Device and method for position measurement by means of linear doppler shifts generated

• US 7,719,469 B2
• Filed: 10/06/2006
• Issued: 05/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cairos Technologies Ag
• Original Assignee: Cairos Technologies Ag
• Inventors: Englert, Walter, Bucher, Tilman
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza; Thomas H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen; Nga X
• Application Number:
  US11/539,570
• Publication Number:
  US 20080084351A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,320 Days
• Field of Search: 342/418, 342/423, 342/104, 342385-407
• US Class Current: 342/418
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/50 Systems of measurement based on relative movement of target
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/878 Combination of several spaced transmitters or receivers of known location for determining the position of a transponder or a reflector G01S13/874 takes precedence

Abstract

A position determination method including a step of transmitting a periodic signal having a carrier frequency, a step of sequentially receiving the periodic signal having the carrier frequency at various locations using at least one antenna, and a step of determining a first coordinate of the object location on the basis of a zero crossing of a Doppler frequency response which may be associated with the first coordinate of the object location, the first coordinate of the object location corresponding to a coordinate of that location of the at least one antenna which it has when receiving the periodic signal at the zero crossing in relation to the object location.

Claims

1. An object location system for providing information about an object location within a location determination area, comprising:

a location determination area comprising a rectangular playing field, wherein the location determination area is associated with four linear sequential receivers, wherein one linear sequential receiver is situated along each side of the rectangular playing field, each linear sequential receiver having at least two antennas for sequentially receiving periodic signals having a carrier frequency, the antennas being arranged along a line, thus simulating the Doppler effect;

a movable object within the location determination area containing a transmitter for transmitting period signals having a carrier frequency;

a location determiner for determining the first coordinate of the object location within the location determination area on the basis of a zero crossing of a Doppler frequency response which may be associated with the first coordinate of the object location, the first coordinate of the object location corresponding to a coordinate of that location of one of the at least two antennas of at least one linear sequential receiver which it has when transmitting or receiving the periodic signal at the zero crossing in relation to the object location.

2. The object location system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the sequential receivers comprise a plurality of antennas, wherein each of the plurality of antennas are sequentially operated as a receive antenna to electronically simulate an antenna movement and to receive a periodic signal transmitted by the object.

3. The object location system as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least two antennas of each of the sequential receivers comprise an individual antenna linearly movable along the location determination area.

4. The object location system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the sequential receivers are configured to cause an antenna movement speed v>

c/1000, c representing the speed of light.

5. The object location system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the location determiner is further configured to determine a second coordinate of the object location on the basis of an inclination of the Doppler frequency response in the zero crossing of the Doppler frequency response.

6. The object location system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the location determiner exhibits an analog bandpass filter having a passband around the carrier frequency for filtering the signals from at least one of the at least two antennas of at least one linear sequential receiver.

7. The object location system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the location determiner includes an A/D converter and a digital bandpass filter having a passband around the carrier frequency for filtering the signals from at least one of the at least two antennas of at least one linear sequential receiver.

8. A simulated Doppler effect position determination system, comprising:

device for providing information about an object location within a location determination area wherein the object is positioned, wherein the location determination area comprises a rectangular playing field, wherein it is possible to associate a first coordinates with an object location, the device further comprising;

four linear sequential transmitters, wherein one linear sequential transmitter is situated along each side of the rectangular playing field, each sequential transmitter having at least two antennas for sequentially transmitting periodic signals having a carrier frequency, the antennas being arranged along a line;

an object positioned within the location determination area, wherein the position of the object may be determined, the object further comprising;

a receiver for receiving periodic signals from at least one of the four linear sequential transmitters; and

,

a location determiner for determining the first coordinate of the object location on the basis of a zero crossing of a Doppler frequency response which may be associated with the first coordinate of the object location, the first coordinate of the object location corresponding to a coordinate of that location of one of the at least two antennas of at least one linear sequential receiver which it has when transmitting the periodic signal at the zero crossing in relation to the object location.

9. A method for providing simulated Doppler effect information about an object location within a location determination area, comprising:

establishing a location determination area comprising a rectangular playing field, wherein the local determination area is associated with four linear sequential receivers, wherein one linear sequential transmitter is situated along each side of the rectangular playing field, wherein each linear sequential receiver has at least two antennas are arraigned along a line;

positioning an object within the location determination area, wherein the object is configured to transmit periodic signals having a carrier frequency;

sequentially receiving periodic signals using the at least two antennas of at least one linear sequential receiver; and

determining the first coordinate of the object location on the basis of a zero crossing of a Doppler frequency response which may be associated with the first coordinate of the object location, the first coordinate of the object location corresponding to a coordinate of that location of one of the at least two antennas of at least one linear sequential receiver which it has when transmitting or receiving the periodic signal at the zero crossing in relation to the object location.

10. A computer program having a program code for performing a simulated Doppler effect method for providing information about an object positioned within a location determination area, it being possible to associate a first coordinate with the object location, comprising:

providing a location determination area comprising a rectangular playing field, wherein the location determination area is associated with four linear sequential receivers, wherein one linear sequential receiver is situated along each side of the rectangular playing field, each linear sequential receiver having at least two antennas for sequentially receiving periodic signals having a carrier frequency at various locations using the at least two antennas;

a movable object within the location determination area containing a transmitter for transmitting period signals having a carrier frequency, simulating a Doppler effect;

determining the first coordinate of the object location on the basis of a zero crossing of a Doppler frequency response which may be associated with the first coordinate of the object location within the location determination area, the first coordinate of the object location corresponding to a coordinate of that location of one of the at least two antennas of at least one linear sequential receiver which it has when transmitting or receiving the periodic signal at the zero crossing in relation to the object location, when the computer program runs on a computer or a microcontroller.