Three-dimensional GPS-assisted tracking device

• US 20030109988A1
• Filed: 10/15/2002
• Published: 06/12/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Digital Angel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Digital Angel Corporation
• Inventors: Geissler, Randolph K., Zhou, Peter Y., Pang, Dexing
• Application Number:
  US10/272,597
• Publication Number:
  US 20030109988A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/213
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/12 executed aboard the object being navigated; Dead reckoning
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/49 whereby the further system is an inertial position system, e.g. loosely-coupled
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/002 for traffic control, mobile tracking, guidance, surveillance or anti-collision

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to systems, methods and applications utilizing the convergence of any combination of the following three technologies: wireless positioning or localization technology, wireless communications technology and sensor technology. In particular, certain embodiments of the present invention relate to a system for tracking and locating a person, an animal or an object three-dimensionally having at least one remote localization and sensing device, each device having a processing unit for calculating location coordinates; an information storage device for storing directional, distance, physiological and identification data; at least one sensor for providing sensor data; an accelerometer for providing speed and distance data; a magnetic flux gate sensor for providing directional data; and a transceiver for communicating location and sensor data to an ASP. The present invention also relates to various applications and systems utilizing the capabilities of such a device.

Claims

1. A localization system comprising:

an accelerometer having an acceleration output;

a magnetic flux gate sensor having a first directional output; and

one or more processing units coupled to the accelerometer and magnetic flux sensor to calculate a location based on the acceleration output and the first directional output.

2. The localization system of claim 1, wherein the processors are programmed to calculate distance traveled based on the acceleration output and direction based on the first directional output.

3. The localization system of claim 2, further comprising a directional antenna having a second directional output, the processors further programmed to calculate direction based on the second directional output.

4. A localization system as in claim 2, further comprising a receiver for receiving a time signal, the processors further configured to calculate distance traveled based on the time signal.

5. A localization system as in claim 1, further comprising a reference station, the reference station including a GPS receiver and antenna for determining an initial location and direction of travel.

6. A localization system as in claim 1, further comprising a reference station, the processing units programmed to calculate location relative to the reference station.

7. A localization system as in claim 1, wherein the system includes a remote localization device, the device including the accelerometer and the magnetic flux gate sensor.

8. A localization system as in claim 7, wherein the system further includes a bases station remote from the device, the base station including the processing units.

9. A localization system as in claim 7, wherein the device further includes the processing units.

10. A localization system as in claim 1, further comprising memory for storing outputs.

11. A localization system as in claim 1, wherein the processing units are configured to calculate path of movement, the system further comprising memory for storing the path of movement.

12. A localization system as in claim 1, further comprising memory for storing location.

13. A localization system as in claim 1, wherein the accelerometer is a three-axis accelerometer and the magnetic flux gate sensor is a three-axis magnetic flux gate sensor, the processing unit programmed to calculate location in three dimensions.

14. A localization system as in claim 1, wherein the system includes three accelerometers, each having an acceleration output in an orthogonal plane, the processing units programmed to calculate location in three dimensions.

15. A method of tracking a person, an animal or an object three-dimensionally comprising the steps of:

receiving acceleration data;

receiving time data;

receiving direction data relative to a reference;

calculating location based on the acceleration data, time data, direction data and the reference.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the reference includes a direction.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the calculating includes determining distance traveled based on the acceleration and time data, and direction based on direction data.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein acceleration data is received from one or more accelerometers and the direction data is received from one or more magnetic flux gate sensors.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising transmitting the data to a base station for calculating the location.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the calculating is performed at an object being localized.