Signal discriminator and positioning system

Claim 1

An ultra wideband receiver capable of discriminating between first and second unmodulated, electromagnetic pulses, said pulses being separated by a predetermined time interval, and background noise comprising: a) a detector to receive first and second unmodulated, electromagnetic pulses from a transmitter; b) a delay circuit adapted to delay transmission of said first pulse for a predetermined period of time in communication with said detector; and c) an AND circuit having a gating input in communication with said delay circuit, and a signal input in communication with said detector, the time of transmission between said pulses equaling the time delay of the delay circuit.

Claim 6

A system for discriminating between a transmitted signal and background noise comprising: a) a first transmitter adapted to transmit at least first and second unmodulated, electromagnetic pulses being separated by a predetermined time interval; and b) a receiver including a detector to receive said unmodulated, electromagnetic pulses from said transmitter; a delay circuit adapted to delay transmission of a pulse for a predetermined period of time in communication with said detector; and an AND logic having a gating input in communication with said delay circuit, and a signal input in communication with said detector, the time of transmission between said unmodulated, electromagnetic pulses equaling the time delay of said delay circuit.

Claim 7

A system for discriminating between a transmitted signal and background noise comprising: a) a first transmitter adapted to transmit at least first and second unmodulated, electromagnetic pulses being separated by a predetermined time interval; and b) a receiver including a detector to receive said unmodulated, electromagnetic pulses from said transmitter; a delay circuit adapted to delay transmission of a pulse for a predetermined period of time in communication with said detector; and an AND logic having a gating input in communication with said delay circuit, and a signal input in communication with said detector, the time of transmission between said unmodulated, electromagnetic pulses equaling the time delay of said delay circuit.

Claim 14

A system for determining the distance between first and second positions comprising: a) a first transmitter at said first position adapted to transmit unmodulated, electromagnetic pulses separated by a predetermined time intervals to said second position; b) a first receiver at said second position to receive said pulses from said first transmitter, said first receiver including a pulse detector to detect pulses from said transmitter; a delay circuit adapted to delay transmission of a pulse for a predetermined period of time in communication with said detector to receive a pulse therefrom; and an AND logic having an output, a gating input in communication with said delay circuit and an signal input in communication with said detector, the time of transmission between the pulses reaching said AND logic equaling the time delay of the delay circuit; c) a second transmitter at said second position in communication with said first receiver adapted to send a return signal upon receipt of a signal by said first receiver; d) a second receiver at said first position to receive said return signal; and e) a data processor in communication with said first transmitter and said second receiver to calculate the distance between said first and second positions based upon the difference between the time a transmission is sent from said first transmitter and the time the return signal is received by said second receiver.

Claim 15

A system for determining the distance between first and second positions comprising: a) a first transmitter at said first position adapted to transmit unmodulated, electromagnetic pulses separated by a predetermined time intervals to said second position; b) a first receiver at said second position to receive said pulses from said first transmitter, said first receiver including a pulse detector to detect pulses from said transmitter; a delay circuit adapted to delay transmission of a pulse for a predetermined period of time in communication with said detector to receive a pulse therefrom; and an AND logic having an output, a gating input in communication with said delay circuit and an signal input in communication with said detector, the time of transmission between the pulses reaching said AND logic equaling the time delay of the delay circuit; c) a second transmitter at said second position in communication with said first receiver adapted to send a return signal upon receipt of a signal by said first receiver; d) a second receiver at said first position to receive said return signal; and e) a data processor in communication with said first transmitter and said second receiver to calculate the distance between said first and second positions based upon the difference between the time a transmission is sent from said first transmitter and the time the return signal is received by said second receiver.

Claim 16

A system for determining the position of an object within an area comprising: a) at least three stationary transceivers positioned to send signals across said area and to said object; b) a moveable transponder attached to said object; and c) a data processor in communication with said stationary transceivers to calculate the position of said moveable transponder within the monitored area based upon the elapsed time between the sending of signals by the stationary transceivers and receipt by the stationary transceivers of return signals from the moveable transponder, and the known locations of said stationary transceivers, said transceivers capable of sending unmodulated, electromagnetic pulses to form the signal and said transponder having an ultra wideband receiver capable of discriminating between first and second unmodulated, electromagnetic pulses, said pulses being separated by a predetermined time interval, and background noise comprising: a) a detector to receive first and second unmodulated, electromagnetic pulses from a transmitter; b) a delay circuit adapted to delay transmission of said first pulse for a predetermined period of time in communication with said detector; and c) an AND circuit having a gating input in communication with said delay circuit, and a signal input in communication with said detector, the time of transmission between said pulses equaling the time delay of the delay circuit.

Claim 17

A system for determining the position of an object within an area comprising: a) at least three stationary transceivers positioned to send signals across said area and to said object; b) a moveable transponder attached to said object; and c) a data processor in communication with said stationary transceivers to calculate the position of said moveable transponder within the monitored area based upon the elapsed time between the sending of signals by the stationary transceivers and receipt by the stationary transceivers of return signals from the moveable transponder, and the known locations of said stationary transceivers, said transceivers capable of sending unmodulated, electromagnetic pulses to form the signal and said transponder having an ultra wideband receiver capable of discriminating between first and second unmodulated, electromagnetic pulses, said pulses being separated by a predetermined time interval, and background noise comprising: a) a detector to receive first and second unmodulated, electromagnetic pulses from a transmitter; b) a delay circuit adapted to delay transmission of said first pulse for a predetermined period of time in communication with said detector; and c) an AND circuit having a gating input in communication with said delay circuit, and a signal input in communication with said detector, the time of transmission between said pulses equaling the time delay of the delay circuit.

Claim 23

The system of 17, wherein said receiver produces an electrical current upon receipt of a signal from said computer.

Claim 24

The system of 17, wherein said receiver produces an electrical current upon receipt of a signal from said computer.

Claim 26

A method for determining the distance between first and second positions comprising: a) transmitting first and second signals formed of unmodulated, electromagnetic pulses from said first position to said second position; b) receiving said first signal at said second position by detecting and delaying said first pulse for a set period and detecting said second pulse after the set period; c) transmitting a return signal from said second position to said first position after receipt of said first signal; d) receiving said return signal at said first position; and e) calculating the distance between said first and second positions based upon the difference between the time the first signal is sent and the time the return signal is received.

Claim 27

A method for determining the distance between first and second positions comprising: a) transmitting first and second signals formed of unmodulated, electromagnetic pulses from said first position to said second position; b) receiving said first signal at said second position by detecting and delaying said first pulse for a set period and detecting said second pulse after the set period; c) transmitting a return signal from said second position to said first position after receipt of said first signal; d) receiving said return signal at said first position; and e) calculating the distance between said first and second positions based upon the difference between the time the first signal is sent and the time the return signal is received.

Claim 28

A method for determining the position of an object within an area comprising: a) sending initial signals formed of at least first and second unmodulated, electromagnetic pulses from at least three stationary locations across said area and to said object; b) receiving said initial signals at said object by detecting and delaying said first pulse for a set period and detecting said second pulse after the set period; c) sending return signals from said object to said stationary locations upon receipt of said initial signals; c) receiving said return signals at said stationary locations; and d) calculating the position of the object based upon the elapsed time between sending of initial signals and receipt of return signals.

Claim 29

A method for determining the position of an object within an area comprising: a) sending initial signals formed of at least first and second unmodulated, electromagnetic pulses from at least three stationary locations across said area and to said object; b) receiving said initial signals at said object by detecting and delaying said first pulse for a set period and detecting said second pulse after the set period; c) sending return signals from said object to said stationary locations upon receipt of said initial signals; c) receiving said return signals at said stationary locations; and d) calculating the position of the object based upon the elapsed time between sending of initial signals and receipt of return signals.