An echolocation apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus comprises an echolocation module configured to determine a distance to the object based on the received sound signal reflected from an object. The echolocation module determines surroundings based on the determined distance. A processor is configured to modify one or more attributes of the apparatus based on the determined surroundings.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 at least one processor and at least one memory including computer code, the at least one memory and the computer code configured to with the at least one processor cause the apparatus to at least:   cause generation of at least one predetermined ultrasound signal having a predetermined signal characteristic;   receive at least one reflected ultrasound signal based on the at least one predetermined ultrasound signal;   determine whether the at least one reflected ultrasound signal comprises the predetermined signal characteristic;   based on whether the at least one reflected ultrasound signal comprises the predetermined signal characteristic, determine a surrounding information around the apparatus based on the at least one reflected ultrasound signal; and   modify behaviour or functionality of the apparatus based on the surrounding information.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is caused to cause generation of the at least one predetermined ultrasound signal by directing the at least one predetermined ultrasound signal in a direction towards at least one object. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined signal characteristic comprises a predetermined frequency. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one predetermined ultrasound signal propagates from the apparatus and is reflected by at least one object. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer code are further configured to with the at least one processor cause the apparatus to at least:
 determine a distance to the at least one object based on a time lapse between transmission of the at least one predetermined ultrasound signal with the predetermined signal characteristic and reception of the at least one reflected ultrasound signal having the predetermined signal characteristic.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer code are further configured to with the at least one processor cause the apparatus to at least:
 compare the distance with distance information stored in the at least one memory of the apparatus;   determine that the distance matches with the distance information; and   retrieve the surrounding information associated with the distance information.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer code are further configured to with the at least one processor cause the apparatus to at least:
 receive additional sensor information, wherein the additional sensor information comprises location information of the apparatus; and   determine the surrounding information based on the additional sensor information.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer code are further configured to with the at least one processor cause the apparatus to at least:
 receive input instructions associated with modifying the behaviour or functionality of the apparatus based on the location information; and   modify the behaviour or functionality of the apparatus according to the input instructions in an instance in which the distance information matches the additional sensor information.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 one or more ultrasonic transmitters configured to generate the at least one predetermined ultrasound signal; and   one or more ultrasonic receivers configured to receive the at least one reflected ultrasound signal.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more ultrasonic transmitters are further configured to transmit a plurality of ultrasound signal at different frequencies; and
 the one or more ultrasonic receivers are further configured to detect reflected ultrasonic signals at the different frequencies.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more ultrasonic transmitters are further configured to generate a plurality of ultrasound signals directed in different directions. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more ultrasonic receivers are further configured to receive reflected ultrasound signals from the different directions. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer code are further configured to with the at least one processor cause the apparatus to at least:
 determine a plurality of objects based on the reflected ultrasound signals from the different directions.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer code are further configured to with the at least one processor cause the apparatus to at least:
 determine a location of the apparatus relative to the plurality of objects based on the reflected ultrasound signals from the different directions.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is one of an electronic device, a mobile device, or a headset. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 one or more transducers configured to generate the at least one predetermined ultrasound signal and to receive the at least one reflected ultrasound signal.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 one ultrasonic transmitter configured to generate the at least one predetermined ultrasound signal; and a plurality of ultrasonic receivers configured to receive the at least one reflected ultrasound signal.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 one transducer configured to generate the at least one predetermined ultrasound signal and to receive the at least one reflected ultrasound signal.   
     
     
         19 . A method comprising:
 causing generation of at least one predetermined ultrasound signal having a predetermined signal characteristic;   receiving at least one reflected ultrasound signal based on the at least one predetermined ultrasound signal;   determining whether the at least one reflected ultrasound signal comprises the predetermined signal characteristic;   based on whether the at least one reflected ultrasound signal comprises the predetermined signal characteristic, determining a surrounding information around the apparatus based on the at least one reflected ultrasound signal; and   modifying behaviour or functionality of the apparatus based on the surrounding information.   
     
     
         20 . A computer program product comprising:
 at least one computer readable non-transitory memory medium having program code instructions stored thereon, the program code instructions which when executed by an apparatus causes the apparatus at least to:   cause generation of at least one predetermined ultrasound signal having a predetermined signal characteristic;   receive at least one reflected ultrasound signal based on the at least one predetermined ultrasound signal;   determine whether the at least one reflected ultrasound signal comprises the predetermined signal characteristic;   based on whether the at least one reflected ultrasound signal comprises the predetermined signal characteristic, determine a surrounding information around the apparatus based on the at least one reflected ultrasound signal; and   modify behaviour or functionality of the apparatus based on the surrounding information.