corresponds to the baseline signal characteristic includes calculating at least one of a doppler shift and a phase shift.

14. A method for detecting an object comprising:

emitting a signal from an emitter;

receiving at least a portion of the signal at a receiver;

determining whether at least a portion of the signal traveled a travel distance corresponding to a baseline travel distance representative of an unobstructed direct-path signal emitted from the emitter and received at the receiver;

in response to determining no portion of the signal traveled a travel distance corresponding to the baseline travel distance, transmitting a signal indicative of detection of an obstacle;

in response to determining at least a portion of the signal traveled a travel distance corresponding to the baseline travel distance, determining whether a signal characteristic of the at least a portion of the signal corresponds to a baseline signal characteristic, the baseline signal characteristic representative of at least one of a phase and a frequency of the unobstructed direct-path signal emitted from the emitter and received at the receiver; and

in response to determining the signal characteristic of the at least a portion of the signal does not correspond to the baseline signal characteristic representative of the at least one of the phase and the frequency of the unobstructed direct-path signal, transmitting a signal indicative of detection of an obstacle.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

in response to determining the signal characteristic of the at least a portion of the signal does correspond to the baseline signal characteristic, transmitting a signal indicative of no detection of an obstacle.

16. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

storing at least one of the baseline signal characteristic and the baseline travel distance in a memory.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein determining whether the signal characteristic of the at least a portion of the signal corresponds to the baseline signal characteristic includes calculating at least one of a doppler shift and a phase shift.