METHOD FOR DETERMINING THE POSITION OF IMPACTS

Abstract

A method for determining the position of impacts on an object comprising two acoustic sensors, and N active areas of said object, comprises the steps of: (a) receiving two acoustic signals S1(t) and S2(t); (b) calculating a sample signature function SIGS(ω)=S1(ω)−S2(ω)*, where S1(ω) and S2(ω) are the respective Fourier transforms of S1(t) and S2(t), (c) comparing SIGS(ω) with N predetermined reference signature functions SIGR,(ω) corresponding to the predetermined area j for j from 1 to N; (d) determining the active area in which the impact occurred, on the basis of the comparison of step (c).

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method for determining the position of impacts, and a device using this method.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A known method for determining the position of impacts on an object is suggested by Patent FR 2 841 022. According to this document, the object may comprise two acoustic sensors and N predetermined active areas of said object, whereby N is an integer at least equal to 1. In order to determine the active area in which an impact occurred, acoustic signals received by the acoustic sensors are compared with N acoustic signals, recorded in a database, and each corresponding with one of the N predetermined areas. Consequently, it leads to 2N comparison calculations to complete the task, when two sensors are used.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method for determining an impact position, whose calculation velocity is improved, and which does not require a high computing power.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention thus proposes a method for determining the position of impacts on an object, said object comprising:

two acoustic sensors;

N predetermined active areas, whereby N is an integer at least equal to 1;

said method comprising the steps of:(a) receiving two acoustic signals S₁(t) and S₂(t) originating respectively from said acoustic sensors and generated by an impact received on said object;(b) calculating a sample signature function:

SIG _S(ω)=S₁(ω)·S₂(ω)*,

where S₁(ω) and S₂(ω) are the respective Fourier transforms of S₁(t) and S₂(t), and where * is the complex conjugate operator;(c) comparing SIG_S(ω) with N predetermined reference signature functions SIG_Rj(ω) each corresponding to a predetermined active area j, for j from 1 to N;(d) determining an active area in which the impact occurred, on the basis of the comparison of step (c).

In various embodiments of the method according to the invention, at least one of the following characteristics may be used:

• • each reference signature function equals:

SIG _{R j} (ω)=R₁j(ω)·R₂j(ω)*

where R_1j(ω) and R_2j(ω) are Fourier transforms of acoustic signals R_1j(t) and r_2j(t) received by each of the respective acoustic sensors when an impact occurs on the predetermined area j;

• • step (c) comprises the calculation of a similarity estimator α_j representing a function of the phase φ(COR_j(ω)) of COR_j(ω)=SIG_Rj(ω)·SIG_S(ω)*;
  • step (c) comprises the calculation of a function δ_j(ω) for j from 1 to N, whereinδ_j(ω)=ε_k, if φ(COR_j(ω)) belongs to I_k,where ε_k is a predetermined value and I_k a corresponding angular interval for k from 1 to n, where n is an integer greater than 1;
  • the values ε_i are not greater than 1;
  • in the method:if |φ(COR_j(ω))|≦a1, then δ_j(ω)=ε₁,. . .if n is greater than 2 and a_k-1<|φ(COR_j(ω))|≦a_k, then δ_j(ω)=ε_k, for k=2 . . . n−1,. . .if |φ(COR_j(ω))|>a_n−1, then δ_j(ω)=ε_n,wherein a_k is increasing with k and ε_k is decreasing with k;
  • in the method:if Re(COR_j(ω))≧|Im(COR_j(ω))|/tan(a₁), then δ_j(ω)=ε₁,. . .if n is greater than 2 and |Im(COR_j(ω))|/tan(a_k-1)>Re(COR_j(ω))≧Im(COR_j( ))|/tan(a_k), then δ_j(ω)=ε_k, for k=2 . . . n−1,. . .else, δ_j(ω)=ε_n,and wherein Re(COR_j(ω)) is the real part of COR_j(ω) and Im(COR_j(ω)) is the imaginary part of COR_j(ω);
  • in the method:if γ_j(ω)≧β_j(ω)/tan(a₁), then δ_j(ω)=ε₁=1;. . .if n is greater than 2 and β_j(ω)/tan(a_k-1)>γ_j(ω)≧β_j(ω)/tan(a_k), then δ_j(ω)=ε_k, for k=2, . . . n−1;. . .else, δ_j(ω)=ε_n,and wherein:β_j(ω)=|1+{A_j(ω)/B_j(ω)}·{(D (ω)/C(ω)}|,γ_j(ω)=signB_j(ω)·signC(ω)·[{A_j(ω)/B_j(ω)}−{D(ω)/C(ω)}],signB_j(ω)=1 if B_j(ω) is positive and =−1 if B_j(ω) is negative,signC(ω)=1 if C(ω) is positive and =−1 if C(ω) is negative,A_j(ω) and B_j(ω) are respectively the real part and the imaginary part of each reference signature function SIG_Rj(ω),C(ω) and D(ω) are respectively the real part and the imaginary part of the complex conjugate sample signature function SIG_S(ω)*;
  • ε₁=1 and ε_n=0;
  • n is greater than 2 and ε_k=cos(a_k-1) for k=2, . . . n−1.

α_j=K·∫_Bδ_j(ω)·dω,

where B is a frequency interval and K a constant;

• • B=[ω_min,ω_max] and K is proportional to 1/(ω_max−ω_min);
  • the active area j₀ in which the impact occurred is determined such that α_j0 is the greatest similarity estimator among the N calculated similarity estimators α_j;
  • it is concluded that the impact occurred in the area j₀ only if α_j0 is considered as valid in step (d);
  • α_j0 is considered as valid if α_j0 is greater than a predetermined threshold of confidence;
  • it is concluded that there is no impact if α_j0 is not considered as valid in step (d);
  • step (a) begins if the acoustic signals S₁(t) and S₂(t) are above a predetermined trigger threshold;
  • the acoustic signals S₁(t) and S₂(t) in step (a) are delayed relative to real audio signals;
  • the Fourier transform is a Fast Fourier transform.

Besides, another object of the invention is a device for determining the position of impacts on an object, by comprising:

two acoustic sensors adapted to be borne by said object for receiving acoustic signals S₁(t) and S₂(t) generated by an impact on said object;

memory means comprising N reference signature functions, corresponding to N predetermined active areas of said object, whereby N is an integer at least equal to 1;

calculation means for calculating a sample signature function

SIG _S(ω)=S₁(ω)·S₂(ω)*,

where S₁(ω) and S₂(ω) are the respective Fourier transforms of S₁(t) and S₂(t), and where * is the complex conjugate operator;

comparison means for comparing SIG_S(ω) with N predetermined reference signature functions SIG_Rj(ω) for j from 1 to N;

processing means for determining an active area (1a) in which the impact occurred, on the basis of results given by said the comparison means.

In various embodiments of the device according to the invention, one may use one and/or other of the following features:

• • each reference signature function equals:

SIG _{R j} (ω)=R₁j(ω)·R₂j(ω)*

where R_1j(ω) and R_2j(ω) are Fourier transforms of acoustic signals r_1j(t) and r_2j(t) received by each of the respective acoustic sensors when an impact occurs on the predetermined area j;

• • said comparison means are adapted to calculate of a similarity estimator α_j representing a function of the phase φ(COR_j(ω)) of COR_j(ω)=SIG_Rj(ω)·SIG_S(ω)*;
  • said comparison means are adapted to calculate a function δ_j(ω) for j from 1 to N, whereinδ_j(ω)=ε_k, if φ(COR_j(ω)) belongs to I_k,where ε_k is a predetermined value and I_k a corresponding angular interval for k from 1 to n, where n is an integer greater than 1;
  • the values ε_i are not greater than 1;
  • said comparison means are adapted so that:if |φ(COR_j(ω)|≦a1, then δ_j(ω)=ε₁,. . .if n is greater than 2 and a_k-1<|φ(COR_j(ω))|≦a_k, then δ_j(ω)=ε_k, for k=2 . . . n−1,. . .if |φ(COR_j(ω))|>a_n−1, then δ_j(ω)=ε_n,wherein a_k is increasing with k and ε_k is decreasing with k;
  • said comparison means are adapted so that:if Re(COR_j(ω)>|Im(COR_j(ω))|/tan(a₁), then δ_j(ω)=ε₁,. . .if n is greater than 2 and |Im(COR_j(ω))|/tan(a_k-1)>Re(COR_j(ω))≧|Im(COR_j(ω))|/tan(a_k), then δ_j(ω)=ε_k, for k=2 . . . n−1,. . .else, δ_j(ω)=ε_n,and wherein Re(COR_j(ω)) is the real part of COR_j(ω) and Im(COR_j(ω)) is the imaginary part of COR_j(ω);
  • said comparison means are adapted so that:if γ_j(ω)≧β_j(ω)/tan(a₁), then δ_j(ω)=ε₁=1;. . .if n is greater than 2 and β_j(ω)/tan(a_k-1)>γ_j(ω)≧β_j(ω)/tan(a_k), then δ_j(ω)=ε_k, for k=2, . . . n−1;. . .else, δ_j(ω)=ε_n,and wherein:β_j(ω)=|1+{A_j(ω)/B_j(ω)}·{(D(ω)/C(ω)}|,γ_j(ω)=signB_j(ω)·signC (ω)·[{A_j(ω)/B_j(ω)}−{D(ω)/C(ω)}],signB_j(ω)=1 if B_j(ω) is positive and =−1 if B_j(ω) is negative,signC(ω)=1 if C(ω) is positive and =−1 if C(ω) is negative,A_j(ω) and B_j(ω) are respectively the real part and the imaginary part of each reference signature function SIG_Rj(ω),C(ω) and D(ω) are respectively the real part and the imaginary part of the complex conjugate sample signature function SIG_S(ω)*;
  • ε₁=1 and ε_n=0;
  • n is greater than 2 and ε_k=cos(a_k-1), for k=2, . . . n−1;
  • said comparison means are adapted so that:

α_j=K·∫_Bδ_j(ω)·dω,

where B is a frequency interval and K a constant;

• • the processing means are adapted to determine the active area j₀ in which the impact occurred such that α_j0 is the greatest similarity estimator among the N calculated similarity estimators α_j;
  • the processing means are adapted to determine that the impact occurred in the area j₀ only if α_j0 is considered as valid;
  • the processing means are adapted to determine that α_j0 is valid if α_j0 is greater than a predetermined threshold of confidence;
  • the processing means are adapted to determine that there is no impact if α_j0 is not considered as valid.

This method and this device permit to reduce the number of comparisons to N, as the sampled acoustic signals are no longer compared with each reference acoustic signal, but with a signature function for each pair of reference acoustic signals. Furthermore, the calculation of the signature functions does not require a high calculation power. Moreover, as explained below, the phase of a signature function does not depend on the excitation waveform, but only on the place in which the impact occurred. Consequently, by studying only the phase of the signature function, the active area in which the impact occurred may be determined.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description of three embodiments of the invention, given by way of non-limiting example, with regard to the appended drawings. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an example of device according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart describing a method according to a first embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are graphics illustrating the calculation of a similarity estimator according to the first embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are graphics illustrating the calculation of a similarity estimator according to a second embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 5 is a flow chart describing a method according to a third embodiment of the invention.

MORE DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As illustrated by FIG. 1, the present invention may be carried out for instance by a device comprising an object 1 and two acoustic sensors SENS1 and SENS2 borne by said object 1.

This object 1 may be for instance a table, a door, a wall, a screen or other things, and is made for instance of wood, metal, cement, glass or other materials. The acoustic sensors SENS1 and SENS2 may be for example piezoelectric sensors or any other sensor able to sample a vibration transmitted in the object, such as capacitive sensors, magnetostrictive sensors, electromagnetic sensors, acoustic velocimeters, optical sensors (laser interferometers, laser vibrometers), etc.

The output of the sensors SENS1, SENS2 may be connected respectively to amplifiers 3 and 4, the output of which is respectively connected to filters (F) 5, 6. The bandwidth of each filter 5 and 6 may be in the range of 300 Hz to 20000 Hz. The output of the filters 5, 6 is connected to a multiplexer 7, the output of which is connected to an analog to digital converter (ADC) 8. The output of the analog to digital converter 8 is connected to a processing unit (PU) 8 such as a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a DSP (digital signal processor), a programmable logical array (CPLD, FGPA), etc. The processing unit 9 may be connected to a RAM 9a and to a ROM 10.

The ROM 10, or any other memory communicating with the processing unit 9, contains a database of N reference signature functions SIG_Rj(ω), for j=1 . . . N, corresponding to N predetermined active areas 1a of the object 1, as will be described hereafter. Each of these active areas may correspond for instance to a particular information, and may be materialized or not by a marking or other indication on the object.

The ROM 10 may be a hard disk, but also an EPROM, or an EEPROM, or likewise. Using an EEPROM can permit to reconfigure easily the device, for example for other applications, by recording new active areas 1a.

The reference signature functions may be for instance calculated during a learning step, e.g. before the device is used in normal use. The reference signature functions may be calculated for each single device 1-10, or these reference signature functions may be calculated only once for one device 1-10 and then used for all identical devices during normal use.

During the learning step, one generates an impact on each predetermined active area 1a of the object 1, which is sensed by sensors SENS1, SENS2. For each impact on an active area j (j=1 . . . N), the sensors SENS1, SENS2 generate acoustic signals which are respectively amplified by amplifiers 3, 4, filtered by filters 5, 6, multiplexed by multiplexer 7 and sampled by analog to digital converter 8. Analog to digital converter 8 thus outputs two reference signals r_1j(t), r_2j(t) originating respectively from the two sensors SENS1, SENS2.

Respective Fourier transforms R_1j(ω), R_2j(ω) of the reference acoustic signals r_1j(t), r_2j(t) are then computed. The Fourier transform R_ij(ω) of each reference acoustic signal equals:

R _ij(ω)=C_i(ω)·H_Rij(ω)·E_Rj(ω),  (1)

where C_i(ω) is the Fourier transform of the impulse response of sensor i (i=1, 2), H_Rij(ω) is a propagation function, dependant on an acoustic wave propagation path in the object between active area j and sensor i, and E_Rj(ω) is the Fourier transform of the impact waveform on active area j.

Then, a reference signature function is calculated:

SIG _Rj(ω)=R₁j(ω)·R₂j(ω)*,  (2)

where * is the complex conjugate operator.When using equation (1) to develop equation (2), one obtains:

SIG _Rj(ω)=C₁(ω)·H_R1j(ω)·E_Rj(ω)·C₂(ω)*·H_R2j(ω)*·E_Rj(ω)*.  (3)

E_Rj(ω)·E_Rj(ω)*=|E_Rj(ω)|², so that equation (3) is equivalent to equation (4):

SIG _Rj(ω)=C₁(ω)·C₂(ω)*·H_R1j(ω)·H_R2j(ω)*·|E_Rj(ω)|²  (4)

During normal use of the device, when an impact is generated on the object 1, e.g. when a user hits or touches the object 1 with a finger or with another object (stylus, pen or else) the sensors SENS1, SENS2 receive acoustic signals. These acoustic signals are amplified by amplifiers 3 and 4, filtered by filters 5 and 6, multiplexed by multiplexer 7 and then sampled by analog to digital converter 8.

The sampled signals S_i(t) originating respectively from the sensors i (i=1, 2 in the present example) are then processed by processing unit 9, for instance according to a first embodiment of the method of the invention as shown in the flow chart of FIG. 2. This method may be carried out by a program ran on processing unit 9, comprising for instance calculation means S101-S103, comparison means S104-S110 and processing means S111.

In this embodiment, respective Fourier transforms S₁(ω) and S₂(ω) of the two sampled acoustic signals S₁(t) and S₂(t) are computed (preferably only for positive frequencies ω) by calculation means in steps S101 and S102. These Fourier transforms may be Fast Fourier Transforms (FFT), permitting thus to obtain quick results, without a high calculation power.

The Fourier transform S_i(ω) of each acoustic signal equals:

S _i(ω)=C_i(ω)·H_Si(ω)·E_S(ω)  (5)

where C_i(ω) is the Fourier transform of the impulse response of sensor i, H_Si(ω) is a propagation function, dependant on an acoustic wave propagation path in the object between the location of the impact and sensor i, and E_S(ω) is the Fourier transform of the impact waveform.

At step S103, the calculating means compute a sample signature function:

SIG _S(ω)=S₁(ω)·S₂(ω)*,  (6)

where * is the complex conjugate operator.When using equation (5) to develop equation (6), one obtains:

SIG _S(ω)=C₁(ω)·H_S1(ω)·E_S(ω)·C₂(ω)*·H_S2(ω)*·E_S(ω)*.  (7)

E_S(ω)·E_S(ω)*=|E_S(ω)|², so that:

SIG _S(ω)=C₁(ω)·C₂(ω)*·H_S1(ω)·H_S2(ω)*·|E_S(ω)|²  (8)

After initializing comparison means at step S104, for each predetermined area j of the object, an intermediary estimator (correlation function) is calculated at step S105:

COR _j(ω)=SIG_Rj(ω)·SIG_S(ω)*.  (9)

When using equations (4) and (8) to develop equation (9) one obtains equation (10):

COR _j(ω)=|C₁(ω)|²·|C₂(ω)|²·|E_Rj(ω)|²·|E_S(ω)|²·H_R1j(ω)·H_R2j(ω)*·H_S1(ω)*·H_S2(ω)  (10)

Since |C₁(ω)|², |C₂(ω)|², |E_Rj(ω)|² and |E_S(ω)|² are square moduluses whose phase equals zero, the phase φ(COR_j(ω)) of the intermediary estimator COR_j(ω) does not depend on the impulse responses C₁(ω), C₂(ω) of the sensors 3, 4 and on the impact waveforms E_Rj(ω), E_S(ω). This phase φ(COR_j(ω) depends only on the phase of H_R1j(ω)·H_R2j(ω)*·H_S1(ω)*·H_S2(ω), i.e. on the acoustic wave propagation paths in the object during the learning step and the.

The method of the present invention is based on the observation that:

• • if the impact which generated the sampled signals s₁(t), s₂(t) was not on active area j, then the phase of COR_j(ω) is variable and different from 0,
  • whereas if the impact which generated the sampled signals s₁(t), s₂(t) was on active area j, then the phase of COR_j(ω) is equal to 0, since:

COR _j(ω)=|C₁(ω)|²·|C₂(ω)|²·|E_Rj(ω)|²·|E_S(ω)|²·|H₁j(ω)|²·|H₂j(ω)|²  (11).

Thus, it is possible to determine whether an impact on the object 1 was made on any active area 1a, and if so, to determine on which active area.

Since the method of the invention is based on direct or indirect determination of the phase of COR_j(ω), it should be noted that the accuracy of this method is not altered by the use of different types of impact or by the use of sensors 3, 4 of different characteristics, because this phase is in any case independent from the impact waveforms used during the learning step and during normal use, and because this phase is also independent from the responses of the sensors SENS1, SENS2.

In steps S106 and S107, the phase φ(COR_j(ω)) is examined, to estimate how much SIG_S(ω) matches with SIG_Rj(ω). To this end, the comparison means may calculate a function δ_j(ω) in Step 106, as shown FIGS. 3A and 3B. This function δ_j(ω) may be calculated as follows:

• • if the phase φ(COR_j(ω)) belongs to, for example, an angular interval I₁=[b1;a1], with a₁>0 and b₁<0, then δ_j(ω)=ε₁=1;
  • else, δ_j(ω)=ε₂=0.

It should be noted that, in step S106, it is not necessary to compute φ(COR_j(ω)). For instance, if b₁=−a1, the function δ_j(ω) may as well be calculated as follows:

• • if Re(COR_j(ω)>|Im(COR_j(ω))|/tan(a1), then δ_j(ω)=ε₁=1;
  • else, δ_j(ω)=ε₂=0.

In step S107, the function δ_j(ω) is integrated on a study frequency interval B=[ω_min, ω_max] in order to obtain a similarity estimator

α_j=K·∫_Bδ_j(ω)·dω, where K is for example a constant of normalization, which equals to (or is proportional to) the inverse of the length of the interval B: K=1/(ω_max−ω_min).

This estimator α_j is simple to compute, does not require a high calculation power and correctly represents the similarity of the sampled signals s₁(t), s₂(t) with the reference signals r₁(t), r₂(t).

Once the N similarity estimators α_j are calculated and stored in a memory, the maximal similarity estimator α_j0 is determined by comparison means in step S110. This can be carried out with a simple sequence of comparisons. In a variant, the maximum similarity estimator α_j0 can be determined in each iteration of the comparison means when computing the similarity estimators α_j.

In order to eventually determine the active area in which an impact occurred, the greatest similarity estimator α_j0 has to be greater than a predetermined threshold of confidence VAL in step S111. For example, α_j0 has to be greater than VAL=0.5 to be recognized as valid. If α_j0 is greater than this threshold of confidence VAL, the active area j₀ is determined by processing means as the active area in which an impact occurred. Then, an information associated to this active area may be transmitted to a software, or an action can be launched by the processing means 9, etc. Else, the impact is considered as interference or as perturbation.

In a second embodiment of the invention, several angular intervals I_i may be used in step 106, the other steps remaining the same as in the first embodiment. For example, FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate such a construction in the example of 4 possible values of α_j according to the phase φ(COR_j(ω)).

There, the phase φ(COR_j(ω)) is studied as follows:

• • if the phase φ(COR_j(ω)) belongs to the interval I₁=[b₁;a₁] with a₁>0 and b₁<0, then, then δ_j(ω)=ε₁=1;
  • if the phase φ(COR_j(ω)) belongs to the interval I₂=[b₂;b₁[═]a₁;a₂], with a₂>a₁ and b₂<b₁, then δ_j(ω)=ε₂, with ε₂<1;
  • if the phase φ(COR_j(ω)) belongs to the interval I₃=[b₃;b₂[∪]a₂;a₃], with 180°>a₃>a₂ and −180°<b₃<b₂ (preferably with 90°>a₃>a₂ and −90°<b₃<b₂), then δ_j(ω)=δ₃, with ε₃<ε₂;
  • else, δ_j(ω)=ε₄=0.

As in the first embodiment of the invention, it should be noted that, in step S106, it is not necessary to compute φ(COR_j(ω)). For instance, if b₁=−a₁, b₂=−a₂, and b₃=−a₃, then the function δ_j(ω) may as well be calculated as follows:

if Re(COR_j(ω))≧|Im(COR_j(ω))|/tan(a₁), then δ_j(ω)=δ₁=1;

• • if |Im(COR_j(ω))|/tan(a₁)>Re(COR_j(ω))≧|Im(COR_j(ω))|/tan(a₂), then δ_j(ω)=ε₂;
  • if |Im(COR_j(ω))|/tan(a₂)>Re(COR_j(ω))≧|Im(COR_j(ω))|/tan(a₃), then δ_j(ω)=ε₃;
  • else, δ_j(ω)=0.

Re(COR_j(ω) and Im(COR_j(ω)) are respectively the real part and the imaginary part of the complex number COR_j(ω).

For instance, ε₂ and ε₃ could respectively equal cos (a₁) and cos(a₂).

More generally, the phase of COR_j(ω) could be compared to a plurality of n angular thresholds 0<a₁<a₂< . . . <a_n as follows:

• • if Re(COR_j(ω))≧|Im(COR_j(ω))|/tan(a₁), then δ_j(ω)=ε₁=1;
  • if |Im(COR_j(ω))|/tan(a₁)>Re(COR_j(ω))≧|Im(COR_j(ω))|/tan(a₂), then δ_j(ω)=ε₂;
  • if |Im(COR_j(ω))|/tan(a₂)>Re(COR_j(ω))≧|Im(COR_j(ω))|/tan(a₃), then δ_j(ω)=ε₃;. . .

if |Im(COR_j(ω))|/tan(a_k-1)>Re(COR_j(ω))≧|Im(COR_j(ω))|/tan(a_k), then δ_j(ω)=ε_k;  (12)

. . .

• • if |Im(COR_j(ω))|/tan(a_n-2)>Re(COR_j(ω))≧|Im(COR_j(ω))|/tan(a_n−1), then δ_j(ω)=ε_n−1;
  • else, δ_j(ω)=ε_n=0.

The values ε_k are such that ε₁>ε₂>>ε_n>0, and these values may for instance equal: ε_k=cos(a_k-1), for k=2, . . . n and ε_n+1=0.

In this second embodiment the other steps of the method can be identical to those described above with regards to the first embodiment.

In a third embodiment of the invention, as illustrated for instance in FIG. 5, the calculation of the above correlation function COR_j(ω) (j=1, . . . N) is avoided.

As a matter of fact, SIG_Rj(ω)=A_j(ω)+jB_j(ω) (A_j and B_j are respectively the real and imaginary parts of SIG_Rj), and SIG_S(ω)*=C(ω)+jD(ω) (C and D are respectively the real and imaginary parts of SIG_S), so that the above equation (12) can be written as follows:

|B_j(ω)C(ω)+A_j(ω)D(ω)|/tan(a_k-1)>A_j(ω)C(ω)−B_j(ω)D(ω)>|B_j(ω)C(ω)+A_j(ω)D(ω)|/tan(a_k)  (13)

|B_j(ω)|·|C(ω)|·|+{A_j(ω)/B_j(ω)}·{(D(ω)/C(ω)}|/tan(a_k-1)>A_j(ω)C(ω)−B_j(ω)D(ω)>|B_j(ω)|·|C(ω)|·|+{A_j(ω)/B_j(ω)}·{(D(ω)/C(ω)}|/tan(a_k)  (14)

β_j(ω)/tan(a_k-1)>γ_j(ω)>β_j(ω)/tan(a_k)  (15)

wherein:β_j(ω)=|+{A_j(ω)/B_j(ω)}·{(D(ω)/C(ω)}|γ_j(ω)=signB_j(ω)·signC(ω)·[{A_j(ω)/B_j(ω)}−{D(ω)/C(ω)}];signB_j(ω)=1 if B_j(ω) is positive and =−1 if B_j(ω) is negative;signC(ω)=1 if C(ω) is positive and =−1 if C(ω) is negative.

Therefore, this third embodiment, instead of calculating the correlation functions COR_j(ω), the above functions β_j(ω) and γ_j(ω) are calculated in step S105. It should be noted that this calculation is particularly simple, and only requires:

• • that signB_j(ω) and the ratio A_j(ω)/B_j(ω) be stored in advance in memory 10 for j=1, N (i.e. one real number+1 bit, whereas the complete calculation of the COR_j(ω) implied to store the complete reference signature functions (a complex number, i.e. the equivalent of two real numbers);
  • that signC(ω) and the ratio D(ω)/C(ω) be stored at the beginning of step S105, after which only a very limited number of operations remain to be done at step S105 to calculate β_j(ω) and γ_j(ω).

Then, at step S106, the phase of COR_j(ω) is compared to n−1 angular thresholds 0<a₁<a₂< . . . <a_n−1 through equation (15) as follows:

• • if γ_j(ω)≧β_j(ω)/tan(a₁), then δ_j(ω)=ε₁=1;. . .
  • if n is greater than 2 and β_j(ω)/tan(a_k-1)>γ_j(ω)≧β_j(ω)/tan(a_k), then δ_j(ω)=ε_k, for k=2, . . . n−1;
  • else, δ_j(ω)=ε_n=0.

The values ε_k are such that ε₁>ε₂> . . . >ε_n>0, and these values may for instance equal: ε_k=cos(a_k-1), for k=2, . . . n.

If n=1, this comparison is limited to:

• • if γ_j(ω)≧β_j(ω)/tan(a₁), then δ_j(ω)=1;
  • else, δ_j(ω)=0.

The subsequent steps S107-S111 of the method may be identical to the steps explained above for the first and second embodiments of the invention.

According to one further embodiment of the invention, the sampling of the acoustic signals may be triggered only if the signals received by the analog to digital converter 8 are greater than a trigger threshold. Consequently, the device only samples relevant acoustic signals. This permits to reduce the interference sensibility. In this embodiment, the sampled signals S₁(t) and S₂(t) may be delayed compared to the real signals. As a matter of fact, to avoid that the trigger threshold prevents the record of the very beginning of acoustic signals, a delay device may be added, in order to record the waveform of the signal a few microseconds before the sampling step is triggered.

Claims

1. A method for determining the position of impacts on an object, said object comprising: two acoustic sensors (SENS1, SENS2);N predetermined active areas, whereby N is an integer at least equal to 1;

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein each reference signature function equals: SIGRj(ω)=R1j(ω)·R2j(ω)*

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein step (c) comprises the calculation of a similarity estimator αj representing a function of the phase φ(CORj(ω)) of CORj(ω)=SIGRj(ω)·SIGS(ω)*.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein step (c) comprises the calculation of a function δj(ω) for j from 1 to N, wherein

5. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the values εi are not greater than 1.

6. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein: if |φ(CORj(ω))|≦a1, then δj(ω)=ε1,

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein: if Re(CORj(ω))≧|Im(CORj(ω))|/tan(a1), then δj(ω)=δ1,

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein: if γj(ω)≧βj(ω)/tan(a1), then δj(ω)=ε1=1;

9. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein ε1=1 and εn=0.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein n is greater than 2 and εk=cos(ak-1), for k=2, . . . n−1.

11. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein αj=K·∫Bδj(ω)·dω,

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein B=[ωminωmax] and K is proportional to 1/(ωmax−ωmin).

13. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the active area j0 in which the impact occurred is determined such that αj0 is the greatest similarity estimator among the N calculated similarity estimators αj.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein it is concluded that the impact occurred in the area j0 only if αj0 is considered as valid in step (d).

15. The method of claim 14, wherein αj0 is considered as valid if αj0 is greater than a predetermined threshold of confidence (VAL).

16. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein it is concluded that there is no impact if αj0 is not considered as valid in step (d).

17. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein step (a) begins if the acoustic signals S1(t) and S2(t) are above a predetermined trigger threshold.

18. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the acoustic signals S1(t) and S2(t) in step (a) are delayed relative to real audio signals.

19. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the Fourier transform is a Fast Fourier transform.

20. A device for determining the position of impacts on an object, comprising: two acoustic sensors adapted to be borne by said object for receiving acoustic signals S1(t) and S2(t) generated by an impact on said object;memory means (10) comprising N reference signature functions, corresponding to N predetermined active areas of said object, whereby N is an integer at least equal to 1;calculation means (S101-S103) for calculating a sample signature function SIGS(ω)=S1(ω)·S2(ω)*,

21. The device as claimed in claim 20, wherein each reference signature function equals: SIGRj(ω)=R1j(ω)·R2j(ω)*

22. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said comparison means (S104-S110) are adapted to calculate a similarity estimator αj representing a function of the phase φ(CORj(ω)) of CORj(ω)=SIGRj(ω)·SIGS(ω)*.

23. The device as claimed in claim 22, wherein said comparison means (S104-S110) are adapted to calculate a function δj(ω) for j from 1 to N, wherein δj(ω)=εk, if φ(CORj(ω)) belongs to Ik,

24. The device as claimed in claim 23, wherein the values εi are not greater than 1.

25. The device as claimed in claim 23, wherein said comparison means (S104-S110) are adapted so that: if |φ(CORj(ω))|≦a1, then δj(ω)=ε1,

26. The device as claimed in claim 25, wherein said comparison means (S104-S110) are adapted so that: if Re(CORj(ω))≧|Im(CORj(ω))|/tan(a1), then δj(ω)=ε1,

27. The device according to claim 25, wherein said comparison means (S104-S110) are adapted so that: if γj(ω)≧βj(ω)/tan(a1), then δj(ω)=ε1=1;

28. The device as claimed in claim 25, wherein ε1=1 and εn=0.

29. The device as claimed in claim 28, wherein n is greater than 2 and εk=cos(ak-1), for k=2, . . . n−1.

30. The device as claimed in claim 23, wherein said comparison means (S104-S110) are adapted so that: αj=K·∫Bδj(ω)·dω,

31. The device as claimed in claim 22, wherein the processing means (S111) are adapted to determine the active area j0 in which the impact occurred such that αj0 is the greatest similarity estimator among the N calculated similarity estimators αj.

32. The device as claimed in claim 31, wherein the processing means (S111) are adapted to determine that the impact occurred in the area j0 only if αj0 is considered as valid.

33. The device of claim 32, wherein the processing means (S111) are adapted to determine that αj0 is valid if αj0 is greater than a predetermined threshold of confidence (VAL).

34. The device as claimed in claim 32, wherein the processing means (S111) are adapted to determine that there is no impact if αj0 is not considered as valid.