Three dimensional (3-D) object locator system for items or sites using an intuitive sound beacon: system and method of operation

• US 6,684,176 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2001
• Issued: 01/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLC (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Goren, David, Vollkommer, Richard M., Willins, Bruce A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoff, Marc S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MORRIS, ANDREW P
• Application Number:
  US09/961,373
• Publication Number:
  US 20030061001A1
• Time in Patent Office: 854 Days
• Field of Search: 701/300-302, 701/207, 701/211, 701/224, 340/988, 340/990, 340/993-995, 702/150-153
• US Class Current: 702/150
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0284 Relative positioning
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/06 Position of source determined by co-ordinating a plurality of position lines defined by path-difference measurements G01S5/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/033 Headphones for stereophonic communication details thereof, e.g. relating to batteries, cables or control elements H04R1/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/304 For headphones

Abstract

An object locator system generates an audio signal as if emanating from the object as a user varies angular orientation and distance from an object or site to be located within an area. A computer linked to an access transceiver receives transmissions from a user wearing a headset including a transceiver and electronic compass. The compass provides a signal indicative of the user orientation. An access transceiver receives the signal and calculates the location of the user based on the time difference of arrival of the RF signal and triangulation of the user movement. An accelerometer in the headset continuously tracks user movement. The location of the object in a vertical direction is provided by a directory or other reference source stored in the computer. Based on the angular orientation, horizontal and vertical distance of the object or site relative to the user, the computer maps the location information into sounds in the form of pulse amplitude or frequency modulated sound. The audio signal is perceived by the user as emanating from the object or site.

Claims

1. An object locator system comprising:

(a) a user-mounted orientation apparatus including a transceiver which electronically transmits a RF signal representative of the user'"'"'s vision orientation in a 360-degree azimuth;

(b) a processor linked to access transceivers and receiving the RF signal;

(c) an object directory or reference source stored in the processor and providing the location of an object in a three dimensional coordinate system to the processor;

(d) calculating apparatus, executing in the processor, which calculates the angular orientation of the user'"'"'s vision and distance of the user to the object to be located in three dimensions; and

(e) audio apparatus responsive to the processor for generating and transmitting an audio signal based on the processor calculations, the audio signal characterized as three dimensional and perceived by the user as emanating from the object to be located.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

(f) modulating apparatus which changes the intensity of the audio signal as the user approaches the object or travels or faces off-axis from the object location.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

(g) an electronic compass in the user mounted orientation apparatus for providing the signal indicative of the user'"'"'s vision orientation in the azimuth.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

(h) an accelerometer in the user mounted orientation apparatus for tracking user movement and providing a signal indicative of the user position.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

(i) position location apparatus in the access transceiver for calculating the user position by the time difference of arrival of the signal and triangulation; and

conversion apparatus for converting the user position into the three-dimensional coordinate system.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

(j) an operator station for communicating with user.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

(k) switching apparatus for transferring the user from the audio signal to an operator for interactive communication.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the user mounted orientation apparatus further comprises:

(l) a headset set and antenna for receiving the audio signal; and

a microphone enabling the user to communicate with an operator.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the reference source generates the location of the object in a digital packet containing an object identification and object location in three dimensional coordinates.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein user position apparatus generates a digital packet containing a user identification and location in three-dimensional coordinates.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the processor recieves digital packets from the access transceivers and the references source and calculates the user position in terms of angular orientation of the user'"'"'s vision and distance to the object to be located.

12. An object locator system generating three dimensional sounds perceived by a user as emanating from an object to be located, comprising:

(a) a portable user station transmitting a signal for representative of the user'"'"'s direction of vision and position for location and communication purposes;

(b) a central station receiving the signal and providing the location of the portable user station in three dimensions relative to an object to be located as an output signal; and

(c) sound generating apparatus responsive to the output signal and providing to the user portable station the three dimensional audio signal which changes in intensity as the user portable station varies in angular orientation of the user'"'"'s vision and distance to the object to be located.

13. The system of claim 12 further comprising:

(d) an operator station coupled to the central station for communicating with the user portable station in lieu of the three dimensional audio signal.

14. The system of claim 12 further comprising:

(e) calculating apparatus in the central station for calculating the angular orientation of the user'"'"'s vision and distance of the user to the object to be located.

15. The system of claim 12 further comprising:

(f) position location apparatus including access transceivers in the central station for calculating the user position by the time difference of arrival of the signal and triangulation system.

16. A method for locating an object at an unknown location, comprising:

(a) generating an electronic signal indicative of a user'"'"'s vision orientation in a 360-degree azimuth;

(b) transmitting the signal to a processor via access transceivers;

(c) storing in the processor a directory signal indicative of the location of the object in a three dimemsional coordinate system;

(d) calculating the distance and vision orientation of the user relative to the object to be located in three dimensions; and

(e) generating and transmitting via the access transceivers a three dimensional audio signal to the user, the audio signal characterized as emanating from the location of the object and changing in amplitude or phase intensity as the user approaches the object or travels or faces off-orientation from the desired location.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

(f) modulating the intensity of the audio signal as the user approaches the object or travels or faces off-axis from the object location.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

(g) tracking user movement and providing a signal indicative of the user position.

19. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

(i) calculating the user position by the time difference of arrival of the signal and triangulation.

20. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

(k) transferring the user from the audio signal to an operator for interactive communication.

21. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

(l) generating the location of the object in a digital packet containing an object identification and object location in three-dimensional coordinates.

22. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

(m) generating a digital packet containing a user identification and location in three-dimensional coordinates.

23. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

(n) receiving signals from the access transceivers and directory signals stored in the processor and calculating the user position in terms of angular orientation of the user'"'"'s vision and distance to the object to be located.