Device for locating one or more mobile elements in a predetermined zone, and method implemented in such a device

• US 9,921,083 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2014
• Issued: 03/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Institut de Myologie, ValoTec Co.
• Original Assignee: Institut de Myologie, ValoTec Co.
• Inventors: Lourme, Jean-Christophe, Tendon, Gary, Hogrel, Jean-Yves
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Huy Q
• Assistant Examiner(s): Russo, Raul Rios
• Application Number:
  US14/910,361
• Publication Number:
  US 20160195410A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,322 Days
• Field of Search: 324 51, 324 55, 324200, 32420711, 32420713, 32420715, 32420716, 32420717
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 7/00 Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of electric or magnetic techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 7/14 for measuring distance or clearance between spaced objects or spaced apertures G01B7/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 7/30 for measuring angles or tapers; for testing the alignment of axes
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/2013 by a movable ferromagnetic element, e.g. a core G01D5/2033 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/02 Measuring direction or magnitude of magnetic fields or magnetic flux G01R33/20 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/751 wherein the responder or reflector radiates a coded signal
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/758 using a signal generator powered by the interrogation signal
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/046 by electromagnetic means

Abstract

A method for locating a mobile element in a predetermined zone, including supplying power to an on-board module in the mobile element, where the on-board module includes an electronic circuit and an on-board coil, generating a locating signal by the electronic circuit and transmission of the locating signal via the on-board coil, picking up the locating signal by receiver coils on a support in proximity to the predetermined zone, each of the receiver coils configured to pick up the locating signal when the mobile element is in proximity, and determining a location of the mobile element in the predetermined zone by detecting a signal level on the support in the form of an array by a processing unit connected to the support. The electronic circuit and the on-board coil constitute an RLC circuit that oscillates, generating the locating signal by sudden interruption of the current through the on-board coil.

Claims

1. A method. for locating at least one mobile element in a predetermined zone, the method comprising the following steps:

supplying power to at least one on-board module in the mobile element, said at least one on-board module comprising an electronic circuit and at least one on-board coil;

generating a locating signal by the electronic circuit and transmission of said locating signal via said at least one on-board coil;

picking up said locating signal by receiver coils distributed on a support in proximity to the predetermined zone, each of said receiver coils having the function of picking up said locating signal when the mobile element is in proximity; and

determining a location of the mobile element in the predetermined zone by detecting a signal level on said support which is addressed in rows and columns in the form of an array by a processing unit connected to said support,

wherein said electronic circuit and said at least one on-hoard coil constitute an RLC (“

Resistor-Inductor-Capacitor”

) circuit that oscillates, generating the locating signal by sudden interruption of the current through said at least one on-board coil.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein supplying power to said at least one on-board module is carried out periodically;

in a supply phase, wherein energy is stored in each of said at least one on-board module for later use in a non-supply phase.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein generating the locating signal is carried out at a different time for each of said at least one on-board module so as to carry out multiplexing with time-distributed multiple access (TDMA) to distinguish the on-board modules from one another.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein generating the locating signal is carried out by generating a signal of a predetermined frequency that is different for each of said at least one on-board module so as to carry out multiplexing with frequency-distributed multiple access (FDMA) to distinguish the on-board modules from one another.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein each locating signal contains a unique identifier.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sudden interruption is carried out when the current is at its highest value.

7. A device for locating at least one mobile element in a predetermined zone, the device comprising:

at least one on-board module in the at least one mobile element, said at least one on-board module comprising an electronic circuit and at least one on-board coil for transmitting a locating signal;

a power supply for said at least one on-board module;

receiver coils distributed on a. support in proximity to the predetermined zone;

each of said receiver coils having the function of detecting said locating signal when the at least one mobile element is in proximity;

a processing unit connected to the receiver coils for determining a location of the at least one mobile element in the predetermined zone by detecting a signal level on said support that is addressed in rows and columns in the form of an array; and

the electronic circuit and the on-board coil constitute an oscillating RLC (“

Resistor-Inductor-Capacitor”

) circuit, the electronic, circuit being configured to suddenly interrupt the current through the at least one on-board coil to generate the locating signal.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the power supply comprises a magnetic winding arranged in proximity to the predetermined zone to supply each of said at least one on-board module remotely, by a magnetic field.

9. The device according to claim 7, wherein the power supply consists of an array to supply each said at least one on-board module remotely, by a magnetic field.

10. The device according to claim 8, wherein the at least one on-board module comprises a supply coil having the function of picking up the remote power supply magnetic field.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein the at least one on-board coil and the power supply coil constitute are the same coil.

12. The device according to claim 7, wherein the at least one on-board module comprises at least three on-board coils in a trihedral arrangement.

13. The device according to claim 7, wherein each said at least one on-board coil comprises a ferrite core.

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein the ferrite core comprises hemispherical ends.