Position determination system
First Claim
1. A position determination system comprising one or more fixed base units and one or more mobile units, wherein the system is arranged to determine the position in the horizontal plane of a mobile unit using ultrasound and based on the proximity of said mobile unit to at least one base unit and wherein the system is arranged to determine the height of said mobile unit based on the air pressure sensed at the mobile unit and the air pressure sensed at one or more of the base units.
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Abstract
A position determination system is provided comprising one or more fixed base units and one or more mobile units, wherein the system is arranged to determine the horizontal position of a mobile unit based on the proximity of said mobile unit to at least one base unit and wherein the system is arranged to determine the height of said mobile unit based on the air pressure sensed at the mobile unit and the air pressure sensed at one or more of the base units. The use of pressure sensors to determine height reduces the complexity of the infrastructure required for 3D positioning. The invention finds particular benefit in patient care and monitoring environments and in object tracking and inventory systems. The invention also extends to mobile units for use in the system, intelligent buildings fitted with the system and to methods of determining the position of mobile units.
18 Citations
25 Claims
- 1. A position determination system comprising one or more fixed base units and one or more mobile units, wherein the system is arranged to determine the position in the horizontal plane of a mobile unit using ultrasound and based on the proximity of said mobile unit to at least one base unit and wherein the system is arranged to determine the height of said mobile unit based on the air pressure sensed at the mobile unit and the air pressure sensed at one or more of the base units.
- 16. A mobile unit for use in a position determination system, said mobile unit comprising an ultrasound transmitter or an ultrasound receiver for determining position in the horizontal plane, an air pressure sensor and a transmitter adapted to transmit data from said air pressure sensor to said system.
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25. A method of determining the position of a mobile unit relative to one or more fixed base units, comprising:
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measuring the air pressure at the position of said mobile unit; measuring the air pressure at the position of said base units; measuring the proximity of the mobile unit to said base units using ultrasound; determining the position in the horizontal plane of said mobile unit based on said proximity measurements; and determining the height of said mobile unit based on said air pressure measurements.
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Specification