IR/RF locator
DCFirst Claim
1. A system for determining the location and the identity of a device or person in an enclosure, comprising:
- a plurality of stationary infrared transmitters distributed in various zones within the enclosure, each of said transmitters including means for generating an infrared location code signal representative of the location of the associated transmitter within the enclosure;
a plurality of portable transceivers each being formed of an infrared receiver responsive to detect infrared location code signals from stationary infrared transmitters, means for generating a PIN signal representative of the person or device with which the portable transceiver is associated, and an RF transmitter to generate bursts of an RF output signal representative of the PIN code and the detected location code signal for detection by a remote RF receiver and use at a central station.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An infrared (IR) article or person locator system is described wherein a plurality of stationary units are distributed in zones throughout an enclosure. The article or person carries a portable device so that the infrared communication link can derive local information as to where the article or person is and an RF link is used, instead of cables, to transfer the local information to a central processor or station. In one embodiment local stationary beacons generate location codes at an IR carrier frequency and IR portable devices carry transceivers made of an IR receiver and a portable RF transmitter transmits the location code and a PIN code associated with the portable device to the central station. Techniques are described for reducing electrical power demands on the portable device'"'"'s battery while enhancing the speed with which the central station can be alerted of a change in the location of the portable device.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A system for determining the location and the identity of a device or person in an enclosure, comprising:
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a plurality of stationary infrared transmitters distributed in various zones within the enclosure, each of said transmitters including means for generating an infrared location code signal representative of the location of the associated transmitter within the enclosure; a plurality of portable transceivers each being formed of an infrared receiver responsive to detect infrared location code signals from stationary infrared transmitters, means for generating a PIN signal representative of the person or device with which the portable transceiver is associated, and an RF transmitter to generate bursts of an RF output signal representative of the PIN code and the detected location code signal for detection by a remote RF receiver and use at a central station. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for determining the location and identity of a person or equipment within a facility comprising the steps of:
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transmitting infrared location signals respectively associated with predetermined zones within the facility; detecting the infrared location signals at portable devices associated with a person or equipment and re-transmitting the detected location signals from the portable devices in RF signal bursts; combining the RF re-transmission of location signals with personal identification code signals respectively associated with individual ones of the portable devices; whereby a determination can be made at a remote location in which zone of the facility the person or equipment is located. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system for generating a signal representative of the location and identity of a device or person in an enclosure, comprising:
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a plurality of portable infrared transmitters distributed in the enclosure, each of said infrared transmitters including means for generating a PIN signal representative of the person or device with which the portable infrared transmitter is associated so that the infrared transmitter produces an infrared PIN code signal indicative thereof in common IR carrier frequency bursts; a plurality of stationary transceivers distributed in various zones within the enclosure, each transceiver being formed of an infrared receiver to detect an infrared PIN code signal from a portable infrared transmitter, means for measuring and storing the signal strength of each such received IR carrier frequency bursts, means for generating a location code signal representative of the zone in which the associated stationary transceiver is located within the enclosure, and an RF transmitter to generate RF output signal bursts and representative of the detected infrared PIN signal from an infrared transmitter and the location code signal for detection by a remote RF receiver. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. A system for providing a signal representative of the location and identity of a device or person in an enclosure to a central processor, comprising:
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a plurality of stationary infrared transmitters distributed in the enclosure, each of said transmitters including means for repeatedly generating an infrared location code signal which is FM modulated onto an IR carrier and is representative of the location of the associated transmitter within the enclosure; a plurality of portable transceivers each being formed of an infrared receiver having an FM receiver section so as to detect an infrared location code signal from a stationary infrared transmitter, means for generating a PIN signal representative of the person or device with which the portable transceivers are associated, means for repeatedly producing a modulation signal representative of said infrared code and said PIN signal, and an RF transmitter having means for generating an RF carrier signal and means for applying said modulation signal to modulate said RF carrier for detection by a remote RF receiver of said infrared code and said PIN signal, whereby location and identification information is remotely collected with infrared communication and transferred via RF to the central processor.
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20. A system for providing a signal representative of the location and identity of a device or person in an enclosed area to a central processor, comprising:
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a plurality of portable infrared transmitters distributed in the enclosure, each of said infrared transmitters including a PIN signal generator representative of the person or device with which the portable transmitter is associated so that the infrared transmitter produces an infrared PIN code signal indicative thereof; a plurality of stationary selectively placed transceivers, each being formed of an infrared receiver responsive to detect an infrared PIN code signal from a portable infrared transmitter, means for generating a location code signal representative of the location of the associated stationary transceiver and an RF transmitter having means for generating an RF carrier signal, means for producing a modulation signal representative of the detected infrared PIN signal from an infrared transmitter and the location code signal, and means for modulating the RF carrier signal with the modulation signal for detection by a remote RF receiver, whereby location and identification information is remotely collected with infrared communication and transferred via RF to the central processor.
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21. A system for determining the location and the identity of a device or person in an enclosure, comprising:
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a plurality of stationary infrared transmitters distributed in various zones within the enclosure, each of said transmitters including means for generating an infrared location code packet representative of the location of the associated transmitter within the enclosure;
each of said infrared transmitters transmitting infrared location code packets in the form of frequency modulation with a substantially continuously transmitted infrared carrier and continuously repeated location code;a plurality of portable transceivers each being formed of an infrared receiver responsive to detect infrared location code packets from stationary infrared transmitters, and wherein said infrared receiver includes an FM receiver having a sufficient capture ratio so as to enhance the receiver'"'"'s capability in isolating and selecting the stronger of incident infrared signals from different infrared transmitters; means within the portable transceiver to enter a sleep mode during which battery current drain is significantly reduced;
an internal timer for leaving the sleep mode so as to enable the portable transceiver to receive a subsequently available infrared code packet,means for generating a PIN code signal representative of the person or device with which the portable transceiver is associated, and an RF transmitter to generate bursts of an RF output signal representative of the PIN code and the detected location code signal for detection by a remote RF receiver and use at a central station; and an RF transmission controller responsive to detected location code signals for determining whether an RF portable device remains in place or has changed its location;
so as to delay sending an RF transmission burst to the remote RF receiver when the portable remains in place and for sending a said RF transmission burst when the portable device has changed its location.
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22. A method for determining the location and identity of a person or equipment within a facility comprising the steps of:
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transmitting infrared location signals as repeated FM packets respectively associated with predetermined zones within the facility; placing portable devices having infrared receivers periodically in idle and awakened modes during which the infrared receivers can detect location codes in incident FM location packets; determining whether the detected location signal in an FM packet represents a change in location of the portable device; transmitting the detected location signals from the portable devices in RF signal bursts together with personal identification code signals respectively associated with individual ones of the portable devices when a change in location of a portable device has been determined; whereby a determination can be made at a remote location in which zone of the facility the person or equipment is located with battery powered infrared portable devices requiring low battery power drain.
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Specification