Small aperture broadband localizing system

• US 7,880,684 B2
• Filed: 04/23/2007
• Issued: 02/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Next-Ro Inc
• Original Assignee: Next-Ro Inc
• Inventors: Schantz, Hans Gregory
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho; Tan
• Application Number:
  US11/789,088
• Publication Number:
  US 20070195005A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,380 Days
• Field of Search: 343/867, 343/793, 343/767, 343/795, 342/445, 342/447, 340/572.7
• US Class Current: 343/867
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/24 varying the orientation by switching energy from one active radiating element to another, e.g. for beam switching

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a small aperture broadband localizing system, comprising one or more systems for ascertaining angle-of-arrival of an electromagnetic signal and a transmit tag. A system for ascertaining angle-of-arrival of an electromagnetic signal further comprises a compact antenna array and an evaluation apparatus, and an electromagnetic signal is preferentially a broadband or ultra-wideband (UWB) signal.

Claims

1. A small aperture broadband localizing system comprising:

one or more systems for ascertaining angle of arrival of an electromagnetic signal and at least one distal transmitter generating said electromagnetic signal,

wherein each of said one or more systems for ascertaining angle of arrival of an electromagnetic signal further comprises an antenna array and an evaluation apparatus,

wherein said evaluation apparatus determines said angle of arrival of said electromagnetic signal,

wherein said antenna array is compact,

and wherein said electromagnetic signal is a broadband electromagnetic signal.

2. A small aperture broadband localizing system as recited in claim 1 wherein said distal transmitter is a transmit tag further comprising a transmit tag antenna with a pattern approximately similar to a cardiod pattern.

3. A small aperture broadband localizing system as recited in claim 1 wherein said distal transmitter is a transmit tag further comprising a transmit tag antenna and wherein said transmit tag antenna further includes an overlapping feed region.

4. A small aperture broadband localizing system as recited in claim 1 wherein said distal transmitter is a nano-antenna apparatus, said nano-antenna apparatus further comprising:

a first conducting surface,

a second conducting surface,

a gap region between said first conducting surface and said second conducting surface; and

at least one discharge switch.

5. A small aperture broadband localizing system comprising a transmitter and a system for ascertaining angle of arrival of an electromagnetic signal,

said electromagnetic signal having at least one signal characteristic;

said at least one signal characteristic indicating a first state or a second state;

said system for ascertaining angle of arrival of an electromagnetic signal comprising;

(a) a plurality of n antenna elements intersecting a common axis and cooperating to establish 2n sectors;

each respective sector of said 2n sectors being defined by two said antenna elements of said plurality of n antenna elements and said axis;

said signal characteristic indicating said first state on a first side of each respective antenna element of said n antenna elements and indicating said second state on a second side of each said respective antenna element;

combinations of said signal characteristics in each said respective sector uniquely identifying said respective sector; and

(b) an evaluation apparatus coupled with at least two antenna elements of said plurality of n antenna elements;

said evaluation apparatus employing said state of said signal characteristic sensed by each of said at least two antenna elements to effect said ascertaining angle of arrival to a resolution of at least one said respective sector.

6. A small aperture broadband localizing system as recited in claim 5 wherein said transmitter further comprises a transmit tag antenna with a pattern approximately similar to a cardiod pattern.

7. A small aperture broadband localizing system as recited in claim 5 wherein said transmitter further comprises a transmit tag antenna and wherein said transmit tag antenna further includes an overlapping feed region.

8. A small aperture broadband localizing system as recited in claim 5 wherein said transmitter is a nano-antenna apparatus, said nano-antenna apparatus further comprising:

a first conducting surface,

a second conducting surface,

a gap region between said first conducting surface and said second conducting surface; and

at least one discharge switch.