A comparative study of selected methods for ultrasonic signals energy estimation for target strength and distance evaluation

In this paper some methods of ultrasonic signals energy estimation are presented. The origin of this study is a target strength and distance estimation using air coupled ultrasound sensors applied in ie. proximity sensors. In the pulse echo mode based systems the echo detection is based on signal threshold signal estimation. The signal threshold is associated with the signal energy, what implies incorporation of energy estimation. The paper presents theoretical analysis, simulation and measurement results of selected energy estimation methods. The methods studied are based on continuous time waveform analog processing, digital series processing and estimation of energy using DSP and mixed methods based on digitalization of partially processed waveform.