System and method to position register and phase synchronize a monitoring network
First Claim
1. A system for establishing position registration and pair-wise phase differences for a plurality of monitors in a monitor network, to prepare said monitor network for locating a beacon, said system comprising:
- a means at a first said monitor for transmitting a measurement signal from said first monitor to a second said monitor with known phase and signal propagation velocity;
a means at said second monitor for transponding the measurement signal with a pre-identified transponder delay duration for transmission as a return signal from said second monitor to said first monitor;
a means for comparing the return signal with the transmitted signal to establish a phase difference;
a means for determining a separation distance between said first monitor and said second monitor using said established phase difference, said propagation velocity and said pre-identified transponder delay duration to register said first monitor relative to said second monitor; and
a means at one of said first or second monitors for using said separation distance and a measurement signal from said other first or second monitors to determine a pair-wise phase difference for said first and second monitors.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system is disclosed for position registration and phase synchronization of monitors in a monitor network. Each monitor includes a transceiver having a transponder circuit with a calibrated transponder delay. To measure a distance between monitors, an oscillator at a first monitor generates a measurement signal which is transponded by a second monitor for receipt by the first monitor. A phase difference between the received signal and the first monitor oscillator is determined and used with the signal velocity and transponder delay to calculate the distance between monitors. The measured distances are combined with other data (e.g. monitor elevations) to calculate monitor locations. A phase delay is then measured by transmitting a signal from the first to the second monitor for comparison with the second monitor oscillator. A phase difference between oscillators (for use in synchronizing the monitors) is then calculated using the phase delay, separation distance and signal velocity.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A system for establishing position registration and pair-wise phase differences for a plurality of monitors in a monitor network, to prepare said monitor network for locating a beacon, said system comprising:
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a means at a first said monitor for transmitting a measurement signal from said first monitor to a second said monitor with known phase and signal propagation velocity; a means at said second monitor for transponding the measurement signal with a pre-identified transponder delay duration for transmission as a return signal from said second monitor to said first monitor; a means for comparing the return signal with the transmitted signal to establish a phase difference; a means for determining a separation distance between said first monitor and said second monitor using said established phase difference, said propagation velocity and said pre-identified transponder delay duration to register said first monitor relative to said second monitor; and a means at one of said first or second monitors for using said separation distance and a measurement signal from said other first or second monitors to determine a pair-wise phase difference for said first and second monitors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A system for registering the positions of oscillators in a network of common frequency oscillators and determining pair-wise phase differences between pairs of oscillators in said network to prepare said network for use in locating a beacon, said system comprising:
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a means collocated with a first said oscillator in said network for transmitting measurement signals, said measurement signals being transmitted substantially in phase with said first oscillator, said transmitted signal having a signal propagation velocity; a means collocated with said second oscillator for transponding a said measurement signal, said transponding means having a pre-identified transponder delay duration; a means collocated with said first oscillator for receiving said transponded signal and comparing said received transponded signal with said first oscillator to establish a first phase delay; a means for determining a separation distance between said first oscillator and said second oscillator using said established first phase delay, said propagation velocity and said pre-identified transponder delay duration, said separation distance for position registering said first oscillator relative to said second oscillator; a means collocated with said second oscillator for receiving a said measurement signal and comparing said received signal with said second oscillator to establish a second phase delay; and a means for determining a pair-wise phase difference between said first and second oscillators using said second phase delay, said propagation velocity and said separation distance. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for registering the positions of oscillators in a network of common frequency oscillators and determining pair-wise phase differences between pairs of oscillators in said network to prepare said network for use in locating a beacon, said method comprising the steps of:
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transmitting a first measurement signal from the position of a first said oscillator, said first measurement signal being transmitted substantially in phase with said first oscillator and having a signal propagation velocity; transponding said first measurement signal at the position of a second said oscillator with a pre-identified transponder delay duration; receiving said transponded signal at the position of said first oscillator and comparing said received transponded signal with said first oscillator to establish a first phase delay; determining a separation distance between said first oscillator and said second oscillator using said established first phase delay, said propagation velocity of said first measurement signal and said pre-identified transponder delay duration, said separation distance for position registering said first oscillator relative to said second oscillator; transmitting a second measurement signal from the position of a first said oscillator, said second measurement signal being transmitted substantially in phase with said first oscillator and having a signal propagation velocity; receiving said second measurement signal at the position of said second oscillator; comparing said received signal with said second oscillator to establish a second phase delay; and determining a pair-wise phase difference between said first and second oscillators using said second phase delay, said propagation velocity of said second measurement signal and said separation distance. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification