AUTOMOTIVE DIRECTION FINDING SYSTEM BASED ON RECEIVED POWER LEVELS
First Claim
1. A system for locating a vehicle which comprises:
- (a) a transmission device for transmission and receiving of a signal which comprises a plurality of indicators arranged in a plurality of angular locations relative to a reference point, the transmission device is adapted to be held by a user and transmit a radio frequency or microwave frequency transmission signal;
(b) an antenna array positioned on or in a vehicle, the array comprising a plurality of antennas arranged in a plurality of angular locations relative to a reference point, the array is adapted to receive the transmission signal from the transmission device at each antenna;
(c) a microcontroller unit adapted to;
(i) receive digital data converted from the transmission signal, (ii) calculate an angle of arrival (AOA) or direction of arrival (DOA) based on known components and an algorithm; and
(iii) transmit a signal back to the transmission device to indicate the AOA or DOA on the indicators; and
(d) a signal processing unit comprising a switch to alternate between each antenna to obtain a signal transmission at each antenna one by one and provide signal conversion, wherein the signal processing unit is coupled to the plurality of antennas and the microcontroller unit, and wherein the signal processing unit is adapted to receive the signal transmission from each antenna one by one, convert the signals to digital data, and transmit the digital data to the microcontroller unit.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system is provided for locating a vehicle. The system comprises a transmission device such as a key fob for transmission and receiving of a signal. Typically the key fob has a plurality of indicators such as LED indicators arranged in a circle. The key fob is adapted to transmit a radio frequency or microwave frequency transmission signal. An antenna array is positioned on or in a vehicle. The array comprises a plurality of antennas, generally arranged in a circular pattern. The array is adapted to receive the transmission signal from the transmission device which is converted to be analyzed by a microcontroller unit (MCU). The MCU is adapted to: (i) receive digital data converted from the transmission signal, (ii) calculate an angle of arrival (AOA) or direction of arrival (DOA) based on known components and an algorithm, and (iii) transmit a selection signal back to the key fob. A signal processing unit is coupled to the plurality of antennas and the MCU. The signal processing unit is adapted to receive the signal transmission from each antenna, convert the signal to digital data, and transmit the digital data to the MCU.
479 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A system for locating a vehicle which comprises:
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(a) a transmission device for transmission and receiving of a signal which comprises a plurality of indicators arranged in a plurality of angular locations relative to a reference point, the transmission device is adapted to be held by a user and transmit a radio frequency or microwave frequency transmission signal; (b) an antenna array positioned on or in a vehicle, the array comprising a plurality of antennas arranged in a plurality of angular locations relative to a reference point, the array is adapted to receive the transmission signal from the transmission device at each antenna; (c) a microcontroller unit adapted to;
(i) receive digital data converted from the transmission signal, (ii) calculate an angle of arrival (AOA) or direction of arrival (DOA) based on known components and an algorithm; and
(iii) transmit a signal back to the transmission device to indicate the AOA or DOA on the indicators; and(d) a signal processing unit comprising a switch to alternate between each antenna to obtain a signal transmission at each antenna one by one and provide signal conversion, wherein the signal processing unit is coupled to the plurality of antennas and the microcontroller unit, and wherein the signal processing unit is adapted to receive the signal transmission from each antenna one by one, convert the signals to digital data, and transmit the digital data to the microcontroller unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for finding a vehicle comprising the steps of:
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(a) transmitting a radio frequency or microwave frequency signal from a transmission device to an antenna array positioned on or in a vehicle, wherein the array comprises a plurality of antennas arranged in a plurality of angular locations relative to a reference point adapted to receive a transmission signal from the transmission device, and wherein the transmission device comprises a plurality of indicators arranged in a plurality of angular locations relative to a reference point and is adapted to be held by a user; (b) processing the transmission received by the antenna array through a signal processing unit comprising a switch to alternate between each antenna to obtain a signal transmission at each antenna one by one, wherein the signal processing unit is coupled to the plurality of antennas and a microcontroller unit, wherein the signal processing unit is adapted to receive the signal transmission from each antenna one by one, convert the signals to digital data, and transmit the digital data to the microcontroller unit; (c) calculate an angle of arrival (AOA) or direction of arrival (DOA) with the microcontroller unit based on predetermined values and an algorithm using the digital data from the signal processing unit; and (d) transmitting a signal based on the AOA or DOA to the transmission device to activate at least one of the indicators to direct the user towards the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A direction finder apparatus comprising:
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(a) an antenna array adapted to be mounted on or in an object, the array comprising a plurality of antennas arranged in a plurality of angular locations relative to a reference point adapted to receive a radio frequency or microwave frequency transmission signal from a transmission device; (b) a metal housing comprising (i) metallic side-walls positioned between the individual antennas, and (ii) a top and bottom surface positioned above and below the antennas respectively, wherein the antennas are aligned parallel to an axial axis through the center of the housing, and wherein the antenna array is coupled to a signal processing unit comprising a switch to alternate between each antenna to obtain a signal transmission at each antenna one by one and provides signal conversion, and coupled to a microcontroller unit for processing the transmission signal and transmitting a signal back to the transmission device to indicate the direction of the object. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 22)
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21. A system for locating an object or location which comprises:
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(a) a transmission device for transmission and receiving of a signal which comprises a plurality of indicators arranged in a plurality of angular locations relative to a reference point, the transmission device is adapted to be held by a user and transmit a radio frequency or microwave frequency transmission signal; (b) an antenna array positioned on an object or at a location, the array comprising a plurality of antennas arranged in a plurality of angular locations relative to a reference point, the array is adapted to receive the transmission signal from the transmission device at each antenna; (c) a microcontroller unit adapted to;
(i) receive digital data converted from the transmission signal, (ii) calculate an angle of arrival (AOA) or direction of arrival (DOA) based on known components and an algorithm; and
(iii) transmit a signal back to the transmission device to indicate the AOA or DOA on the indicators; and(d) a signal processing unit comprising a rotating switch to alternate between each antenna to obtain a signal transmission at each antenna one by one, wherein the signal processing unit is coupled to the plurality of antennas and the microcontroller unit, and wherein the signal processing unit is adapted to receive the signal transmission from each antenna one by one, convert the signals to digital data, and transmit the digital data to the microcontroller unit.
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Specification