US6084512A
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Method and apparatus for electronic labeling and localizing
Assignee: Nokia of America Corp
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Filing: 1998-10-02
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Granted: 2000-07-04
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Expires: 2018-10-02
Abstract
Abstract Methods and apparata for electronic labeling and localizing an end point and for determining the distance between an interrogator and the end point. In one embodiment, a system is provided that includes an interrogator that transmits an identification code signal that includes a representation of the identification code of the end point to be localized. The interrogator also receives a tag response signal that is transmitted from a tag associated with the end point. The tag transmits the tag response signal upon receiving the identification code signal and confirming that the identification code signal includes a representation of the identification code. The system also includes a localizer, which is hardware, software, or both, that determines the distance between the end point and the interrogator based on the identification code signal and the tag response signal. In one embodiment, the localizer determines the distance based on the time delay between transmitting the identification code signal and receiving the tag response signal. In another alternate embodiment, the localizer determines the distance based on the frequency, or phase, shift between the identification code signal and the tag response signal.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas A. Elberty
- 👤 Avi I. Hauser
- 👤 Yosef Hipsh
- 👤 Brian J. McHugh
- 👤 William H. Sohl
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 07:32
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08B; G08B21/00; G08B21/02; G08B21/0202; G08B21/023; G06; G06F; G06F21/00; G06F21/30; G06F21/31; G06F21/316; G06F21/70; G06F21/88; G06K; G06K7/00; G06K7/10; G06K7/10009; G06K7/10019; G06K7/10079; G08B13/00; G08B13/02; G08B13/14; G08B13/1427; G08B13/22; G08B13/24; G08B13/2402; G08B13/2451; G08B13/2462; G08B13/2465; G08B13/2482; G08B21/0227; G08B21/0294
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 39
Claim 1
Independent Claim
106 words
A system for localizing an end point having an identification code associated therewith, the system comprising: an interrogator means for transmitting an identification code signal that includes a representation of the identification code and receiving a tag response signal; a tag means associated with the end point for receiving the identification code signal and transmitting the tag response signal upon receiving the identification code signal and confirming that the identification code signal includes a representation of the identification code; and a localizing means for determining a distance between the end point and the interrogator means based on the identification code signal and the tag response signal.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
106 words
A system for localizing an end point having an identification code associated therewith, the system comprising: an interrogator means for transmitting an identification code signal that includes a representation of the identification code and receiving a tag response signal; a tag means associated with the end point for receiving the identification code signal and transmitting the tag response signal upon receiving the identification code signal and confirming that the identification code signal includes a representation of the identification code; and a localizing means for determining a distance between the end point and the interrogator means based on the identification code signal and the tag response signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the tag means includes a modulator means for modulating the identification code signal to create the tag response signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 2 wherein the tag means includes a frequency multiplier.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the tag response signal has a frequency that varies substantially linearly with time and the localizing means includes means for determining the frequency of the tag response signal when received by the interrogator means and correlating the frequency to the distance between the end point and the interrogator means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 4 wherein the localizing means further performs a non-linear least squares fit on a product of the tag response signal and the identification code signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the tag response signal is modulated with a predetermined sequence of information, the localizing means further determining at what point in the sequence the interrogator means receives the tag response signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the interrogator means further transmits a wake up signal prior to transmitting the identification code signal and the tag means further receives the wake up signal and is activated prior to receiving the identification code signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the localizing means determines the distance between the end point and the interrogator means based on a distance time delay between the interrogator means transmitting the identification code signal and the interrogator means receiving the tag response signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
61 words
The system of claim 8 wherein the tag means has a tag time delay between receiving the identification code signal and transmitting the tag response signal and localizing means determines the distance between the end point and the interrogator means by subtracting the tag time delay from the distance time delay to obtain a result and dividing the result by two.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
265 words
A system for localizing an end point, comprising: an interrogator having: a signal generator having as an output a carrier signal; a modulator coupled to the signal generator, the modulator selectively modulating the carrier signal with information identifying the end point to create an identification code signal; a transmitter coupled to the modulator, so that the transmitter may transmit the identification code signal; and a receiver; a tag associated with the end point, the tag having: a tag receiver configured to receive the identification code signal; a demodulator coupled to the tag receiver, the demodulator having an output representing the information identifying the end point; a memory device storing a predetermined tag identification code associated with the end point; a comparitor coupled to the demodulator output and the memory device, the comparitor configured to compare the demodulator output to the predetermined tag identification code to determine whether the information matches the predetermined tag identification code; a tag modulator coupled to the comparitor, the tag modulator having as an output the tag response signal when the comparitor determines the information matches the predetermined tag identification code; and a tag transmitter coupled to the tag modulator so that the tag transmitter may transmit the tag response signal; and a localizer coupled to the interrogator, the localizer having: a mixer coupled to the identification code signal and the tag response signal, the mixer having a mixer output; a processor coupled to the mixer, the processor configured to determine the distance from the end point to the interrogator based on the identification code signal and the tag response signal.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
265 words
A system for localizing an end point, comprising: an interrogator having: a signal generator having as an output a carrier signal; a modulator coupled to the signal generator, the modulator selectively modulating the carrier signal with information identifying the end point to create an identification code signal; a transmitter coupled to the modulator, so that the transmitter may transmit the identification code signal; and a receiver; a tag associated with the end point, the tag having: a tag receiver configured to receive the identification code signal; a demodulator coupled to the tag receiver, the demodulator having an output representing the information identifying the end point; a memory device storing a predetermined tag identification code associated with the end point; a comparitor coupled to the demodulator output and the memory device, the comparitor configured to compare the demodulator output to the predetermined tag identification code to determine whether the information matches the predetermined tag identification code; a tag modulator coupled to the comparitor, the tag modulator having as an output the tag response signal when the comparitor determines the information matches the predetermined tag identification code; and a tag transmitter coupled to the tag modulator so that the tag transmitter may transmit the tag response signal; and a localizer coupled to the interrogator, the localizer having: a mixer coupled to the identification code signal and the tag response signal, the mixer having a mixer output; a processor coupled to the mixer, the processor configured to determine the distance from the end point to the interrogator based on the identification code signal and the tag response signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 10 wherein the processor is configured to determine the distance between the end point and the interrogator based on a difference in frequency between the identification code signal and the tag response signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system of claim 10 wherein the processor is configured to determine the distance between the end point and the interrogator based on a time delay between the interrogator transmitting the identification code signal and receiving the tag response signal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
66 words
The system of claim 10 wherein the carrier signal is a continuous wave having a frequency that varies substantially linearly with time, the tag modulator includes a frequency multiplier, and the localizer includes a frequency multiplier having as an input the identification code signal, and wherein the mixer has a mixer output, a first input from the frequency multiplier, and a second input from the receiver.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 13 wherein the processor is further configured to perform a non-linear least squares fit on the mixer output.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
47 words
The system of claim 10 wherein the carrier signal is a wake up signal, the tag includes a passive wake up module in communication with the tag receiver, and the comparitor so that upon receiving the wake up signal, the passive wake up module activates the comparitor.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 10 wherein the comparitor includes a tag processor.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system of claim 10 wherein the interrogator further includes at least three non-collinear antennae, one of the antennae being in communication with the transmitter at a given time and wherein the distance is determined between the end point and one of the antennae.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
65 words
The system of claim 17 wherein the localizer determines a first distance between the tag and a first of the antennae, a second distance between the tag and a second of the antennae, and a third distance between the tag and a third of the antennae, the processor further configured to determine a location of the tag based on the first, second and third distances.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 10 further comprising a calibration tag positioned at a known location.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 19 wherein the localizer is configured to determine a distance between the calibration tag and the tag.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 10 wherein the interrogator further comprises a spectrum analyzer coupled to the receiver, the spectrum analyzer measuring an input to the receiver.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
70 words
A method for localizing an end point, comprising the steps of: (a) transmitting from an interrogator a first signal, the first signal including a component identifying the end point; (b) receiving at the interrogator a second signal from the end point, the second signal comprising a modulated first signal; and (c) comparing the received second signal with the first signal to determine the distance between the end point and interrogator.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
70 words
A method for localizing an end point, comprising the steps of: (a) transmitting from an interrogator a first signal, the first signal including a component identifying the end point; (b) receiving at the interrogator a second signal from the end point, the second signal comprising a modulated first signal; and (c) comparing the received second signal with the first signal to determine the distance between the end point and interrogator.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 22 wherein the step of comparing includes comparing the instantaneous frequencies of the first signal and the second signal.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 22 wherein the transmitting step occurs at a first time and the receiving step occurs at a second time, and the step of comparing includes comparing the first time to the second time.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 22 further comprising the steps of: (d) repeating steps (a), (b) and (c) multiple times, each time transmitting and receiving from a different antennae of the interrogator, thereby determining a distance between each antennae and the end point; and (e) localizing the end point based on the distances.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
64 words
An interrogator for localizing an end point, comprising: means for transmitting a first signal, the first signal including a component identifying the end point; means for receiving a second signal from the end point, the second signal comprising a modulated first signal; and means for comparing the received second signal with the first signal to determine the distance between the end point and interrogator.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
64 words
An interrogator for localizing an end point, comprising: means for transmitting a first signal, the first signal including a component identifying the end point; means for receiving a second signal from the end point, the second signal comprising a modulated first signal; and means for comparing the received second signal with the first signal to determine the distance between the end point and interrogator.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
22 words
The interrogator of claim 26 wherein the means for comparing compares the instantaneous frequencies of the first signal and the second signal.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
44 words
The interrogator of claim 26 wherein the means for transmitting transmits the first signal at a first time and the means for receiving receives the second signal at a second time, and the means for comparing compares the first time to the second time.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
39 words
The interrogator of claim 26 further comprising: a plurality of antennae coupled to the means for comparing; and means for localizing the end point based on distances between the interrogator and at least two of the plurality of antennae.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
101 words
A method for determining distance between an interrogator and an end point, comprising the steps of: (a) transmitting from the interrogator a first signal, the first signal having a first frequency substantially linear with respect to time; (b) receiving at the interrogator a second signal from the end point, the second signal having a second frequency substantially linear with respect to time; (c) measuring time between the interrogator transmitting the first signal and receiving the second signal; and (d) determining the distance between the interrogator and the end point based on the measured time, the first frequency, and the second frequency.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
101 words
A method for determining distance between an interrogator and an end point, comprising the steps of: (a) transmitting from the interrogator a first signal, the first signal having a first frequency substantially linear with respect to time; (b) receiving at the interrogator a second signal from the end point, the second signal having a second frequency substantially linear with respect to time; (c) measuring time between the interrogator transmitting the first signal and receiving the second signal; and (d) determining the distance between the interrogator and the end point based on the measured time, the first frequency, and the second frequency.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 30 wherein the first frequency is the same as the second frequency.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
131 words
A system for localizing an end point, comprising: an interrogator having: a signal generator having an output signal having a substantially linear frequency verses time graph; a transmitter coupled to the generator, so that the transmitter may transmit the output signal; and a receiver; a tag associated with the end point, the tag having: a tag receiver configured to receive the output signal; a tag modulator coupled to the tag receiver, and a tag transmitter coupled to the tag modulator so that the tag transmitter may transmit the tag response signal; and a localizer coupled to the interrogator, the localizer having a processor coupled to the mixer, the processor configured to determine the distance from the end point to the interrogator based on the output signal and the tag response signal.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
131 words
A system for localizing an end point, comprising: an interrogator having: a signal generator having an output signal having a substantially linear frequency verses time graph; a transmitter coupled to the generator, so that the transmitter may transmit the output signal; and a receiver; a tag associated with the end point, the tag having: a tag receiver configured to receive the output signal; a tag modulator coupled to the tag receiver, and a tag transmitter coupled to the tag modulator so that the tag transmitter may transmit the tag response signal; and a localizer coupled to the interrogator, the localizer having a processor coupled to the mixer, the processor configured to determine the distance from the end point to the interrogator based on the output signal and the tag response signal.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
106 words
The system of claim 32 wherein the interrogator further includes a modulator coupled to the signal generator, the modulator selectively modulating the carrier signal with information identifying the end point to create an identification code signal, and wherein the tag further includes a memory device storing a predetermined tag identification code associated with the end point, a demodulator coupled to the tag receiver, and a comparitor coupled to the demodulator, the comparitor configured to compare the identifying information to the predetermined tag identification code, wherein the tag transmitter outputs the tag response signal when the comparitor determines the identifying information matches the predetermined tag identification code.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-07-04 | 2004-01-03 | 2004-07-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-07-04 | 2008-01-03 | 2008-07-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-07-04 | 2012-01-03 | 2012-07-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |