Ping sensor focus

Lee Harker

Hi all,
I am curious if anyone has devised a method to focus the beam of the Ping sensor. We are using these in a robotics class and have found that the "cone" of detection seems to be about 60 degrees. We have the Ping mounted on servos for scanning and at a distance of 24" a·1 inch conduit appears to have roughly the same footprint as a 12" diameter trash can. The distances are acurate but the width of the detection zone seems too large. Has anyone successfully narrowed the beam?
Thanks.

Humanoido

You'll need to use a fuzzy aperture to restrict
and confine the beam.

humanoido

Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)

Narrowing the aperture will actually make the beam wider. Adding a snorkel won't help, either. See this thread. There really isn't much you can do to narrow the Ping)))'s focus.

-Phil

Franklin

There are transducers with a narrower beam. Don't remember where I saw them but you should be able to Google it.

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- Stephen

Humanoido

I was thinking more about the receiver than the transmitter
and finding a way to discern the strongest waves. The source
mentioned is helpful in realizing that merely turning the Ping
and observing the results may be more beneficial than dealing
with the complexities of ultrasonic waveform diffraction. Since
the intensity of the beam is the greatest along the axis of the
transmitter in front of the object reflecting the ultrasonic waves,
a software algorithm combined with a movable Ping))) may be
the most simple approach. In other words, you make a lens
out of software, Ping))) movement, and by observing the results,
the beam can be focussed in a virtual manner, without any
added physical ultrasonic lenses. There's already a servo and
mounting bracket kit made for this purpose.

PING))) Mounting Bracket Kit
www.parallax.com/Store/Microcontrollers/BASICStampModules/tabid/134/List/1/ProductID/248/Default.aspx?txtSearch=ping)))&SortField=ProductName%2cProductName

humanoido