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Spin-Around Locator

  • US 20070194923A1
  • Filed: 02/21/2007
  • Published: 08/23/2007
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2006
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A portable remote locator device that is operated by a user to determine a relative distance and direction from the portable remote locator device to an object that is tagged with a transponder, the portable remote locator device comprising:

  • an input device that is arranged to accept user initiated input;

    a time control circuit that is arranged to provide timing control signals according to an internal clock of the portable remote locator device;

    an indication means that is arranged to report information to the user;

    a transmitter means that is arranged to transmit a structured transmission to the transponder when activated, wherein the structured transmission has a transmit cadence and frequency that is determined by the internal clock, wherein the structured transmission is coded with an identifier recognized by the transponder;

    a receiver means that is arranged to capture samples when activated;

    a correlator that is arranged to identify a correlation and a correlation phase in response to captured samples from the receiver means;

    a means for determining a rotational position associated with the portable remote locator device about an axis that is approximately centered about the user of the portable remote locator device; and

    a processor means that is arranged in cooperation with the input circuit, the time control circuit, the indication means, the transmitter means, the receiver means, the correlator, and the means for determining a rotational position, wherein the processor means is arranged to initialize the portable remote locator device in a slow ping mode, wherein in the slow ping mode the processor means is arranged for;

    initiating the transmission of a first structured multi-frame transmission to the transponder device at a first time, detecting a first reply from the transponder device at a second time when the received samples correlate with an expected first reply transmission;

    measuring a distance between the portable remote locator device and the transponder based on a difference between the second time and the first time;

    wherein the processor means is also arranged to operate the portable remote locator device in a fast ping mode, wherein in the fast ping mode the processor means is arranged to collect a stream of measurements over multiple communications with the transponder in the fast ping mode by repeatedly;

    initiating the transmission of a second structured multi-frame transmission to the transponder device at a third time;

    detecting a second reply from the transponder device at a fourth time when the received samples correlate to an expected second reply transmission;

    measuring a distance between the portable remote locator device and the transponder based on a difference between the third time and the fourth time;

    monitoring the correlation phase and rotational position associated with each received sample from the second reply;

    determining whether a complete rotation has been successfully completed by the user based on the monitored rotational position;

    terminating the fast ping mode when either a complete rotation has been successfully completed or a timeout condition is detected by the processor means; and

    wherein the processor means is also arranged to determine the distance and direction to the remote locator after the fast ping mode has terminated by evaluating the stream of measurements., wherein the stream of measurements corresponds to the collection of phases, correlation phase, rotational positions, signal strengths, distance,,

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