Ultra-wideband smart sensor interface network and method

• US 20040140925A1
• Filed: 12/29/2003
• Published: 07/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Humatics Corporation
• Original Assignee: Time Domain Corporation (Humatics Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Jonnathan H.
• Granted Patent: US 7,075,476 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/28
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/0209 Systems with very large relative bandwidth, i.e. larger than 10 %, e.g. baseband, pulse, carrier-free, ultrawideband
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/878 Combination of several spaced transmitters or receivers of known location for determining the position of a transponder or a reflector G01S13/874 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 25/00 Antennas or antenna systems providing at least two radiating patterns arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern H01Q3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/6908 using time hopping

Abstract

A network, sensor and method are provided that utilize the capabilities of impulse radio technology to help monitor and/or control the environment within a building. In particular, the network includes a sensor attached to a first impulse radio unit that is capable of transmitting an impulse radio signal containing sensor related information to a second impulse radio unit. The second impulse radio unit is attached to a control station that uses the sensor related information (e.g., environmental related information, safety related information or surveillance related information) to monitor and/or control the environment within a building. In one aspect of the present invention, the control system can better control and monitor the environment within the building because the sensor may be moved around within the building and reference impulse radio units may interact with the first impulse radio unit to enable the determination of the current position of the sensor.

Claims

1. A network comprising:

a first impulse radio unit capable of being attached to a sensor and further capable of transmitting an impulse radio signal containing sensor related information; and

a second impulse radio unit capable of receiving the impulse radio signal containing the sensor related information.