Ranging system and method
First Claim
1. A method of estimating range to an object comprising:
- transmitting at least one UWB signal;
receiving at least one UWB signal;
sampling the received UWB signal depending on a plurality of clock and/or sample pulses having a first frequency;
providing a fractional signal having a second frequency that is lower than the first frequency and a phase that is dependent on the delay between when the UWB signal is actually received and when the received UWB signal is first sampled, wherein providing the fractional signal comprises;
starting an oscillation signal A when the UWB signal is received, signal A having a third frequency which is similar to the first frequency;
starting an oscillation signal B when the first clock or sample pulse occurs after signal A starts, signal B having a fourth frequency which has a relatively small frequency difference to the third frequency;
multiplying signals A and B to generate signal C; and
providing the lower frequency component of signal C as the fractional signal; and
determining the range based on at least a first number of clock or sample pulses between transmitting and receiving the UWB signal and the phase of the fractional signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for estimating range to an object comprising a system for estimating range to an object comprising a transmitter to transmit at least one UWB signal, a receiver to receive at least one UWB signal, a sampler to sample the received UWB signal depending on a plurality of clock and/or sample pulses having a first frequency, and a circuit and/or processor configured to generate a fractional signal having a second frequency that is lower that the first frequency and a phase that is dependant on the delay between when the UWB signal is actually received and when the received UWB signal is first sampled, and determine the range based on at least a first number of clock or sample pulses between transmitting and receiving the UWB signal and the phase of the fractional signal. Also a method of estimating range to an object.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method of estimating range to an object comprising:
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transmitting at least one UWB signal; receiving at least one UWB signal; sampling the received UWB signal depending on a plurality of clock and/or sample pulses having a first frequency; providing a fractional signal having a second frequency that is lower than the first frequency and a phase that is dependent on the delay between when the UWB signal is actually received and when the received UWB signal is first sampled, wherein providing the fractional signal comprises; starting an oscillation signal A when the UWB signal is received, signal A having a third frequency which is similar to the first frequency; starting an oscillation signal B when the first clock or sample pulse occurs after signal A starts, signal B having a fourth frequency which has a relatively small frequency difference to the third frequency; multiplying signals A and B to generate signal C; and providing the lower frequency component of signal C as the fractional signal; and determining the range based on at least a first number of clock or sample pulses between transmitting and receiving the UWB signal and the phase of the fractional signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for estimating range to an object comprising:
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a transmitter to transmit at least one UWB signal; a receiver to receive at least one UWB signal; a sampler to sample the received UWB signal depending on a plurality of clock and/or sample pulses having a first frequency, and a circuit and/or processor configured to generate a fractional signal having a second frequency that is lower than the first frequency and a phase that is dependant on the delay between when the UWB signal is actually received and when the received UWB signal is first sampled, and determine the range based on at least a first number of clock or sample pulses between transmitting and receiving the UWB signal and the phase of the fractional signal, wherein the circuit and/or processor is also configured to start an oscillation signal A when the UWB signal is received, signal A having a third frequency which is similar to the first frequency, start an oscillation signal B when the first clock or sample pulse occurs after signal A starts, signal B having a fourth frequency which has a relatively small frequency difference to the third frequency, multiply signals A and B to generate signal C, and provide the lower frequency component of signal C as the fractional signal. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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Specification