System for determining a position of a moving transponder

• US 6,864,829 B2
• Filed: 02/14/2003
• Issued: 03/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mylaps B.V.
• Original Assignee: AMB i.t. Holding B.V. (Sports Timing Holding BV)
• Inventors: Hin, Fransciscus Robertus A. C., Bervoets, Alfonsus Maria
• Primary Examiner(s): Gregory, Bernarr E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Andrea, Brian K
• Application Number:
  US10/367,121
• Publication Number:
  US 20040160355A1
• Time in Patent Office: 753 Days
• Field of Search: 342 42- 51
• US Class Current: 342/46
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/22 in connection with sports or games

Abstract

The invention relates to a system for determining a position of a moving transponder adapted to receive a substantially stationary magnetic field signal and to transmit a further signal. The system comprises a signal generating arrangement adapted to generate said stationary magnetic field signal for said transponder, said transponder being adapted to determine a plurality of signal strengths of said received magnetic field signal; at least one signal receiving arrangement, adapted to receive said further signal of said transponder, said transponder being adapted to insert at least one message portion in said further signal indicative of at least one of said plurality of signal received signal strengths and processing means adapted to determine said position in accordance with a plurality of said received signal strengths determined by said moving transponder. This further signal can e.g. be an electromagnetic signal of high frequency that has a high bandwidth enabling the use of a large number of transponders in a sporting event. Furthermore, the power of an electromagnetic signal decreases less rapidly with the distance travelled, such that the high frequency signal can be received at a further distance from the transponder.

Claims

1. System for determining a position of a moving transponder adapted to receive a substantially stationary magnetic field signal and to transmit a further signal, said system comprising:

a signal generating arrangement adapted to generate said stationary magnetic field signal for said transponder, said transponder being adapted to determine a plurality of signal strengths of said received magnetic field signal;

at least one signal receiving arrangement, adapted to receive said further signal of said transponder, said transponder being adapted to insert said plurality of received signal strengths in one or more message portions of said further signal;

processing means adapted to determine said position in accordance with a plurality of said received signal strengths determined by said moving transponder.

2. System according to claim 1, wherein said further signal is an electromagnetic signal of relatively high frequency.

3. System according to claim 2, wherein said relatively high frequency relates to a carrier frequency range of 0.4-6 GHz.

4. System according to claim 1, wherein said signal generating arrangement and said signal receiving arrangement are decoupled from each other.

5. System according to claim 1, wherein said processing means are adapted to determine said position by construction or reconstruction of a position determination pattern on the basis of said plurality of received signal strengths.

6. System according to claim 1, wherein said transponder is adapted to insert a further message portion in said further signal comprising additional data.

7. System according to claim 6, wherein said signal generating arrangement is assigned an identification code and adapted to insert said identification code in said magnetic field signal, such that said transponder may employ said identification code as said additional data.

8. System according to claim 6, wherein said transponder comprises at least one sensor for probing at least one variable of and/or concerning an object associated with said transponder, such that said transponder may employ said variable as said additional data.

9. System according to claim 1, wherein the signal strengths of said plurality of signal strengths are associated with irregular time intervals.

10. Transponder being adapted for receiving a substantially stationary magnetic field signal, for determining a plurality of signal strengths of said received magnetic field signal and for transmitting a further signal having inserted at least one message portion indicative of at least one received signal strength.

11. Transponder according to claim 10, wherein said transponder is assigned an identification code and adapted to insert said identification code in a further message portion of said further signal.

12. Transponder according to claim 10, wherein said transponder comprises at least one sensor for probing at least one variable of and/or concerning an object associated with said transponder and is adapted to insert said variable in a further message portion of said further signal.

13. Transponder according to claim 10, wherein said transponder comprises an encryption module for encrypting said further signal.

14. Transponder signal transmitted by a transponder to a signal receiving arrangement in response to reception of a substantially stationary magnetic field signal of a signal generation arrangement, said transponder signal comprising at least one message portion indicative of at least one signal strength of said received magnetic field signal.

15. Transponder signal according to claim 14, wherein said transponder signal further comprises message portions relating to an identification code of said signal receiving arrangement and/or an identification code of said transponder and/or a variable concerning an object associated with said transponder.

16. Transponder signal according to claim 14, wherein said transponder signal is an encrypted transponder signal.