System and method for position determination by impulse radio

• US 7,372,403 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2004
• Issued: 05/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Humatics Corporation
• Original Assignee: Time Domain Corporation (Humatics Corporation)
• Inventors: Richards, James L., Fullerton, Larry W., Cowie, Ivan A.
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAN, DAO LINDA
• Application Number:
  US10/901,404
• Publication Number:
  US 20060017614A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,384 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357.06, 342/387, 342/450, 342/457, 342/463, 701/213, 455/456.1, 455/456.6
• US Class Current: 342/387
• 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 where first position information is determined for a first impulse radio using a positioning system, second position information is determined for the first impulse radio using at least one second impulse radio, and a position is determined based upon the first position information relative to the second position information. The positioning system can be a Global Positioning System. The determined position can be communicated to an emergency system.

Claims

1. A method for determining a position of an impulse radio comprising:

determining a first position information of a first impulse radio using a positioning system;

determining a second position information of the first impulse radio using at least one second impulse radio; and

determining the position of the first impulse radio based upon the first position information relative to the second position information.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

communicating the position of the first impulse radio to an emergency system.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first impulse radio and the at least one second impulse radio are not time synchronized.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the positioning system is a Global Positioning System (GPS).

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining the position of the first impulse radio further comprises:

determining a time domain equivalent of carrier phase.

6. The method of claim 1, where the step of determining the position of the first impulse radio further comprises:

resolving subcycle time differences.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first position information comprises modulation cycle information.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the second position information comprises a time domain equivalent information of carrier phase.

9. A system for determining a position of an impulse radio, the system comprising:

a positioning receiver that determines a first position information of a first impulse radio;

at least one second impulse radio that determines a second position information of the first impulse radio; and

a processor that determines the position of the first impulse radio based upon the first position information relative to the second position information.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the position of the first impulse radio is communicated to an emergency system.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the first impulse radio and the at least one second impulse radio are not time synchronized.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the resolution of the first position information relative to the second position information requires determining a time domain equivalent of carrier phase.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the resolution of the first position information relative to the second position information requires determining subcycle time differences.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the first position information comprises modulation cycle information.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the second position information comprises a time domain equivalent information of carrier phase.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the positioning system is a Global Positioning System (GPS).

17. The system of claim 9, wherein the positioning receiver is a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver.