Method and apparatus for measuring the propagation time of a signal, in particular a ultrasonic signal

摘要

Propagation time Tp of an ultrasound signal between two spaced-apart transducers constituting an emitter and a receiver is measured. The emitter transducer is subjected to an excitation signal of n successive pulses of period Te giving rise to an ultrasound signal being emitted towards the receiver transducer which receives the ultrasound signal generating and outputting a receive signal. A measurement of an intermediate propagation time Tint is started when the emitter transducer begins to be excited. The receive signal is detected and the oscillations in the receive signal are counted. Measurement of the intermediate propagation time Tint is stopped when an i<th >oscillation is detected. The propagation time Tp is determined by taking the difference Tint-ixTe. Advantageously, measurement of Tint is stopped for an i<th >oscillation of the receive signal that corresponds to the receive signal being at a maximum amplitude.