MULTIPLE OBJECTS LOCATION APPARATUSES AND SYSTEMS, AND LOCATION METHODS AND ERROR ADJUSTMENT METHODS THEREOF
First Claim
1. A location method for determining the positions of a plurality of objects located on a game board, wherein each of said objects transmits an identification signal wirelessly, comprising:
- providing at least a first sensor, a second sensor and a third sensor;
receiving a first, a second and a third identification signals sent by one of said objects, each of said identification signals received by each sensor having a signal strength; and
determining a position of said object on said game board according to said signal strengths of said identification signals received by said first, second and third sensors,wherein said first, second and third sensors are separately located at different fixed positions of said game board.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Location system and location method are provided to identify and measure the positions of multiple objects located on a plane, such as a game board. Each of the objects includes means for transmitting an identification signal. The location system includes at least two sensors and a processor. In a preferred embodiment, the system includes at least two sensors positioned at the peripheral of a plane such as the adjacent corners of a square or rectangular game board for receiving a first and a second identification signals sent by a first object and a second object respectively positioned on the game board. The processor is coupled to the two sensors for identifying and determining the positions of the objects according to the signal strengths and identities of the first and second signals received.
26 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A location method for determining the positions of a plurality of objects located on a game board, wherein each of said objects transmits an identification signal wirelessly, comprising:
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providing at least a first sensor, a second sensor and a third sensor; receiving a first, a second and a third identification signals sent by one of said objects, each of said identification signals received by each sensor having a signal strength; and determining a position of said object on said game board according to said signal strengths of said identification signals received by said first, second and third sensors, wherein said first, second and third sensors are separately located at different fixed positions of said game board. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A location system configured on a board, wherein
said board comprises a rectangular region or a square region; -
said location system is provided for determining the positions of a plurality of objects located on said rectangular region or square region; each of said objects is capable of transmitting an identification signal including an identification code wirelessly; and said location system further comprises; at least two sensors, wherein said two sensors are separately positioned at adjacent corners of said square region or rectangular region for separately receiving an identification signal from one of said objects, each of said identification signals received by each sensor having a signal strength; and a processing unit coupled to said two sensors, determining a position of said object on said game board according to the signal strengths of said identification signals received by said sensors. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A measurement error correction method for use in a location apparatus provided to measure the location of an object, wherein said object is configured to transmit an identification signal wirelessly;
- said location apparatus comprises at least first and second sensors separately positioned at different fixed positions of a game board, said error correction method comprising;
separately receiving a first and a second identification signals by said first and second sensors; obtaining a first position value of said object represented by the signal strengths of said first and second identification signals; and performing an automatic error correction operation corresponding to said first and said second signal strengths and/or said first position value to determine a position of said object located on said game board. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
- said location apparatus comprises at least first and second sensors separately positioned at different fixed positions of a game board, said error correction method comprising;
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32. A location system configured on a game board for determining the positions of a plurality of objects located on said game board, wherein each of said objects is capable of transmitting an identification signal including an identification code wirelessly for identification, said system comprising at least three receiving devices and at least one of the following characteristics:
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(1) said game board comprises a calibration point positioned at a specific predetermined position for providing a calibration signal; (2) said location system comprises a common energizer and a plurality of receiving antennas, wherein each of said receiving devices has a corresponding receiving antenna;
said location system further comprises a common energizer configured for providing an initiating signal and energy to said objects.(3) each of said objects comprises a voltage regulator such that each object transmits an identification signal at a fixed voltage level; and
/or(4) said location system is configured to ensure that a distance between two adjacent objects is always longer or equal to a minimum distance that can be resolved by said location system. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34)
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35. A machine-readable storage medium comprising a computer program, which, when executed, causes a location device to perform a location method for determining the positions of a plurality of objects located on a game board, wherein each of said objects is configured to transmit an identification signal wirelessly for identification and at least one first, one second and one third sensors, each separately positioned at different fixed locations of said game board, and said location method comprising:
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each time when an object transmits an identification signal, obtaining a first, a second and a third identification signals received by said first, said second and said third sensors, wherein each of said received identification signals has a signal strength; and determining the positions of said objects on said game board according to the signal strengths of said identification signals received.
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Specification