System and method for position determination by impulse radio

• US 6,133,876 A
• Filed: 03/23/1998
• Issued: 10/17/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Humatics Corporation
• Original Assignee: Time Domain Corporation (Humatics Corporation)
• Inventors: Richards, James L., Fullerton, Larry W., Cowie, Ivan A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAN, DAO LINDA
• Application Number:
  US09/045,929
• Time in Patent Office: 939 Days
• Field of Search: 342/262, 342/134, 342/450, 342/463, 342/457, 342/132, 342/375
• US Class Current: 342/375
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/42 Simultaneous measurement of distance and other co-ordinates indirect measurement G01S13/46
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/76 wherein pulse-type signals are transmitted
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/7183 Synchronisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/6908 using time hopping

Abstract

A system and a method for position determination by impulse radio using a first transceiver having a first clock providing a first reference signal and a second transceiver placed spaced from the first transceiver. The system determines the position of the second transceiver. The second transceiver has a second clock that provides a second reference signal. A first sequence of pulses are transmitted from the first transceiver. The first sequence of pulses are then received at the second transceiver and the second transceiver is then synchronized with the first sequence of pulses. A second sequence of pulses are transmitted from the second transceiver. The first transceiver receives the second sequence of pulses and the first transceiver is synchronized with the second sequence of pulses. A delayed first reference signal is generated in response to the synchronization with the second sequence of pulses. A time difference between the delayed first reference signal and the first reference signal is then measured. The time difference indicates a total time of flight of the first and second sequence of pulses. The distance between the first and the second transceiver is determined from the time difference. The direction of the second transceiver from the first transceiver is determined using a directional antenna. Finally, the position of the second transceiver is determined using the distance and the direction.

Claims

1. In an impulse radio system having a first transceiver with a first clock and a second transceiver spaced from said first transceiver and having a second clock, a method comprising the steps of:

generating a first reference clock pulse using said first clock;

triggering the transmission of a first sequence of pulses with said first reference clock pulse;

transmitting from said first transceiver said first sequence of pulses;

receiving said first sequence of pulses at said second transceiver;

synchronizing said second transceiver using said first sequence of pulses;

generating a second reference clock pulse using said second clock;

triggering the transmission of a second sequence of pulses with said second reference clock pulse;

transmitting from said second transceiver said second sequence of pulses;

receiving at said first transceiver said second sequence of pulses;

synchronizing said first transceiver with said second sequence of pulses;

generating a delayed first reference clock pulse in response to said synchronization with said second sequence of pulses; and

measuring a time difference between said delayed first reference clock pulse and said first reference clock pulse, said time difference indicating a total time of flight of said first and second sequence of pulses.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of determining, from said time difference, the distance between said first and second transceivers.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

determining an angular direction of said second transceiver from said first transceiver using a direction finding antenna; and

determining the position of said second transceiver from said distance and said angular direction.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein a plurality of first transceivers are positioned spaced apart from each others and apart from said second transceiver.

5. The method as recited in claim 4, further comprising the step of determining the distance between each of said first transceivers and said second transceiver.

6. The method as recited in claim 5, further comprising the step of determining the position of the second transceiver using triangulation.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said synchronization comprises the step of performing coherent detection using a cross correlator.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of installing said second transceiver in a mobile telephone whose position is to be determined.

9. The method as recited in claim 3, further comprising the step of transmitting from said first transceiver information representative of the position of said second transceiver.

10. The method as recited in claim 3, further comprising the step of receiving at said second transceiver information representative of the position of said second transceiver.

11. In an impulse radio system having a receiver with a first clock and a transmitter spaced from said receiver and having a second clock, wherein said first clock and said second clock are initially synchronized, a method comprising the steps of:

generating a first reference clock pulse using said first clock;

triggering the transmission of a sequence of pulses with said first reference clock pulse;

transmitting from said transmitter said sequence of pulses;

receiving said sequence of pulses at said receiver;

further synchronizing said receiver with said sequence of pulses;

generating a delayed first reference clock pulse at said receiver in response to said further synchronization with said sequence of pulses; and

measuring a time difference between said delayed first reference clock pulse and said first reference clock pulse, said time difference indicating a time of flight of said sequence of pulses from said transmitter to said receiver.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising the step of determining from said time difference the distance between said transmitter and said receiver.

13. The method as recited in claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

determining an angular direction of said transmitter from said receiver using a direction finding antenna; and

determining the position of said transmitter from said distance and said angular direction.

14. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein a plurality of receivers are placed spaced apart from each others and apart from said transmitter.

15. The method as recited in claim 14, further comprising the step of determining the distance between each of said receivers and said transmitter.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, further comprising the step of determining the position of said transmitter using triangulation from said distances.

17. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising the step of synchronizing said first and second clocks.

18. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising the step of synchronizing said first and second clocks with an atomic clock.

19. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising the step of placing said transmitter at a predetermined location.

20. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising the step of placing said transmitter in a mobile telephone whose position is to be determined.

21. An impulse radio system, comprising:

an impulse radio receiver with a first time base providing a first timing signal;

an impulse radio transmitter spaced from said receiver and having a second time base initially synchronized with said first time base,

wherein information related to the position of said impulse radio transmitter is determined by transmitting from said transmitter a sequence of pulses, transmission of said sequence of pulses being triggered by said first timing signal, receiving said sequence of pulses at said receiver, further synchronizing said receiver with said transmitter using said sequence of pulses, generating a delayed first timing signal at said receiver in response to said further synchronization with said sequence of pulses, and measuring a time difference between said delayed first timing signal and said first timing signal, said time difference indicating a time of flight of said sequence of pulses.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the distance between said transmitter and said receiver is determined from said time difference.

23. The system of claim 22, further comprising a direction finding antenna for determining an angular direction of said transmitter from said receiver, wherein the position of said transmitter is determined from said distance and said angular direction.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein a plurality of receivers are placed spaced apart from each other and apart from said transmitter.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the distance between each of said receivers and said transmitter is determined.