US6133876A — System and method for position determination by i…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 196 words

In an impulse radio system having a first transceiver with a first clock and a second transceiver spaced from said first transceiver and having a second clock, a method comprising the steps of: generating a first reference clock pulse using said first clock; triggering the transmission of a first sequence of pulses with said first reference clock pulse: transmitting from said first transceiver said first sequence of pulses; receiving said first sequence of pulses at said second transceiver; synchronizing said second transceiver using said first sequence of pulses; generating a second reference clock pulse using said second clock; triggering the transmission of a second sequence of pulses with said second reference clock pulse; transmitting from said second transceiver said second sequence of pulses; receiving at said first transceiver said second sequence of pulses; synchronizing said first transceiver with said second sequence of pulses; generating a delayed first reference clock pulse in response to said synchronization with said second sequence of pulses; and measuring a time difference between said delayed first reference clock pulse and said first reference clock pulse, said time difference indicating a total time of flight of said first and second sequence of pulses.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 196 words

In an impulse radio system having a first transceiver with a first clock and a second transceiver spaced from said first transceiver and having a second clock, a method comprising the steps of: generating a first reference clock pulse using said first clock; triggering the transmission of a first sequence of pulses with said first reference clock pulse: transmitting from said first transceiver said first sequence of pulses; receiving said first sequence of pulses at said second transceiver; synchronizing said second transceiver using said first sequence of pulses; generating a second reference clock pulse using said second clock; triggering the transmission of a second sequence of pulses with said second reference clock pulse; transmitting from said second transceiver said second sequence of pulses; receiving at said first transceiver said second sequence of pulses; synchronizing said first transceiver with said second sequence of pulses; generating a delayed first reference clock pulse in response to said synchronization with said second sequence of pulses; and measuring a time difference between said delayed first reference clock pulse and said first reference clock pulse, said time difference indicating a total time of flight of said first and second sequence of pulses.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of determining, from said time difference, the distance between said first and second transceivers.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 44 words

The method as recited in claim 2, further comprising the steps of: determining an angular direction of said second transceiver from said first transceiver using a direction finding antenna; and determining the position of said second transceiver from said distance and said angular direction.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 26 words

The method as recited in claim 1, wherein a plurality of first transceivers are positioned spaced apart from each others and apart from said second transceiver.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method as recited in claim 4, further comprising the step of determining the distance between each of said first transceivers and said second transceiver.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method as recited in claim 5, further comprising the step of determining the position of the second transceiver using triangulation.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said synchronization comprises the step of performing coherent detection using a cross correlator.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 26 words

The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of installing said second transceiver in a mobile telephone whose position is to be determined.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 26 words

The method as recited in claim 3, further comprising the step of transmitting from said first transceiver information representative of the position of said second transceiver.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 26 words

The method as recited in claim 3, further comprising the step of receiving at said second transceiver information representative of the position of said second transceiver.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 148 words

In an impulse radio system having a receiver with a first clock and a transmitter spaced from said receiver and having a second clock, wherein said first clock and said second clock are initially synchronized, a method comprising the steps of: generating a first reference clock pulse using said first clock; triggering the transmission of a sequence of pulses with said first reference clock pulse; transmitting from said transmitter said sequence of pulses; receiving said sequence of pulses at said receiver; further synchronizing said receiver with said sequence of pulses; generating a delayed first reference clock pulse at said receiver in response to said further synchronization with said sequence of pulses; and measuring a time difference between said delayed first reference clock pulse and said first reference clock pulse, said time difference indicating a time of flight of said sequence of pulses from said transmitter to said receiver.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 148 words

In an impulse radio system having a receiver with a first clock and a transmitter spaced from said receiver and having a second clock, wherein said first clock and said second clock are initially synchronized, a method comprising the steps of: generating a first reference clock pulse using said first clock; triggering the transmission of a sequence of pulses with said first reference clock pulse; transmitting from said transmitter said sequence of pulses; receiving said sequence of pulses at said receiver; further synchronizing said receiver with said sequence of pulses; generating a delayed first reference clock pulse at said receiver in response to said further synchronization with said sequence of pulses; and measuring a time difference between said delayed first reference clock pulse and said first reference clock pulse, said time difference indicating a time of flight of said sequence of pulses from said transmitter to said receiver.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising the step of determining from said time difference the distance between said transmitter and said receiver.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 41 words

The method as recited in claim 12, further comprising the steps of: determining an angular direction of said transmitter from said receiver using a direction finding antenna; and determining the position of said transmitter from said distance and said angular direction.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method as recited in claim 11, wherein a plurality of receivers are placed spaced apart from each others and apart from said transmitter.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method as recited in claim 14, further comprising the step of determining the distance between each of said receivers and said transmitter.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method as recited in claim 15, further comprising the step of determining the position of said transmitter using triangulation from said distances.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising the step of synchronizing said first and second clocks.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising the step of synchronizing said first and second clocks with an atomic clock.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 19 words

The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising the step of placing said transmitter at a predetermined location.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising the step of placing said transmitter in a mobile telephone whose position is to be determined.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 144 words

An impulse radio system, comprising: an impulse radio receiver with a first time base providing a first timing signal; an impulse radio transmitter spaced from said receiver and having a second time base initially synchronized with said first time base, wherein information related to the position of said impulse radio transmitter is determined by transmitting from said transmitter a sequence of pulses, transmission of said sequence of pulses being triggered by said first timing signal, receiving said sequence of pulses at said receiver, further synchronizing said receiver with said transmitter using said sequence of pulses, generating a delayed first timing signal at said receiver in response to said further synchronization with said sequence of pulses, and measuring a time difference between said delayed first timing signal and said first timing signal, said time difference indicating a time of flight of said sequence of pulses.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 144 words

An impulse radio system, comprising: an impulse radio receiver with a first time base providing a first timing signal; an impulse radio transmitter spaced from said receiver and having a second time base initially synchronized with said first time base, wherein information related to the position of said impulse radio transmitter is determined by transmitting from said transmitter a sequence of pulses, transmission of said sequence of pulses being triggered by said first timing signal, receiving said sequence of pulses at said receiver, further synchronizing said receiver with said transmitter using said sequence of pulses, generating a delayed first timing signal at said receiver in response to said further synchronization with said sequence of pulses, and measuring a time difference between said delayed first timing signal and said first timing signal, said time difference indicating a time of flight of said sequence of pulses.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 20 words

The system of claim 21, wherein the distance between said transmitter and said receiver is determined from said time difference.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 37 words

The system of claim 22, further comprising a direction finding antenna for determining an angular direction of said transmitter from said receiver, wherein the position of said transmitter is determined from said distance and said angular direction.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 22 words

The system of claim 21, wherein a plurality of receivers are placed spaced apart from each other and apart from said transmitter.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 18 words

The system of claim 24, wherein the distance between each of said receivers and said transmitter is determined.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2003-10-17	2004-04-17	2004-10-17	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2007-10-17	2008-04-17	2008-10-17	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2011-10-17	2012-04-17	2012-10-17	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

System and method for position determination by impulse radio

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