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US 10,591,592 B2Granted
High-precision time of flight measurement systems
AssigneeHumatics Corporation
InventorsDavid A. Mindell, Gregory L. Charvat, Gary A. Cohen, Dana R. Yoerger
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method is disclosed for measuring time of flight to an object. A transmitter transmits an electromagnetic signal and provides a reference signal corresponding to the electromagnetic signal. A receiver receives the electromagnetic signal and provides a response signal corresponding to the received electromagnetic signal. A detection circuit is configured to determine a time of flight between the transmitter and the receiver based upon the reference signal and the response signal.
Claims41
A system comprising:
- a first interrogator configured to obtain first and second radio-frequency (RF) electromagnetic signals corresponding to a first input RF electromagnetic signal, the first interrogator comprising:
- a first transmit antenna configured to transmit, to a device, the first RF electromagnetic signal;
- a first receive antenna configured to receive, from the device, a third RF electromagnetic signal;
- and
- a first detection circuit configured to determine a first time of flight between the first interrogator and the device based upon the second RF electromagnetic signal and the third RF electromagnetic signal;
- a second interrogator configured to obtain fourth and fifth RF electromagnetic signals corresponding to a second input RF electromagnetic signal, the second interrogator comprising:
- a second transmit antenna configured to transmit, to the device, the fourth RF electromagnetic signal;
- a second receive antenna configured to receive, from the device, a sixth RF electromagnetic signal;
- and
- a second detection circuit configured to determine a second time of flight between the second interrogator and the device based upon the fifth RF electromagnetic signal and the sixth RF electromagnetic signal;
- and
- at least one processor configured to determine a location of the device based upon the first time of flight and the second time of flight.
9 more elements
A method comprising:
- obtaining, with a first interrogator, first and second radio-frequency (RF) electromagnetic signals corresponding to a first input RF electromagnetic signal;
- transmitting, to a device, the first RF electromagnetic signal using a transmit antenna of the first interrogator;
- receiving, from the device, a third RF electromagnetic signal using a receive antenna of the first interrogator;
- determining a first time of flight between the first interrogator and the device based upon the second RF electromagnetic signal and the third RF electromagnetic signal;
- obtaining, with a second interrogator, fourth and fifth RF electromagnetic signals corresponding to a second input RF electromagnetic signal;
- transmitting, to the device, the fourth RF electromagnetic signal using a transmit antenna of the second interrogator;
- receiving, from the device, a sixth RF electromagnetic signal using a receive antenna of the second interrogator;
- determining a second time of flight between the second interrogator and the device based upon the fifth RF electromagnetic signal and the sixth RF electromagnetic signal;
- and
- determining a location of the device based upon the first time of flight and the second time of flight.
7 more elements
A system comprising:
- a first interrogator configured to obtain first and second radio-frequency (RF) electromagnetic signals corresponding to an input RF electromagnetic signal, the first interrogator comprising:
- a transmit antenna configured to transmit, to a device, the first RF electromagnetic signal;
- a first receive antenna configured to receive, from the device, a third RF electromagnetic signal;
- and
- a first detection circuit configured to determine a first time of flight between the first interrogator and the device based upon the second RF electromagnetic signal and the third RF electromagnetic signal;
- a second interrogator comprising:
- a second receive antenna configured to receive, from the device, a fourth RF electromagnetic signal;
- and
- a second detection circuit configured to determine a second time of flight between the second interrogator and the device based upon the fourth RF electromagnetic signal;
- and
- at least one processor configured to determine a location of the device based upon the first time of flight and the second time of flight.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.