Patent · US Active

Positioning systems

US8340686B2 · kind B2 · utility

7Cited by
4References
15Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJul 20, 2010
Grant dateDec 25, 2012
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 20, 2030

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01S5/0284
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

We describe a device that is able to compute its range and time offset relative to another similar device, and thereby also a three-dimensional position, speed and time relative to other similar devices provided that at least four are present and within range. It does so by transmitting at least two signals at different frequencies and by receiving similar signals transmitted by the other devices. The signals are constructed so that they are independent of the radio band used and so that they lead to cancellation of common-mode effects in the transmitter and receiver circuits. No fixed infrastructure of transmitters, receivers or local measurement units is required and the devices do not need to be synchronized. The system scales to very large networks of devices in which they work collectively each solving a part of the problem that describes the relative positions of all interconnected devices.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.