Apparatus and method for locating objects in a three-dimensional space
First Claim
1. A system for locating a plurality of objects in a three-dimensional space;
- the system comprising;
(a) a digital time-shift modulated ultra wideband impulse radio network;
said impulse radio network employing pulse position modulation for indicating information;
said impulse radio network including at least three reference impulse radio units and at least one mobile position indicating apparatus;
position information relating said at least three reference impulse radio units being recorded by at least one indicating reference impulse radio unit of said at least three reference impulse radio units;
said at least three reference impulse radio units being in mutual communication; and
(b) an affixing structure;
said affixing structure affixing a respective mobile position indicating apparatus of said at least one mobile position indicating apparatus with a respective object of said plurality of objects;
a respective mobile position indicating apparatus of said at least one mobile position indicating apparatus transmitting an impulse radio identifying signal;
said identifying signal being received by at least one receiving reference impulse radio unit of said plurality of reference impulse radio units;
at least one indicating reference impulse radio unit of said at least three reference impulse radio units cooperating with said at least one receiving reference impulse radio unit in using said identifying signal for developing coordinate information for determining said locating of said respective mobile position indicating apparatus.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for locating of objects in a three-dimensional space comprises: (a) an impulse radio network including at least three reference impulse radio units and at least one mobile position indicating apparatus; position information relating the impulse radio units is recorded by at least one indicating impulse radio unit; the impulse radio units are in communication; and (b) an affixing structure for affixing a respective mobile position indicating apparatus with a respective object. A respective mobile position indicating apparatus transmits an impulse radio identifying signal that is received by a receiving impulse radio unit. An indicating impulse radio unit cooperates with the receiving impulse radio unit in using the identifying signal for developing coordinate information for locating the respective mobile position indicating apparatus. The method comprises the steps of: (a) providing an impulse radio network including at least three reference impulse radio units and at least one mobile position indicating apparatus; position information relating the impulse radio units is recorded by at least one indicating impulse radio unit; the impulse radio units are in communication; (b) providing an affixing structure for affixing a respective mobile position indicating apparatus with a respective object; (c) transmitting an impulse radio identifying signal from a respective mobile position indicating apparatus; (d) Receiving the identifying signal by a receiving impulse radio unit; and (e) operating an indicating impulse radio unit in cooperation with the receiving impulse radio unit to determine the location of the mobile position indicating apparatus.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for locating a plurality of objects in a three-dimensional space;
- the system comprising;
(a) a digital time-shift modulated ultra wideband impulse radio network;
said impulse radio network employing pulse position modulation for indicating information;
said impulse radio network including at least three reference impulse radio units and at least one mobile position indicating apparatus;
position information relating said at least three reference impulse radio units being recorded by at least one indicating reference impulse radio unit of said at least three reference impulse radio units;
said at least three reference impulse radio units being in mutual communication; and
(b) an affixing structure;
said affixing structure affixing a respective mobile position indicating apparatus of said at least one mobile position indicating apparatus with a respective object of said plurality of objects;
a respective mobile position indicating apparatus of said at least one mobile position indicating apparatus transmitting an impulse radio identifying signal;
said identifying signal being received by at least one receiving reference impulse radio unit of said plurality of reference impulse radio units;
at least one indicating reference impulse radio unit of said at least three reference impulse radio units cooperating with said at least one receiving reference impulse radio unit in using said identifying signal for developing coordinate information for determining said locating of said respective mobile position indicating apparatus.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
- the system comprising;
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9. A system for locating equipment pieces in a geographic area;
- the system comprising;
(a) a digital time-shift modulated ultra wideband impulse radio network;
said impulse radio network employing pulse position modulation for indicating information;
(1) a plurality of reference impulse radio units; and
(2) a plurality of mobile position indicating apparatuses; and
(b) affixing structures associated with said plurality of mobile position indicating apparatuses for affixing respective individual mobile position indicating apparatuses of said plurality of mobile position indicating apparatuses to selected individual equipment pieces of said equipment pieces;
selected mobile position indicating apparatuses of said plurality of mobile position indicating apparatuses being transmitting mobile position indicating apparatuses;
said transmitting mobile position indicating apparatuses transmitting respective impulse radio identifying signals;
each said respective identifying signal being related to a respective said transmitting mobile position indicating apparatus;
said respective identifying signal being received by at least one receiving reference impulse radio unit of said plurality of reference impulse radio units;
at least one indicating reference impulse radio unit of said plurality of reference impulse radio units cooperating with said at least one receiving reference impulse radio unit in using said respective identifying signal for developing position information for determining said locating of said respective transmitting mobile position indicating apparatus.- View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
- the system comprising;
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12. A system for locating persons in a geographic area;
- the system comprising;
(a) a digital time-shift modulated ultra wideband impulse radio network;
said impulse radio network employing pulse position modulation for indicating information;
(1) at least three reference impulse radio units; and
(2) a plurality of mobile position indicating apparatuses; and
(b) affixing structures associated with said plurality of mobile position indicating apparatuses for affixing respective individual mobile position indicating apparatuses of said plurality of mobile position indicating apparatuses to selected individuals of said persons;
first selected mobile position indicating apparatuses of said plurality of mobile position indicating apparatuses being transmitting mobile position indicating apparatuses;
said transmitting mobile position indicating apparatuses transmitting respective impulse radio identifying signals;
each said respective identifying signal being related to a respective said transmitting mobile position indicating apparatus;
said identifying signal being received by at least one receiving reference impulse radio unit of said at least three reference impulse radio units;
at least one indicating reference impulse radio unit of said at least three reference impulse radio units cooperating with said at least one receiving reference impulse radio unit in using said respective identifying signal for developing position information for determining location of said respective transmitting mobile position indicating apparatus.- View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
- the system comprising;
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18. A method system for locating a plurality of objects in a three-dimensional space;
- the method comprising the steps of;
(a) providing a digital time-shift modulated ultra wideband impulse radio network;
said impulse radio network employing pulse position modulation for indicating information;
said impulse radio network including at least three reference impulse radio units and at least one mobile position indicating apparatus;
position information relating said at least three reference impulse radio units being recorded by at least one indicating reference impulse radio unit of said at least three reference impulse radio units;
said at least three reference impulse radio units being in mutual communication;
(b) providing an affixing structure;
said affixing structure affixing a respective mobile position indicating apparatus of said at least one mobile position indicating apparatus with a respective object of said plurality of objects;
(c) transmitting an impulse radio identifying signal from a respective mobile position indicating apparatus of said at least one mobile position indicating apparatus;
(d) receiving said identifying signal by at least one receiving reference impulse radio unit of said plurality of reference impulse radio units; and
(e) operating at least one indicating reference impulse radio unit of said at least three reference impulse radio units in cooperation with said at least one receiving reference impulse radio unit to use said identifying signal to develop coordinate information for determining said locating of said respective mobile position indicating apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
(f) at least periodically receiving a location indication by said receiving mobile position indicating apparatus from at least one of said at least three reference impulse radio units;
said location indication relating to own location of said receiving mobile position indicating apparatus.
- the method comprising the steps of;
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20. A method for locating a plurality of objects in a three-dimensional space as recited in claim 19 wherein said receiving mobile position indicating apparatus includes a display element, and wherein the method comprises the further step of:
(f) displaying said own location at said receiving mobile position indicating apparatus using said display element.
Specification