A Measurement Method Based on Kalman Filtering for Ultrasonic Time-of-Flight Estimation

A new digital signal-processing method for ultrasonic time-of-flight (TOF) estimation is presented. The method applies the discrete extended Kalman filter (DEKF) to the acquired ultrasonic signal in order to accurately estimate the shape factors of the echo envelope as well as locate its onset. It is also possible to assure reduced bias and uncertainty in critical TOF measurements, such as those involving low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) as well as severe distortion of echo shape. A number of numerical tests are conducted on simulated signals with the aim of highlighting the good performance of the method when operating in critical conditions. Results attained in TOF-based distance measurements finally assess the reliability and efficacy of the method in the presence of actual ultrasonic signals.