System and method for sensing distance and/or movement

Abstract

A method (e.g., a method for measuring a separation distance to a target object) includes transmitting an electromagnetic first transmitted signal from a transmitting antenna toward a target object that is a separated from the transmitting antenna by a separation distance. The first transmitted signal includes a first transmit pattern representative of a first sequence of digital bits. The method also includes receiving a first echo of the first transmitted signal that is reflected off the target object, converting the first echo into a first digitized echo signal, and comparing a first receive pattern representative of a second sequence of digital bits to the first digitized echo signal to determine a time of flight of the first transmitted signal and the echo.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device comprising:
 a housing hosting a processor, a memory, a receiver, a transmitter, and at least one of a display or a speaker, wherein the processor is in communication with the memory, the receiver, the transmitter, and the at least one of the display or the speaker, wherein the memory stores a set of instructions executable via the processor, wherein the set of instructions instructs the processor to:
 cause a signal to be sent via the transmitter, 
 cause an echo to be received via the receiver, wherein the echo is based on the signal reflecting off an object, wherein the echo includes a digital value, 
 decode the digital value such that a decoding is formed, 
 determine a time of flight of the signal based on the decoding, 
 generate a distance value based on the time of flight, 
 determine a position of the housing based on the distance value, wherein the position is relative to the object, and 
 take an action based on the position, wherein the action includes an output, wherein the output is via the at least one of the display or the speaker. 
   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the housing hosts the display. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the housing hosts the speaker. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the housing hosts the display and the speaker. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the output includes a content based on the position, wherein the at least one of the display or the speaker outputs the content. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the signal is a radio signal. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the signal is a light signal. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the signal is a sound signal. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the action includes causing, via the processor, a formation of at least one of a map or a layout based on the position. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the action includes causing, via the processor, a formation of a path on a map, wherein the path is at least one of already traveled by the housing based on the position or to be traveled by the housing based on the position. 
     
     
         11 . A system comprising:
 a defined area including a plurality of distance sensors that are able to receive signals from each other; and   a processor in communication with the distance sensors, wherein the processor is programmed to:
 receive a plurality of readings from the distance sensors based on an object positioned within the defined area, 
 determine a position of the object within the defined area based on the readings, and 
 take an action based on the position. 
   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the defined area is enclosed. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the defined area is a building. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the defined area is a room within the building. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the defined area is a vehicle. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the processor is internal to the defined area. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the processor is external to the defined area. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the processor is in communication with an output device, wherein the action includes cause the output device to output a content based on the position. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the action includes cause a formation of at least one of a map of the defined area or a layout of the defined area based on the position. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the action includes cause a formation of a path on a map, wherein the path is at least one of already traveled by the object within the defined area based on the position or to be traveled by the object within the defined area based on the position. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the readings are based on the object moving within the defined area relative to the defined area.