In this paper, a new concept for ultrasonic indoor positioning based on instantaneous frequency of ultrasonic signals is presented. Nonlinear phase characteristics of ultrasonic transducers introduce a frequency deviation in ultrasonic signals. By sweeping at very fast rates, a large spike in the deviation is introduced. The artefacts observable in instantaneous frequency estimations are highly localized and present an opportunity for accurate frequency detection. In order to be useful, the artefacts need to take place within the pulse and have sufficient magnitude for accurate processing. The system consists of a transducer transmitter and receiver pair, which have a center frequency of 40kHz and a bandwidth of 460Hz. In order to incorporate more transmitters, a time-division multiple access (TDMA) scheme is applied to ensure orthogonality of signals. The concept includes four ultrasonic transmitters and a single receiver, which can uniquely identify each transmitter by a distinct signal sweep. Linear chirp signals are used to form narrow pulses and ensure no interference in the TDMA scheme. The received signal is amplified and passed through a phase-locked loop (PLL) to detect the chirp signals. Accurate instantaneous frequency detection can be done on the voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) of the PLL, which has a narrower bandwidth than the overall signal sweep. The instantaneous frequency estimation methods are largely explored in this work and consider two methods: the Hilbert transform and a zero-crossings method. This work highlights some of the advantages and disadvantages of both methods. Time of flight (ToF) in this system can ultimately be obtained by considering the instantaneous frequency estimations and the time for one particular frequency to be transmitted and received.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-17T14:52:59Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Jose Igor Santos de Oliveira.pdf: 3257339 bytes, checksum: 08e579c1308bf514ca6256e089894a3b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2005-09-21 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The level measurement, besides the applications in reservoirs of industrial processes, as in the industries chemical, pharmaceutical, chemical petroleum, of I refine of alumina etc, it is applicable also in reservoirs exposed outdoors, such as dikes, lakes and ponds, dams and other. To measure level in most of the cases has great impact in the people's safety, of the environment, and of the involved process, besides influencing in the quality of the final product. Level in several ways can be measured that space from a simple float to a sophisticated system for time of flight of waves that processes the information that returns after the emission of a sign. System as that can use several types of waves to take the information of the transmission, the most common are microwaves, infrared and the ultrasonic ones. In that work a method is described that is used of the technique of the time of flight with the use of ultrasonic waves in association with the adaptive filtering to determine the location of the levels of the liquids contained in a container of known height. It is made a study of robustness of the method with base in simulations, through the variation of the relationship sign noise and of the sampling tax, in comparison with the results obtained with the use of Hilbert Transform, Fourier Transform and Wavelet Transform, considering the time of processing and the measurement uncertainty. / A medição de nível, além das aplicações em reservatórios de processos industriais, como nas indústrias químicas, farmacêuticas, petroquímicas, de refino de alumina etc., é aplicável também em reservatórios expostos ao ar livre, tais como diques, lagos e lagoas, barragens e outros. Medir nível na maioria dos casos tem grande impacto na segurança das pessoas, do meio ambiente, e do processo envolvido, além de influenciar na qualidade do produto final. Pode-se medir nível de diversas formas que vão desde um simples flutuador até um sofisticado sistema por Tempo de Vôo de ondas que processa a informação que retorna na forma de eco refletido após a emissão de um sinal. Um Sistema como esse pode utilizar diversos tipos de ondas para levar a informação da transmissão, as mais comuns são microondas, infravermelhas e as ultra-sônicas. Nesse trabalho descreve-se um método que se utiliza da técnica do Tempo de Vôo com o uso de ondas ultra-sônicas em associação com a filtragem adaptativa para determinar a localização dos níveis dos líquidos contidos em um recipiente de altura conhecida. É feito um estudo de robustez do método com base em simulações, através da variação da relação sinal ruído e da taxa de amostragem. Compara-se com os resultados obtidos com o uso da Transformada de Hilbert, Transformada de Fourier e da Transformada Wavelets, considerando o tempo de processamento e a incerteza na medição.

Pour comprendre comment la sélection naturelle modèle les traits sexuels, l’emploi d’une approche intégrative des processus sélectifs en jeu semble aujourd’hui indispensable. Durant ma thèse je me suis ainsi intéressé aux influences simultanées des sélections de viabilité et sexuelle sur l’origine, l’évolution et le maintien des traits sexuels de la petite teigne de la ruche (Achroia grisella). Chez cette pyrale les mâles se regroupent en leks, produisent un chant d’appel ultrasonique intense et les femelles choisissent un partenaire sexuel en se basant sur des caractéristiques acoustiques spécifiques de ce chant. Cependant les signaux sexuels ultrasoniques des mâles peuvent également attirer des prédateurs : les chauves-souris insectivores. Ainsi, au sein des leks, les sélections sexuelle et de viabilité jouent et peuvent modeler (1) l’évolution du choix des femelles, (2) le maintien et l’évolution du lek, (3) l’origine de la communication acoustique sexuelle. Les travaux conduits durant cette thèse soulignent l’intérêt de l’étude du jeu des sélections sexuelle et de viabilité pour comprendre comment la sélection naturelle peut modeler l’origine, l’évolution et le maintien des traits sexuels. Les résultats indiquent en particulier le rôle crucial de la pression de prédation dans ces processus sélectifs. / In order to achieve a better understanding of how natural selection shapes sexual traits it is essential to consider the interplay of the various selective processes at work. For my thesis I investigated the simultaneous influences of viability and sexual selections on the origin, the evolution and the maintenance of sexual traits in the lesser waxmoth Achroia grisella. Females of this pyralid moth choose their mate based on acoustic characters of the ultrasonic calling song broadcasted by males while competing at lek. However male ultrasonic displays are very conspicuous and may attract specific predators: insectivorous bats. Therefore at leks sexual and viability selection pressures act simultaneously and can shape (1) the evolution of female mate choice, (2) the maintenance and evolution of lekking, (3) the origin of sexual acoustic communication. Taken as a whole this work emphasises the relevance of the study of selective interplays between viability and sexual selections in order to improve our understanding of how natural selection may shape the origin, evolution and maintenance of sexual traits. In particular results indicate the crucial role played by predation pressure within these evolutionary processes.