Emitter location system

• US 20040233100A1
• Filed: 10/14/2003
• Published: 11/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Selex Communications Limited (Leonardo S.p.A.)
• Original Assignee: Selex Communications Limited (Leonardo S.p.A.)
• Inventors: Dibble, Anthony Sidney, Wyman, Glyn
• Granted Patent: US 7,176,831 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/357.06
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 11/06 using intensity measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/42 Determining position
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/06 Emergency
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0249 Determining position using measurements made by a non-stationary device other than the device whose position is being determined

Abstract

Described herein is a system and method for detecting the position of a remote emitter (1) where the emitter (1) is emitting a radio frequency signal (2) in a radio field (3). The system and method uses at least one receiver (4) which is moveable within the environment of the radio field (3), each receiver (4) measuring and recording the amplitude of the radio frequency signal (2) and recording its precise location using a GNSS or GPS receiver. The data recorded is processed and compared to data predicted by the receiver (s) (4) to estimate a location of remote emitter (1).

Claims

1. A system for locating an emitter emitting a radio frequency signal in a radio field, the system comprising a receiver which is moveable within the environment of the radio field and is capable of detecting and recording the amplitude of the radio frequency signal from a plurality of locations within the environment, the receiver also being capable of coding amplitude data and comparing that data to a series of predicted data generated by the receiver to generate a prediction of the location of the emitter.

2. A system for locating an emitter according to claim 1, further comprising additional receivers each capable of detecting and recording the amplitude of the radio frequency signal from a plurality of locations.

3. A system for locating an emitter according to claim 1, wherein each receiver comprises a GNSS or GPS receiver and a single element antenna.

4. A system for locating an emitter according to claim 1, wherein each receiver continuously detects and records the amplitude of the radio frequency signal whilst moving within the environment of the radio field.

5. A system for locating an emitter according to claim 1, wherein the data is coded according to a power law.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein the coded data does not include data representative of the environment comprising the radio field.

7. A method of locating the position of an emitter emitting a radio frequency signal in a radio field, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) positioning a receiver in the radio field;

(b) recording the amplitude of the emitted signal at the receiver location;

(c) recording the receiver location;

(d) repositioning the receiver at a second location;

(e) recording the amplitude of the emitted signal at the second receiver location;

(f) recording the receiver location;

(g) repeating steps (a) to (f) as required;

(h) coding the data generated by steps (a) to (g) above; and

(i) comparing the coded data to data predicted by the receiver to produce a predicted location of the emitter.

8. A method according to claim 7, further comprising the steps of:

positioning additional receivers at further locations;

recording the amplitude of the radio frequency signal emitted by the emitter at each further location;

recording the position of the additional receivers; and

coding the additional data generated for comparison to produce a predicted location of the emitter.

9. (Cancelled)

10. A computer program product comprising program code means stored on a computer readable medium for performing the following method steps when the program is run on a computer and/or other processing means associated with suitable recording and locating devices:

(a) positioning a receiver in the radio field;

(b) recording the amplitude of the emitted signal at the receiver location;

(c) recording the receiver location;

(d) repositioning the receiver at a second location;

(e) recording the amplitude of the emitted signal at the second receiver location;

(f) recording the receiver location;

(g) repeating steps (a) to (f) as required;

(h) coding the data generated by steps (a) to (g) above; and

(i) comparing the coded data to data predicted by the receiver to produce a predicted location of the emitter.