Method And System For Position Determination Using RFID Devices
First Claim
1. A method of determining a gauge and a tilt of a rail track at a location, the method comprising:
- providing a rail trolley including a processor, a memory coupled to the processor, an RFID reader, a gauge sensor, and a tilt sensor;
positioning the rail trolley on the rail track at the location;
interrogating one or more RFID tags positioned along the rail track;
determining, using the processor, a fixed location associated with each of the one or more RFID tags;
determining, using the processor, the location of the rail trolley in relation to the fixed locations associated with each of the one or more RFID tags; and
determining the gauge and tilt of the rail track at the location of the rail trolley.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of determining a gauge and a tilt of a rail track at a location includes providing a rail trolley including a processor, a memory coupled to the processor, an RFID reader, a gauge sensor, and a tilt sensor and positioning the rail trolley on the rail track at the location. The method also includes interrogating one or more RFID tags positioned along the rail track and determining, using the processor, a fixed location associated with each of the one or more RFID tags. The method further includes determining, using the processor, the location of the rail trolley in relation to the fixed locations associated with each of the one or more RFID tags and determining the gauge and tilt of the rail track at the location of the rail trolley.
46 Citations
43 Claims
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1. A method of determining a gauge and a tilt of a rail track at a location, the method comprising:
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providing a rail trolley including a processor, a memory coupled to the processor, an RFID reader, a gauge sensor, and a tilt sensor; positioning the rail trolley on the rail track at the location; interrogating one or more RFID tags positioned along the rail track; determining, using the processor, a fixed location associated with each of the one or more RFID tags; determining, using the processor, the location of the rail trolley in relation to the fixed locations associated with each of the one or more RFID tags; and determining the gauge and tilt of the rail track at the location of the rail trolley. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A rail trolley comprising:
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a mechanical platform; a processor mechanically coupled to the mechanical platform; a memory coupled to the processor; an RFID positioning system mechanically coupled to the mechanical platform; a distance measurement system mechanically coupled to the mechanical platform; a gauge sensor mechanically coupled to the mechanical platform; and a tilt sensor mechanically coupled to the mechanical platform. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of determining a position of an RFID device, the method comprising:
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providing a processor; providing a communications module coupled to the processor; transmitting, an information request from the communications module to the RFID device; receiving, at the communications module, reference data from the RFID device; and determining, using the processor, a position of the RFID device using the reference data. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A system for position analysis, the system comprising:
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a processor; a memory coupled to the processor; a communications module coupled to the processor and operable to communicate with an RFID device; a position determination module coupled to the memory and operable to determine, using reference data stored in the RFID device, a position of the RFID device. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method of determining a position of an object, the method comprising:
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providing a processor; providing a communications module coupled to the processor; transmitting an RF interrogation signal from the communications module to an RFID tag; receiving, at the communications module, an RF response signal from the RFID tag; determining a position associated with the RFID tag using the RF response signal; detecting a presence of the RFID tag in a vicinity of the object; and computing a position of the object using the position associated with the RFID tag. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A position determination system comprising:
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a processor; a memory coupled to the processor; an RFID reader coupled to the processor and operable to transmit signals to and receive signals from an RFID tag; and a system operable to detect a presence of the RFID tag in a vicinity of the position determination system. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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Specification