Position and communications system and method
First Claim
1. A system for transmitting information about the orientation of a robot, comprising:
- means for emitting signals to multiple zones (208,209, . . . ,215) at predetermined locations around and relative to the robot, wherein the signals carry information that is specific to the individual zones around the robot;
characterized in that the information (FR, F, FL, BL, L, . . . FR) that is specific to the individual zones is time-multiplexed to multiple timeslots (t1,t2, . . . ,t7).
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for providing communication of position information between moving bodies navigating in proximity of each other. Messages can be communicated via the same system. Orientation information is provided by transmitting infrared digital signals that are specific to individual zones around the moving body. By knowledge of the relation between the position of the zones and the specific signals an orientation can be deduced by a receiving body. Distance information is provided by transmitting infrared digital signals from a transmitter at respective power levels, at which power levels the signals comprise information for identifying the specific power level. By knowledge of the relation between the range of the zones and the specific signals a distance from a receiving body to the transmitter can be deduced. Direction information is provided by knowledge of the position of reception zones and signals received.
27 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A system for transmitting information about the orientation of a robot, comprising:
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means for emitting signals to multiple zones (208,209, . . . ,215) at predetermined locations around and relative to the robot, wherein the signals carry information that is specific to the individual zones around the robot;
characterized in that the information (FR, F, FL, BL, L, . . . FR) that is specific to the individual zones is time-multiplexed to multiple timeslots (t1,t2, . . . ,t7). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for receiving information about the orientation of a robot, comprising:
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means for receiving signals that carry information that is specific to one of multiple zones (208,209, . . . ,215) around and relative to the robot (201); and
means for extracting the information specific to an individual zone and converting that information into information that represents the orientation of the robot;
characterized in that the orientation of the robot is deduced by determining whether two signals that each carries information that is specific to one of multiple zones around and relative to the robot can be received in at least two consecutive timeslots (t1,t2, . . . ,t7);
in the positive, combining the at least two signals (FL,BL;
BR,FR) to determine the orientation of the robot (201). - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A system for transmitting information about the distance between the system and a robot, comprising:
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means for emitting signals to the surroundings of the robot;
characterized in said means being controlled to emit the signals at respective power levels (L,M,H), at which power levels the signals comprise information (LBR,MBR,H;
bo b1, . . . b11) for identifying the specific power level. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 26, 27)
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23. A system for receiving information about the distance between the system and a transmitter, comprising:
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means for receiving signals with information for identifying a specific power level at which the signal is transmitted; and
means for converting that information into information that represents distance between the system and a transmitter that transmits the signals. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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24. A system according to claim 24, characterized in comprising means for converting a received signal into a binary signal based on a specified threshold value.
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28. A system for determining the direction to a robot characterized in that the system comprises:
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means for receiving a signal from a remote robot, and determining a direction to the remote robot by determining which of multiple receivers that received the signal;
characterized in that a direction is determined as a direction from which two or more receivers can receive the signal. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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Specification