Location information detecting method and system

• US 20060119480A1
• Filed: 11/19/2004
• Published: 06/08/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Uniden Corporation (Cornwall Capital Management LP)
• Original Assignee: Uniden Corporation (Cornwall Capital Management LP)
• Inventors: Hachiga, Hitoshi
• Granted Patent: US 7,212,126 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.100
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/756 using a signal generator for modifying the reflectivity of the reflector G01S13/758 takes precedence

Abstract

A method and system for detecting information relating to the location of a radio IC tag, using an interrogator unit. In one implementation of such method and system, a radio IC tag is securely attached to a fixed object, and a mobile object that has an interrogator unit moves into communication range with the radio IC tag. As the interrogator unit sends radio waves to the radio IC tag, the radio IC tag existing in the communication range sends reflected waves to the interrogator unit. When the interrogator unit receives the reflected waves, it detects and demodulates the reflected waves. The interrogator unit then reads information relating to the location of the radio IC tag as the information stored in the radio IC tag.

Claims

1. A location information detecting method for reading information stored in a radio IC tag, using an interrogator unit, when a mobile object which has the interrogator unit moves into communication range with the radio IC tag and the interrogator unit sends radio waves to the radio IC tag;

wherein the radio IC tag, which is securely attached to the fixed object, stores information relating to the location of the fixed object and sends the stored information upon receiving a power supply from the received radio signal.

2. A location information detecting system comprising:

a radio IC tag that is attached to a fixed object, stores information relating to the location of the fixed object, and sends the stored information upon receiving a power supply from the received radio waves;

an interrogator unit that is attached to a mobile object, sends radio waves, and reads information stored on the radio IC tag by communication with the radio IC tag existing in a communication range.

4. The location information detecting system according to claim 2, wherein the information stored in the radio IC tag contains at least one of the address, place name, and name of the fixed object.

6. The location information detecting system according to claim 4, wherein the information stored in the radio IC tag contains various kinds of information relating to the location of the fixed object, and navigation guide information.

7. The location information detecting system according to claim 2, wherein the interrogator unit comprises:

an display unit for displaying the information that has been read; and

an audio output unit for audio output of the information that has been read.

8. The location information detecting system according to claim 2, wherein the interrogator unit comprises a controller for controlling electric power to send carrier radio waves in accordance with a distance between the interrogator unit and the radio IC tag.

9. The location information detecting system according to claim 2, wherein the interrogator unit sends double-channel carrier waves and receives reflected waves of each frequency when double-channel radio IC tags are located close to each other.

3. A location information detecting system comprising:

a radio IC tag that is attached to a fixed object, stores information relating to the location of the fixed object, and sends the stored information upon receiving a power supply from the received radio waves;

an interrogator unit that is attached to a mobile object, sends radio waves, receives reflected radio waves from the radio IC tag existing in a communication range, and reads information stored on the radio IC tag from the received reflected waves.

5. The location information detecting system according to claim 3, wherein the information stored in the radio IC tag contains map information according to a map based on the World Geodetic System, as location information about the fixed object on the map.