US6587080B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Single receiver wireless tracking system
Assignee: Centraxx Corp
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Filing: 2000-07-18
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Granted: 2003-07-01
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Expires: 2020-07-18
Abstract
Abstract A wireless tracking system consists of a wireless target including a wireless communication system for transmitting a data packet over a communication path, and a locating station for determining a position of the target. The data packet transmitted from the target includes an identification code uniquely associated with the target. The locating station includes a configurable directional antenna, a communication interval processing system, a direction processing system, and a position processing system. The communication interval processing system is in communication with the directional antenna and determines the transmission interval of the transmitted data packet over the communication path. The direction processing system determines the transmission angle of the communication path, and is in communication with the directional antenna for controlling the configuration of the directional antenna so as to facilitate the determination of the transmission angle. The position processing system is in communication with the interval processing system and the direction processing system, and determines the target position from the identification code, the transmission interval and the transmission angle.
Inventors
- 👤 Brian De Champlain
- 👤 Frank Gerlach
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 10:18
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01Q; H01Q21/00; H01Q21/24; H01Q21/245; G; G01; G01S; G01S13/00; G01S13/02; G01S13/06; G01S13/42; G01S13/44; G01S13/4418; G01S13/74; G01S13/76; G01S13/765; G01S7/00; G01S7/02; G01S7/28; G01S7/285; G01S7/292; G01S7/40; G01S7/4004; H01Q1/00; H01Q1/12; H01Q1/125; H01Q1/22; H01Q1/2208; H01Q1/2225; H01Q1/24; H01Q1/241; H01Q1/246; H01Q19/00; H01Q19/28; H01Q21/06; H01Q21/061; H01Q21/067; H01Q21/08; H01Q21/10; H01Q21/12; H01Q21/29; H01Q25/00; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/62; H01R13/627; H01R13/6271; H01R13/6273; G01S13/82; G01S13/825
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
141 words
A wireless tracking system for determining a position of a wireless target relative to a directional antenna, the wireless tracking system comprising: a communication interval processing system for determining a transmission interval of a data stream received from the wireless target by the antenna over a communication path, the received data stream including a data field providing an indication of a propagation delay of the target, the propagation delay indication being determined by a datum in the data field, the communication interval processing system being configured to determine the transmission interval in accordance with the propagation delay indication; a direction processing system for determining a transmission angle of the communication path; and a position processing system in communication with the interval processing system and the direction processing system for determining the target position from the transmission interval and the transmission angle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
141 words
A wireless tracking system for determining a position of a wireless target relative to a directional antenna, the wireless tracking system comprising: a communication interval processing system for determining a transmission interval of a data stream received from the wireless target by the antenna over a communication path, the received data stream including a data field providing an indication of a propagation delay of the target, the propagation delay indication being determined by a datum in the data field, the communication interval processing system being configured to determine the transmission interval in accordance with the propagation delay indication; a direction processing system for determining a transmission angle of the communication path; and a position processing system in communication with the interval processing system and the direction processing system for determining the target position from the transmission interval and the transmission angle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The wireless tracking system according to claim 1 , wherein the communication interval processing system comprises an interval counter for determining the transmission interval in accordance with the propagation delay data field.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The wireless tracking system according to claim 1 , wherein the communication interval processing system comprises an interval counter for determining the transmission interval in accordance with the pulse width of the propagation delay pulse.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
80 words
The wireless tracking system according to claim 1 , wherein the direction processing system comprises a phase detector for determining a phase of the received data stream relative to a system clock, and an amplitude detector for determining an amplitude of the received data stream, and the position processing system includes a signal processing system in communication with the phase detector and the amplitude detector for deriving the transmission angle from at least one of the phase and the amplitude.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
74 words
The wireless tracking system according to claim 4 , wherein the directional antenna includes a plurality of antenna sectors each defining an antenna lobe, each said lobe having a size and a shape, and the position processing system further comprises an antenna controller in communication with the signal processing system for varying at least one of the size and the shape of at least one of the lobes for obtaining a desired tracking resolution.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The wireless tracking system according to claim 4 , wherein the signal processing system includes a signal processor for filtering multi-path distortions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
The wireless tracking system according to claim 4 , wherein the signal processing system comprises an ambient noise database identifying ambient noise surrounding the directional antenna, and a signal processor in communication with the ambient noise database for determining the position with reference to the ambient noise.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
142 words
A wireless tracking system for determining a position of a wireless target relative to a directional antenna, the wireless tracking system comprising: a communication interval processing system for determining a transmission interval of a data stream received from the wireless target by the antenna over a communication path, the received data stream including a pulse providing an indication of a propagation delay of the target, the propagation delay indication being determined by a pulse width of the propagation delay pulse, the communication interval processing system being configured to determine the transmission interval in accordance with the propagation delay indication; a direction processing system for determining a transmission angle of the communication path; and a position processing system in communication with the interval processing system and the direction processing system for determining the target position from the transmission interval and the transmission angle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
142 words
A wireless tracking system for determining a position of a wireless target relative to a directional antenna, the wireless tracking system comprising: a communication interval processing system for determining a transmission interval of a data stream received from the wireless target by the antenna over a communication path, the received data stream including a pulse providing an indication of a propagation delay of the target, the propagation delay indication being determined by a pulse width of the propagation delay pulse, the communication interval processing system being configured to determine the transmission interval in accordance with the propagation delay indication; a direction processing system for determining a transmission angle of the communication path; and a position processing system in communication with the interval processing system and the direction processing system for determining the target position from the transmission interval and the transmission angle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
80 words
The wireless tracking system according to claim 8 , wherein the direction processing system comprises a phase detector for determining a phase of the received data stream relative to a system clock, and an amplitude detector for determining an amplitude of the received data stream, and the position processing system includes a signal processing system in communication with the phase detector and the amplitude detector for deriving the transmission angle from at least one of the phase and the amplitude.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
74 words
The wireless tracking system according to claim 9 , wherein the directional antenna includes a plurality of antenna sectors each defining an antenna lobe, each said lobe having a size and a shape, and the position processing system further comprises an antenna controller in communication with the signal processing system for varying at least one of the size and the shape of at least one of the lobes for obtaining a desired tracking resolution.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The wireless tracking system according to claim 9 , wherein the signal processing system includes a signal processor for filtering multi-path distortions.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
47 words
The wireless tracking system according to claim 9 , wherein the signal processing system comprises an ambient noise database identifying ambient noise surrounding the directional antennae, and a signal processor in communication with the ambient noise database for determining the position with reference to the ambient noise.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
159 words
A wireless tracking system for determining a position of a wireless target relative to a directional antenna, the wireless tracking system comprising: a communication interval processing system for determining a transmission interval of a data stream received from the wireless target by the antenna over a communication path, the received data stream including a response periodic signal providing an indication of a propagation delay of the target, the communication interval processing system being configured to transmit a first periodic signal to the target, to receive as the response periodic signal a retransmission of the first periodic signal from the target, and to determine the transmission interval in accordance with a phase difference between the periodic signals; a direction processing system for determining a transmission angle of the communication path; and a position processing system in communication with the interval processing system and the direction processing system for determining the target position from the transmission interval and the transmission angle.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
159 words
A wireless tracking system for determining a position of a wireless target relative to a directional antenna, the wireless tracking system comprising: a communication interval processing system for determining a transmission interval of a data stream received from the wireless target by the antenna over a communication path, the received data stream including a response periodic signal providing an indication of a propagation delay of the target, the communication interval processing system being configured to transmit a first periodic signal to the target, to receive as the response periodic signal a retransmission of the first periodic signal from the target, and to determine the transmission interval in accordance with a phase difference between the periodic signals; a direction processing system for determining a transmission angle of the communication path; and a position processing system in communication with the interval processing system and the direction processing system for determining the target position from the transmission interval and the transmission angle.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
80 words
The wireless tracking system according to claim 13 , wherein the direction processing system comprises a phase detector for determining a phase of the received data stream relative to a system clock, and an amplitude detector for determining an amplitude of the received data stream, and the position processing system includes a signal processing system in communication with the phase detector and the amplitude detector for deriving the transmission angle from at least one of the phase and the amplitude.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
74 words
The wireless tracking system according to claim 14 , wherein the directional antenna includes a plurality of antenna sectors each defining an antenna lobe, each said lobe having a size and a shape, and the position processing system further comprises an antenna controller in communication with the signal processing system for varying at least one of the size and the shape of at least one of the lobes for obtaining a desired tracking resolution.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
The wireless tracking system according to claim 14 , wherein the signal processing system includes a signal processor for filtering multi-path distortions.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
47 words
The wireless tracking system according to claim 14 , wherein the signal processing system comprises an ambient noise database identifying ambient noise surrounding the directional antennae, and a signal processor in communication with the ambient noise database for determining the position with reference to the ambient noise.
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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) | 2006-06-30 | 2006-12-30 | 2007-07-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-06-30 | 2010-12-30 | 2011-07-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-06-30 | 2014-12-30 | 2015-07-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |