公开(公告)号：US11231221B2

公开(公告)日：2022-01-25

申请号：US16129956

申请日：2018-09-13

Applicant: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED

Inventor： Yichang Wang ,  Michael Seidl

IPC: G01R27/26 ,  F25D21/06 ,  F25D21/02 ,  F25D21/00

Abstract: A system includes a conductive element. The system also includes a resonant circuit having a sensing capacitor arranged such that an amount of target material in a sensing zone of the sensing capacitor changes a capacitance of the sensing capacitor, wherein the conductive element is electrically isolated from at least part of the resonant circuit. The system also includes a resonant circuit analyzer configured to detect a resonant frequency of the resonant circuit and to output a digitized analyzer signal based on the resonant frequency. The system also includes a processor configured to receive the digitized analyzer signal, to determine a target material estimate based on the digitized analyzer signal, and to output the target material estimate or a signal derived from the target material estimate to an output device.

公开(公告)号：US11733360B2

公开(公告)日：2023-08-22

申请号：US16663016

申请日：2019-10-24

Applicant: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED

Inventor： Yichang Wang ,  Karthik Rajagopal Ganapathy ,  Raja Reddy Patukuri

IPC: G01S7/486 ,  G05D1/00 ,  G01S17/89 ,  B25J9/16 ,  G01S7/4865

CPC classification number: G01S7/4865 ,  B25J9/163 ,  G01S17/89 ,  G05D1/0088

Abstract: A time of flight (ToF) system comprises three photoemitters, a photosensor, and a controller. The first photoemitter transmits light onto objects at first height, the second photoemitter onto objects at second, lower height, and the third photoemitter onto objects at third, lowest height. The controller causes one of the photoemitters to transmit modulated light and the photosensor to receive reflections from the scene. The controller determines a depth map for the corresponding height based on phase differences between the transmitted and reflected light. In some examples, the ToF system is included in an autonomous robot's navigation system. The navigation system identifies overhanging objects at the robot's top from the depth map at the first height, obstacles in the navigation route from the depth map at the second height, and cliffs and drop-offs in the ground surface in front of the robot from the depth map at the third height.

公开(公告)号：US20230341528A1

公开(公告)日：2023-10-26

申请号：US18343159

申请日：2023-06-28

Applicant: Texas Instruments Incorporated

Inventor： Yichang Wang ,  Karthik Rajagopal Ganapathy ,  Raja Reddy Patukuri

IPC: G01S7/4865 ,  G05D1/00 ,  G01S17/89 ,  B25J9/16

CPC classification number: G01S7/4865 ,  G05D1/0088 ,  G01S17/89 ,  B25J9/163

Abstract: A system comprises a photosensor and a controller. A first photoemitter transmits light onto objects at first height, a second photoemitter onto objects at second, lower height, and a third photoemitter onto objects at third, lowest height. The controller causes one of the photoemitters to transmit modulated light and the photosensor to receive reflections from a scene. The controller determines a depth map for the corresponding height based on phase differences between the transmitted and reflected light. In some examples, the system is included in an autonomous robot's navigation system. The navigation system identifies overhanging objects at the robot's top from the depth map at the first height, obstacles in the navigation route from a second depth map at the second height, and cliffs and drop-offs in the ground surface in front of the robot from the third depth map at the third height.

公开(公告)号：US20190331397A1

公开(公告)日：2019-10-31

申请号：US16129956

申请日：2018-09-13

Applicant: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED

Inventor： Yichang Wang ,  Michael Seidl

IPC: F25D21/02 ,  F25D21/00 ,  G01R27/26 ,  F25D21/06

Abstract: A system includes a conductive element. The system also includes a resonant circuit having a sensing capacitor arranged such that an amount of target material in a sensing zone of the sensing capacitor changes a capacitance of the sensing capacitor, wherein the conductive element is electrically isolated from at least part of the resonant circuit. The system also includes a resonant circuit analyzer configured to detect a resonant frequency of the resonant circuit and to output a digitized analyzer signal based on the resonant frequency. The system also includes a processor configured to receive the digitized analyzer signal, to determine a target material estimate based on the digitized analyzer signal, and to output the target material estimate or a signal derived from the target material estimate to an output device.