Extensible object location system and method using multiple references

US9360547B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• ZIH Corp. · BM

Inventors

• Aitan Ameti · Germantown, US
• Keming Chen · Torrance, US
• Robert J. Fontana · Potomac, US
• Edward A. Richley · Palo Alto, US
• Belinda Turner · Germantown, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 30, 2012
• Grant date: Jun 7, 2016
• Expiry date: Mar 30, 2032

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01S5/02213
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An ultra wideband (UWB) or short-pulse RF system is disclosed that can be used to precisely locate or track objects (such as personnel, equipment, assets, etc.) in real-time in an arbitrarily large, physically connected or disconnected, multipath and/or noisy environment. A system implementation includes multiple zones or groups of receivers that receives RF signals transmitted by one or more timing reference tags and one or more objects having associated object tags. Each zone or group may share a common receiver. By combining a multiple reference tag system with a virtual group of receivers, i.e., a zoning technique or system, a cost-effective system can be provided that offers scalability and flexibility to monitor a significantly expanded coverage area.