Laser locating and tracking system for externally activated tags

• US 7,229,017 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2006
• Issued: 06/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Want, Roy, Richley, Edward A., Fishkin, Kenneth P., Harrison, Beverly L., Gujar, Anuj Uday
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, UYEN CHAU N
• Application Number:
  US11/359,643
• Publication Number:
  US 20060138225A1
• Time in Patent Office: 476 Days
• Field of Search: 235382-385
• US Class Current: 235/385
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10009 sensing by radiation using wavelengths larger than 0.1 mm, e.g. radio-waves or microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10079 the collision being resolved in the spatial domain, e.g. temporary shields for blindfolding the interrogator in specific directions
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10554 Moving beam scanning

Abstract

A system for identification and tracking of a tag distributed in a room is presented. A laser base station is configured to scan laser beams through a portion of a room. A tag is configured to be reactive to incident laser beams scanned from the laser base station to provide a data signal back to the laser base station. A tag tracking system is configured to receive input derived from the data signal from the laser base station. The tag tracking system stores state records of position and informational content of the tag generated from the input. The tag tracking system determines angular position of the tag with respect to the laser base station based on the position and information content of the tag stored in the state records.

Claims

1. A system for identification and tracking of a tag distributed in a room, comprising:

a laser base station to scan laser beams through a portion of a room;

a tag enabling identification and tracking, comprising;

a surface reflective of incident laser beams scanned from the laser base station; and

a trigger circuit reactive to the incident laser beams to provide a data signal comprising content information stored in the tag, which is broadcast back to the laser base station; and

a tag tracking system, comprising;

a sensor to accept the incident laser beams that were reflected from the surface of the tag;

a receiver to receive the data signal broadcast from the tag; and

a processor to determine angular position of the tag with respect to the laser base station and the content information provided in the data signal.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the tag is passive.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the tag is active and comprises an internal power supply to power a data broadcast element.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the tag is active and comprises an internal power supply to power an optical data output element.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the tag is active and comprises an internal power supply to power a radio data output element.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the tag is active and comprises an internal power supply to power an acoustic data output element.

7. A system for identification and tracking of a tag distributed in a room, comprising:

at least two laser base stations to scan laser beams through a portion of a room;

a tag enabling identification and tracking, comprising;

a surface reflective of incident laser beams scanned from the at least two laser base stations; and

a trigger circuit reactive to the incident laser beams to provide a data signal comprising content information stored in the tag, which is broadcast back to the at least two laser base stations; and

a tag tracking system comprising;

a sensor to accept the incident laser beams that were reflected from the surface of the tag;

a receiver to receive the data signal broadcast from the tag; and

a processor to determine an absolute position of the tag based on the content information provided in the data signal.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the tag is passive.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the tag is active and comprises an internal power supply to power a data broadcast element.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the tag is active and comprises an internal power supply to power an optical data output element.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the tag is active and comprises an internal power supply to power a radio data output element.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the tag is active and comprises an internal power supply to power an acoustic data output element.