System for measuring radio communicative region

• US 20070265004A1
• Filed: 05/01/2007
• Published: 11/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Yamada, Kentaro, Nakamura, Takahiro
• Application Number:
  US11/797,225
• Publication Number:
  US 20070265004A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/435.100
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/68 Marker, boundary, call-sign, or like beacons transmitting signals not carrying directional information
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/7036 Collocated with electrical equipment other than beacons
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/7038 Signal details
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/72 using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/74 Systems using reradiation of radio waves, e.g. secondary radar systems; Analogous systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2201/01 adapted for specific applications or environments
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition

Abstract

A radio communicative region measuring system is provided for measuring a region in a workspace, in which radio communication can be performed. The system has a mobile object that carries a radio transmitter for measuring a radio communicative region. A radio receiver for measuring a radio communicative region is provided in the workspace. A position detecting system such as an ultrasonic tag operating unit is provided, which included a transmitter to be carried by the mobile object and a plurality of receivers provided in the workplace. Based on radio signal received by the radio receiver and positional information provided by the position detecting system, a region in which radio communication can be performed between the radio transmitter and the radio receiver is determined.

Claims

1. A radio communicative region measuring system for measuring a region in a workspace in which radio communication can be performed, comprising:

a mobile object that can move in said workspace;

a radio transmitter or a radio receiver carried by said mobile object for sending or receiving a unique radio signal;

a radio receiver or a radio transmitter provided in said workspace for receiving or sending said unique radio signal;

means for determining receiving conditions of said unique radio signal received by said receiver as said mobile object moves in said workspace;

means for detecting the position of said radio transmitter or said radio receiver as said mobile object moves in said workspace; and

means for determining a region in which radio communication can be performed between said radio transmitter and said radio receiver based on said receiving conditions and the detected positions.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said radio transmitter is an RFID tag and said radio receiver an RFID antenna, and wherein said means for detecting the position comprises:

a tag system including an ultrasonic or infrared transmitter carried by said mobile object and a plurality of ultrasonic or infrared receivers provided in the workplace.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein said ultrasonic or infrared receivers provided in the workplace are in a form of a grid with predetermined intervals provided on at least one of the ceiling, the wall or the floor of said workspace.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein said radio transmitter is a RFID tag and said radio receiver is a RFID antenna, and the RFID tag or the RFID antenna provided on at least one of the ceiling, the wall or the floor of said workspace, and said means for detecting a position comprises:

an image system with a camera provided to said mobile object.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein said mobile object is a legged or wheeled autonomous robot.

6. A method for measuring a region in a workplace in which radio communication can be made, comprising:

moving a mobile object in said workspace carrying a radio transmitter or a radio receiver, said workplace being provided with a radio receiver or a radio transmitter for receiving or sending a unique radio signal;

said radio transmitter sending said unique radio signal;

determining receiving conditions of said unique radio signal received by said receiver as said mobile object moves in said workspace;

detecting the position of said radio transmitter or said radio receiver when said radio receiver receives said unique radio signal; and

determining a region in which radio communication can be performed between said radio transmitter and said radio receiver based on said receiving conditions and the detected positions.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein said radio transmitter is an RFID tag and said radio receiver an RFID antenna, and wherein said detecting of the position is performed by a tag system including an ultrasonic or infrared transmitter carried by said mobile object and a plurality of ultrasonic or infrared receivers provided in the workplace.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein said radio receiver or said radio transmitter is provided on at least one of a ceiling, a wall or a floor of said workspace, and said ultrasonic or infrared transmitter is provided to be in substantially the same positional relationship relative to said radio transmitter or a radio receiver carried by the mobile object, and said ultrasonic or infrared receivers are provided on at least one of the ceiling, the wall or the floor of said workspace.

9. A method for measuring a region in a workspace in which radio communication can be performed, comprising:

moving a radio transmitter or a radio receiver in said workspace, said workplace being provided with a radio receiver or a radio transmitter for receiving or sending a unique radio signal;

said radio transmitter sending said unique radio signal;

determining receiving conditions of said unique radio signal received by said receiver as said radio transmitter or said radio receiver is moved in said workspace;

detecting the position of said radio transmitter or said radio receiver when said radio receiver receives said unique radio signal; and

determining a region in which radio communication can be performed between said radio transmitter and said radio receiver based on said receiving conditions and the detected positions.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein said radio transmitter is an RFID tag and said radio receiver an RFID antenna, and wherein said detecting of the position is performed by a tag system including an ultrasonic or infrared transmitter carried by said mobile object and a plurality of ultrasonic or infrared receivers provided in the workplace.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein said radio receiver or said radio transmitter is provided on at least one of a ceiling, a wall or a floor of said workspace, and said ultrasonic or infrared transmitter is provided to be in substantially the same positional relationship relative to said radio transmitter or a radio receiver carried by the mobile object, and said ultrasonic or infrared receivers are provided on at least one of the ceiling, the wall or the floor of said workspace.

12. A computer readable medium storing a computer program for measuring a region in a workplace in which radio communication can be performed, wherein said computer program, when executed, performs:

moving a mobile object in said workspace carrying a radio transmitter or a radio receiver, said workplace being provided with a radio receiver or a radio transmitter for receiving or sending a unique radio signal;

making said radio transmitter send said unique radio signal;

determining receiving conditions of said unique radio signal received by said receiver as said mobile object moves in said workspace;

detecting the position of said radio transmitter or said radio receiver when said radio receiver receives said unique radio signal; and

determining a region in which radio communication can be performed between said radio transmitter and said radio receiver based on said receiving conditions and the detected positions.

13. The medium according to claim 12, wherein said radio transmitter is an RFID tag and said radio receiver an RFID antenna, and wherein said detecting of the position is performed by a tag system including an ultrasonic or infrared transmitter carried by said mobile object and a plurality of ultrasonic or infrared receivers provided in the workplace.

14. The medium according to claim 13, wherein said radio receiver or said radio transmitter is provided on at least one of a ceiling, a wall or a floor of said workspace, and said ultrasonic or infrared transmitter is provided to be in substantially the same positional relationship relative to said radio transmitter or a radio receiver carried by the mobile object, and said ultrasonic or infrared receivers are provided on at least one of the ceiling, the wall or the floor of said workspace.

15. A display system for displaying a region in a workplace in which radio communication can be performed, comprising:

a mobile object that can move in said workspace;

a radio transmitter or a radio receiver carried by said mobile object for sending or receiving a unique radio signal;

a radio receiver or a radio transmitter provided in said workspace for receiving or sending said unique radio signal;

means for determining receiving conditions of said unique radio signal received by said receiver as said mobile object moves in said workspace;

means for detecting the position of said radio transmitter or said radio receiver as said mobile object moves in said workspace; and

means for determining a region in which radio communication can be performed between said radio transmitter and said radio receiver based on said receiving conditions and the detected positions a display unit for displaying the determined region.

16. The display system according to claim 15, wherein said radio transmitter is an RFID tag and said radio receiver an RFID antenna, and wherein said means for detecting the position comprises:

a tag system including an ultrasonic or infrared transmitter carried by said mobile object and a plurality of ultrasonic or infrared receivers provided in the workplace.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein said ultrasonic or infrared receivers provided in the workplace are in a form of a grid with predetermined intervals provided on at least one of the ceiling, the wall or the floor of said workspace.

18. The system according to claim 15, wherein said radio transmitter is a RFID tag and said radio receiver is a RFID antenna, and the RFID tag or the RFID antenna provided on at least one of the ceiling, the wall or the floor of said workspace, and said means for detecting a position comprises:

an image system with a camera provided to said mobile object.

19. The system according to claim 15, wherein said mobile object is a legged or wheeled autonomous robot.