EP0333459A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method for position reporting
Assignee: United Manufacturing Co Inc
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Filing: 1989-03-15
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-03-15
Abstract
Abstract A system (10) for tracking individual subjects in a plurality of areas comprises a plurality of independent transmitters (A) with each transmitter having an individually characteristic infra-red radiation signal, a receiver (B) which converts the infra-red radiation signal into a digital signal, an identifying and validating member which operates on the digital signal and a recording member which records the location of an identified characteristic signal. A central processing unit (E) is utilised to accumulate recorded data on a plurality of locations. The transmitter used in the system for tracking individual subjects preferably includes a member for variably issuing electrical pulses within a predetermined time period, a light-sensitive member which varies in time the generation of an output in proportion to the intensity of visible light incident on the light-sensitive member and apparatus for applying the generated output to the member for variably issuing electrical pulses so that the generated output triggers the issuance of such pulses.
Inventors
- 👤 Gary Linwood
- 👤 Wayne Duncan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 09:32
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K7/00; G06K7/10; G06K7/10544; G06K7/10821; G06K7/1097; G06K17/00; G06K17/0022; G06K7/10009; G06K7/10019; G07; G07C; G07C9/00; G07C9/20; G07C9/28; G08; G08B; G08B1/00; G08B1/08; G08B25/00; G08B25/007; G08B25/01; G08B25/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
78 words
A system for tracking subjects in a plurality of areas by independent transmission of signals capable of employing infra-red radiation for multiple transmission from several locations to a processing unit characterised by: a plurality of independent transmission means issuing individually characteristic signals by IR radiation to a receiver, means for converting the IR radiation into characteristic digital signals, means for identifying and validating the individually characteristic signals, and means for recording a location of an identified characteristic signal.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
78 words
A system for tracking subjects in a plurality of areas by independent transmission of signals capable of employing infra-red radiation for multiple transmission from several locations to a processing unit characterised by: a plurality of independent transmission means issuing individually characteristic signals by IR radiation to a receiver, means for converting the IR radiation into characteristic digital signals, means for identifying and validating the individually characteristic signals, and means for recording a location of an identified characteristic signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
A system as claimed in claim 1, characterised by means for accumulating recorded data on a plurality of said locations in a central processing unit, whereby data from a plurality of transmission is stored.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
A system as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised by means for comparison with stored data.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
A system as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, characterised in that the plurality of transmission means each issue an individually unique code transmittable by IR radiation and by digital signals upon conversion from IR radiation.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
24 words
A system as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that said independent transmission means is a portable device associatable with an individual subject.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
40 words
A system as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the plurality of independent transmission means transmit radiation to at least two receivers and each of said receivers receives transmissions from transmission means in a designated area for monitoring.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
94 words
A system as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that said means for recording comprises a central processing unit and a data interface having means for transmitting data to said central processing unit; and characterised in that said means for identifying comprises means for comparing the decoded binary number and identifying the characteristic binary number; and characterised by means for transmitting signals carrying the identified binary number to the data interface; said data interface having means for formatting the identified binary number and delivering the formatted binary number to the central processing unit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
A system as claimed in claim 7, characterised in that said independent transmission means includes means for reading said characteristic signals from a memory so that the timing of reading out the characteristic signals is varied by means of a varying light level in the designated zone.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
A system as claimed in claim 7 or 8, characterised in that the characteristic signals are a bit sequence and in that the means for converting synchronizes to the characteristic signals and locks onto the bit sequence.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system as claimed in claim 7, 8 or 9, characterised in that the system is capable of identifying a plurality of characteristic binary numbers.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
22 words
A system as claimed in any of claims 7 to 10, characterised in that the data interface is an optical isolation interface.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of identifying the location of a plurality of individuals within a plurality of areas comprising the steps of: issuing IR radiation individually independent transmission with distinctive signals from individual transmission means associated with a plurality of individual subjects; receiving the IR radiation on at least one sensor; converting the IR radiation to individually distinctive digital signals; comparing said distinctive signals with stored data to validate the association of a transmission means and an individual subject; and entering the digital signals into a central processing unit by means of a data processor.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of identifying the location of a plurality of individuals within a plurality of areas comprising the steps of: issuing IR radiation individually independent transmission with distinctive signals from individual transmission means associated with a plurality of individual subjects; receiving the IR radiation on at least one sensor; converting the IR radiation to individually distinctive digital signals; comparing said distinctive signals with stored data to validate the association of a transmission means and an individual subject; and entering the digital signals into a central processing unit by means of a data processor.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as claimed in claim 12, characterised in that the digital signals are characteristic binary numbers.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as claimed in claim 12 or 13, characterised by the steps of storing information of the digital signals in an array, and determining the location of the individual subjects with the stored information.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
65 words
A control apparatus comprising means for variably issuing electrical pulses at an output terminal within a predetermined time period, a light-sensitive means for varying in time the generation of an output in proportion to the intensity of visible light incident on the light-sensitive means, and means for applying said generated output to said means for variably issuing pulses and triggering the issuance of said pulses.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
65 words
A control apparatus comprising means for variably issuing electrical pulses at an output terminal within a predetermined time period, a light-sensitive means for varying in time the generation of an output in proportion to the intensity of visible light incident on the light-sensitive means, and means for applying said generated output to said means for variably issuing pulses and triggering the issuance of said pulses.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
A control apparatus as claimed in claim 15, characterised in that an output voltage is varied in time in proportion to the incident light.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
A control apparatus as claimed in claim 15 or 16, characterised in that an RC circuit on a photodiode provides the output voltage.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
101 words
A control apparatus as claimed in claim 15, 16 or 17, further characterised by a read-only memory means for storing a code in binary, means associated with an oscillator for providing a train of clock pulses actuated by an enabling pulse and adapted to sequence a counter in said read-only memory means, said counter sequencing addresses of said memory means for supplying said stored code in binary information modulated on a carrier frequency to read out the data stored in the addresses; and means for transmitting the binary information to means for converting the electrical signal into signals for electromagnetic radiation.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
A control apparatus as claimed in claim 18, characterised in that the electromagnetic radiation is infra-red radiation.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
28 words
A control apparatus as claimed in any of claims 15 to 19, characterised in that the predetermined time period is in the range of one to ten seconds.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
A control apparatus as claimed in claim 18 or 19, characterised in that said sequencing of addresses occurs in an interval of 30 milliseconds within said predetermined time period.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
128 words
A method of providing variable timing in the transmission of electromagnetic radiation from an individually independent transmitter of electromagnetic radiation, said method comprising the steps of: generating the output from a photosensitive circuit so as to be variable in time in proportion to the intensity of light incident on the photosensitive circuit, triggering an electrical pulse from a pulse-issuing timer within a predetermined time period with the output of the photosensitive circuit, actuating an oscillator with said issued pulses, producing a train of clock pulses from said oscillator, sequencing addresses in a read-only-memory upon applying said train of clock pulses to said read-only memory to supply a code in binary information, transmitting said binary information to a light emitting diode, and converting the binary information into electromagnetic radiation.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
128 words
A method of providing variable timing in the transmission of electromagnetic radiation from an individually independent transmitter of electromagnetic radiation, said method comprising the steps of: generating the output from a photosensitive circuit so as to be variable in time in proportion to the intensity of light incident on the photosensitive circuit, triggering an electrical pulse from a pulse-issuing timer within a predetermined time period with the output of the photosensitive circuit, actuating an oscillator with said issued pulses, producing a train of clock pulses from said oscillator, sequencing addresses in a read-only-memory upon applying said train of clock pulses to said read-only memory to supply a code in binary information, transmitting said binary information to a light emitting diode, and converting the binary information into electromagnetic radiation.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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