METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR RANGING FINDING, ORIENTING, AND/OR POSITIONING OF SINGLE AND/OR MULTIPLE DEVICES

• US 20110279366A1
• Filed: 07/25/2011
• Published: 11/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: XYZ INXYZ Interactive Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: XYZ INXYZ Interactive Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Lohbihler, Andrew H.
• Granted Patent: US 9,024,810 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/157
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/20 Surgical navigation systems; Devices for tracking or guiding surgical instruments, e.g. for frameless stereotaxis
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 13/089 Determining the position of the robot with reference to its environment
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 11/02 using radio waves G01S19/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 11/06 using intensity measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 11/12 using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 11/14 using ultrasonic, sonic, or infrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/08 Systems for measuring distance only indirect measurement G01S13/46
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/10 using transmission of interrupted, pulse modulated waves determination of distance by phase measurement G01S13/32
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/88 Radar or analogous systems specially adapted for specific applications electromagnetic prospecting or detecting of objects, e.g. near-field detection, G01V3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/10 using transmission of interrupted, pulse-modulated waves determination of distance by phase measurement G01S15/32
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/10 using transmission of interrupted, pulse-modulated waves determination of distance by phase measurements G01S17/32
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/87 Combinations of systems using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/466 by Trilateration, i.e. two antennas or two sensors determine separately the distance to a target, whereby with the knowledge of the baseline length, i.e. the distance between the antennas or sensors, the position data of the target is determined
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/468 by Triangulation, i.e. two antennas or two sensors determine separately the bearing, direction or angle to a target, whereby with the knowledge of the baseline length, the position data of the target is determined
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0247 Determining attitude
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0284 Relative positioning
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/16 using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/163 Determination of attitude using inertial means G01C9/00; control of attitude G05D1/49
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/186 Determination of attitude using inertial means G01C9/00; control of attitude G05D1/49
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/497 Means for monitoring or calibrating
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 : Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0325 : using a plurality of light emitters or reflectors or a plurality of detectors forming a reference frame from which to derive the orientation of the object, e.g. by triangulation or on the basis of reference deformation in the picked up image
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 : with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/023 : Light-emitting indicators for multi-layer switches H01H13/83
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/10 : Bases; Stationary contacts mounted thereon
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/88 : Processes specially adapted for manufacture of rectilinearly movable switches having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/06 : Reflector
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/07 : transparent
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/943 : using a plurality of optical emitters or detectors, e.g. keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/968 : using opto-electronic devices
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/94036 : Multiple detection, i.e. where different switching signals are generated after operation of the user is detected at different time instants at different locations during the actuation movement by two or more sensors of the same or different kinds
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/94063 : with optical detection
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/94108 : making use of reflection
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/94112 : having more than one receiver

Abstract

A method and apparatus for ranging finding of signal transmitting devices is provided. The method of signal reception is digitally based only and does not require receivers that are analog measurement devices. Ranging can be achieved using a single pulse emitting device operating in range spaced relation with a minimum of a single signal transmitter and a single digital receiver and processing circuitry. In general a plurality of transmitting pulsed emitters may be ranged and positioned virtually simultaneously in 3-dimensions (XYZ coordinates) using a configuration of a plurality of digital receivers arranged in any fixed 3-dimensional configuration. Applications may involve at least one single transmitter to receiver design to determine range, or at least one transmitted reflecting signal off from an object to determine range.

Claims

1. A signal transmitting device for conveying a signal for use in determining a distance between the signaling device and a remote location, comprising a source transmitter operable to transmit a train of pulses forming a data stream representing a message including a series of preamble pulses having a common carrier frequency and a relatively constant pulse strength, the series of preamble pulses having a pattern corresponding to a predetermined preamble segment of the message, the data stream including a series of body pulses representative of a body segment of the message, the body pulses including a common carrier frequency with the preamble pulses, each of the body pulses having a pulse strength, the pulse strength varying across the series of body pulses in a predetermined pulse strength pattern.

2. A device as defined in claim 1, the source transmitter being operable for generating a series of body pulses with a progressively increasing pulse strength.

3. A device as defined in claim 1, the source transmitter being operable for generating a series of body pulses with a progressively decreasing pulse strength.

4. A device as defined in claim 1, the source transmitter being operable for generating a series of body pulses with a varying pulse strength from one pulse to another in the series.

5. A device as defined in claim 1, the source transmitter being operable for generating a series of body pulses with a varying pulse strength from one pulse to another in the series, according to a fixed or varying pattern

6. A device as defined in claim 1, the source transmitter being operable for generating a series of body pulses with a varying pulse strength from one pulse to another in the series according to a predetermined algorithm.

7. A device as defined in claim 1, the source transmitter being operable with carrier frequencies including near infrared, far infrared, visible, laser, ultra-violet, high frequency radio, ultrasonic, and combinations and modulations thereof.

8. A device as defined in claim 1, the source transmitter being operable to deliver the series of header and body pulses at pulsing speeds ranging from 10 to 10,000 KHz for pulses transmitted at visible light or infrared carrier frequencies, from 100 KHz to 10 GHz for pulses transmitted at radio carrier frequencies, and from 10 Hz to 100 KHz for pulses transmitted at ultra-sonic carrier frequencies.

9. A device as defined in claim 1, the preamble segment including unique identity including one or more unique data field code-words assigned to the source transmitter.

10. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein the signals are identifiable by at least one preamble or data field identity code, operational data field, time-synchronizing data code, and/or ranging code.

11. A device as defined in claim 1, the signal including a signal ranging code, wherein the different versions of the pulse pattern are identifiable using variable radiated signal strength that is varied in a sequence which includes the actual data code.

12. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein the transmitter is affixed to a pointing device and the electronic circuit is coupled with an input device operatively associated with a personal computer having a display device and such that the pointing device is operable to move a cursor on the display device.

13. A device as defined in claim 1, the source transmitter including a carrier code generator to generate a carrier waveform, a signal code generator to generate a signal waveform.

14. A device as defined in claim 1, the signal code generator configured to generate a signal waveform, including an identity code waveform and a data field code waveform together or in succession.

15. A device as defined in claim 1, the signal code generator configured to generate an encryption waveform.

16. A device as defined in claim 1, the signal code generator configured to generate a signal waveform, including a identity code waveform, a data field code waveform and/or an encryption waveform together or in succession.

17. A device as defined in claim 1, the signal code generator configured to generate a ranging segment waveform.

18. A device as defined in claim 1, the signal code generator configured to generate a signal waveform, including a identity code waveform, a data field code waveform an encryption waveform, and/or a ranging segment waveform, together or in succession.

19. A device as defined in claim 1, the signal code generator configured to generate a signal waveform.

20. A device as defined in claim 1, further comprising a processor, the processor configured to control the generation of a signal waveform including a ranging segment waveform, according to a power function, R(x)=x, where R(x) is a power level, and where x is a pulse number which increases from zero to N, and N is a maximum power level.