Apparatus and method for location estimation using power supply voltage levels of signal transmitters
US7830250B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 22, 2007 |
| Grant date | Nov 9, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 9, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01S5/14
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Beacon generators transmit wireless beacon signals for use in tracking an object. Among other things, a wireless beacon signal from a particular beacon generator contains information identifying a power supply voltage associated with that beacon generator. A tracking device associated with the object receives one or more of the beacon signals. The tracking device measures the signal strength of a received beacon signal, and the tracking device identifies the power supply voltage associated with the beacon generator that transmitted the received beacon signal. The tracking device or an external component, such as a control unit, can use the identified signal strength and the identified power supply voltage to determine the location of the object. As a particular example, signal strengths and power supply voltages associated with at least three beacon signals can be used to identify the location of the object.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.