Distance measuring system
First Claim
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1. A distance measuring system, comprising:
- a first radio unit located at a first location and a second radio unit located at a second location,said first radio unit comprising;
a receiver for receiving an RF query signal from said second radio unit; and
a transmitter responsive to said RF query signal for transmitting an RF answer signal to said second radio unit; and
said second radio unit comprising;
a transmitter for transmitting said RF query signal to said first radio unit;
a receiver for receiving said RF answer signal from said first radio unit;
counting circuitry for counting during a time beginning when said RF query signal is transmitted and ending when said RF answer signal is received so as to generate a count which corresponds to the distance between said first radio unit and said second radio unit; and
display means coupled to said counting circuitry for displaying said count, wherein said counting circuitry comprises;
a counter control circuit;
a counter circuit responsive to a first signal from said counter control circuit for counting in a first direction during the time beginning when said RF query signal is transmitted and ending when said RF answer signal is received and responsive to a second signal from said counter control circuit for counting in a second direction until said counter reaches a predetermined count, said counter circuit generating a ripple signal when said counter circuit reaches the predetermined count; and
an accumulator responsive to the second signal from said counter control circuit for counting in the first direction and responsive to said ripple signal for ending said counting in the first direction.
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Abstract
A distance measuring system includes a base unit and a remote unit. The remote unit transmits a first radio frequency signal to the base unit. The base unit transmits a second radio frequency signal upon receipt of the first radio frequency signal from the remote unit. The remote unit measures the time between transmission of the first radio frequency signal and receipt of the second radio frequency signal, thereby enabling the distance between the base unit and the remote unit to be ascertained. The accuracy of the measured distance may be improved by averaging additional measurement cycles.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A distance measuring system, comprising:
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a first radio unit located at a first location and a second radio unit located at a second location, said first radio unit comprising; a receiver for receiving an RF query signal from said second radio unit; and a transmitter responsive to said RF query signal for transmitting an RF answer signal to said second radio unit; and said second radio unit comprising; a transmitter for transmitting said RF query signal to said first radio unit; a receiver for receiving said RF answer signal from said first radio unit; counting circuitry for counting during a time beginning when said RF query signal is transmitted and ending when said RF answer signal is received so as to generate a count which corresponds to the distance between said first radio unit and said second radio unit; and display means coupled to said counting circuitry for displaying said count, wherein said counting circuitry comprises; a counter control circuit; a counter circuit responsive to a first signal from said counter control circuit for counting in a first direction during the time beginning when said RF query signal is transmitted and ending when said RF answer signal is received and responsive to a second signal from said counter control circuit for counting in a second direction until said counter reaches a predetermined count, said counter circuit generating a ripple signal when said counter circuit reaches the predetermined count; and an accumulator responsive to the second signal from said counter control circuit for counting in the first direction and responsive to said ripple signal for ending said counting in the first direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system for measuring distance between a golfer and a location on a golf course, said system comprising:
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a mobile radio unit at a location of a golfer and a stationary radio unit at said location, said stationary radio unit comprising; a receiver for receiving RF query signals from said mobile radio unit; and a transmitter responsive to said RF query signals for transmitting corresponding RF answer signals to said mobile radio unit; and said mobile radio unit comprising; a transmitter for transmitting said RF query signals to said stationary radio unit; a receiver for receiving said RF answer signals from said stationary radio unit; counting circuitry for generating a count which is the distance between said first radio unit and said second radio unit, said counting circuitry comprising; a counter control circuit; a counter responsive to a first signal from said counter control circuit for counting in a first direction during the time beginning when an RF query signal is transmitted and ending when a corresponding RF answer signal is received and responsive to a second signal from said counter control circuit for counting in a second direction until said counter reaches a predetermined count, said counter generating a ripple signal when said counter reaches the predetermined count; and an accumulator for generating said count and responsive to the second signal from said counter control circuit for counting in the first direction and responsive to said ripple signal for ending said counting in the first direction; and display means coupled to said accumulator for displaying said count.
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10. A distance measuring system, comprising:
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a first radio unit located at a first location and a second radio unit located at a second location, said first radio unit comprising; a receiver for receiving RF query signals from said second radio unit; and a transmitter responsive to said RF query signals for transmitting respective corresponding RF answer signals to said second radio unit; and said second radio unit comprising; a transmitter for transmitting said RF query signals to said first radio unit; a receiver for receiving said RF answer signals from said first radio unit; an elapsed time counter for generating a plurality of elapsed time counts each corresponding to a time which begins when an RF query signal is transmitted to said first radio unit and ends when the respective corresponding RF answer signal is received from said first radio unit; and an accumulator for accumulating a sum of a plurality of respective elapsed time counts, wherein said sum corresponds to the distance between said first and second radio units. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A radio unit for use in a distance measuring system, comprising:
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a transmitter for transmitting query signals to a remotely located radio unit; a receiver for receiving answer signals from said remotely located radio unit, each of said answer signals respectively corresponding to one of said query signals; an elapsed time counter for generating a plurality of elapsed time counts each corresponding to a time which begins when a query signal is transmitted to said remotely located radio unit and ends when the respective corresponding answer signal is received from said remotely located radio unit; and an accumulator for accumulating a sum of a plurality of respective elapsed time counts, wherein said sum corresponds to the distance between said first and second radio units. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A radio unit for use in a distance measuring system, comprising:
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a transmitter for transmitting an RF query signal to a remotely located radio unit; a receiver for receiving an RF answer signal from said remotely located radio unit, said RF answer signal corresponding to said RF query signal; determining means coupled to said receiver for determining an arrival of the center of said corresponding RF answer signal received from said remotely located radio unit; and an elapsed time counter for generating an elapsed time count corresponding to a time which begins when the RF query signal is transmitted to said remotely located radio unit and ends when the center of said corresponding RF answer signal received from said remotely located unit arrives as determined by said determining means. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification