Two dimension RF location method and apparatus

• US 7,126,471 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2004
• Issued: 10/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Industry Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Gulden, Peter, Ahmed, Osman, Fleischer, Maximilian, Glänzer, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US10/951,451
• Publication Number:
  US 20060071782A1
• Time in Patent Office: 757 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.13, 340/539.15, 340/539.2, 340/539.32
• US Class Current: 340/539.13
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 1/031 Cages for laboratory animals; Cages for measuring metabolism of animals
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 29/005 Monitoring or measuring activity, e.g. detecting heat or mating
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/825 with exchange of information between interrogator and responder

Abstract

A system for generating information identifying a two-dimensional location of objects in within a space includes a plurality of wireless modules and first and second transceiver systems. Each of the plurality of wireless modules corresponds to one of the objects. The first and second radio transceiver systems are spaced apart by a predetermined distance and are disposed proximate the space. The first and second radio transceiver systems are operable to selectively transmit a signal to select wireless module, receive a response signal from the select wireless module, and generate first information based on a detected relationship between the selective transmission and the receipt of the response signal. The system further includes a device operable to calculate a two-dimensional location of the select wireless module based on the first information generated by the first radio transceiver system and the first information generated by the second radio transceiver system.

Claims

1. A system for generating information identifying a two-dimensional location of objects in within a space, comprising:

a plurality of wireless modules, each of the plurality of wireless modules corresponding to one of the objects;

first and second radio transceiver systems spaced apart by a predetermined distance, the first and second radio transceiver systems disposed proximate the space, each of the first and second radio transceiver systems operable to selectively transmit a signal to select wireless module, receive a response signal from the select wireless module, and generate first information based on a detected relationship between the selective transmission and the receipt of the response signal; and

a device operable to calculate a two-dimensional location of the select wireless module based on the first information generated by the first radio transceiver system and the first information generated by the second radio transceiver system.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the wireless modules is disposed proximate an animal cage.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the wireless modules further includes at least one sensor device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the wireless modules includes a frequency modulation continuous wave radar transponder circuit.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the first information generated by the first transceiver system defines a first arc;

the first information generated by the second transceiver system defines a second arc; and

the device is further operable to determine an intersection of the first arc and the second arc.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the wireless modules further includes at least one sensor device and an RF communication circuit operable to transmit sensor information generated by the sensor device to at least one external device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first transceiver system includes an RF communication circuit operable to transmit the first information generated by the first transceiver system to an external device.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the external device is the device operable to calculate the two-dimensional location.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second transceiver systems includes a directional antenna.

10. A method of generating information identifying a two-dimensional location of objects in within a space, the method comprising:

a) transmitting from a first location a first signal having a parameter corresponding to a first object of a plurality of objects within the space;

b) receiving a first responsive signal from the first object;

c) determining first distance information based on a relationship between the first signal and the first responsive signal;

d) transmitting from a second location a second signal having a parameter corresponding to the first object;

e) receiving a second responsive signal from the first object;

f) determining second distance information based on a relationship between the second signal and the second responsive signal;

g) determining a two-dimensional location of the first object within the space based on the first distance information and the second distance information.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the space defines a periphery having four edges, and the first location and the second location are disposed proximate to a common edge of the four edges.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of objects is a communication module disposed proximate an animal cage.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein each of the communication modules includes a radar transponder.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising a step of displaying information representative of the two-dimensional location.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein the two-dimensional location identifies a location within a substantially vertical plane.

16. A system for generating information identifying a two-dimensional location of an animal cage in within a space having a plurality of animal cages, comprising:

a plurality of cage modules, each of the plurality of cage modules corresponding to one of the animal cages;

first and second radio transceiver systems spaced apart by a predetermined distance, the first and second radio transceiver systems disposed proximate the space, each of the first and second radio transceiver systems operable to selectively transmit a signal to select cage module, receive a response signal from the select cage module, and generate first information based on a detected relationship between the selective transmission and the receipt of the response signal; and

a device operable to calculate a two-dimensional location of the select cage module based on the first information generated by the first radio transceiver system and the first information generated by the second radio transceiver system;

a display operable to display information representative of the calculated two-dimensional location.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein each of the cage modules further includes at least one sensor device.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein each of the cage modules includes a frequency modulation continuous wave radar transponder circuit.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein each of the cage modules further includes at least one sensor device and an RF communication circuit operable to transmit sensor information generated by the sensor device to at least one external device.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the first transceiver system includes an RF communication circuit operable to transmit the first information generated by the first transceiver system to an external device.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the external device is the device operable to calculate the two-dimensional location.

22. The system of claim 16 wherein at least one of the first and second transceiver systems includes a directional antenna.