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Systems, methods, and apparatus for providing indoor navigation using optical floor sensors

  • US 9,702,707 B2
  • Filed: 08/07/2014
  • Issued: 07/11/2017
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2011
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. An apparatus comprising:

  • an absolute position sensor coupled to a case attached to a moveable object including;

    a light sensor configured to detect light reflected from a barcode on a floor; and

    circuitry configured to determine (i) an identifier specified by a first set of individual bars of the barcode (ii) and a direction of travel of the moveable object specified by a second set of individual bars within the barcode, the individual bars of the barcode being sensed by the light sensor as alternating absorbed and reflected light, the identifier corresponding to an absolute position within an indoor environment, the direction of travel being determined from a timing when a start code and an end code within the second set of the individual bars is sensed;

    a motion sensor coupled to the case including;

    a magnetic field sensor configured to detect a polarity of a magnet as the magnet passes in proximity to the magnetic field sensor;

    a code wheel having two or more magnets alternately oriented with north and south polarities facing toward the magnetic sensor, the code wheel positioned to rotate in unison with a wheel of the moveable object; and

    encoder circuitry configured to determine an amount of rotation of the wheel of the moveable object based on an output of the magnetic field sensor; and

    a processor communicatively coupled to the motion sensor and the absolute position sensor and configured to;

    determine a current location of the moveable object in the indoor environment based on the amount of rotation of the wheel in relation to the absolute position and the direction of travel; and

    transmit, to a user device, a message indicative of the current location of the moveable object causing the user device to display the current location of the moveable object in relation to a graphical representation of the indoor environment.

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