Ultrasonic locationing system using a doubly symmetrical transmission sequence
AssigneeSymbol Technologies, Inc.
InventorsRussell Calvarese, Richard J. Lavery, Dammika Prasad Wijethunga
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for locating a target in a venue is described. A backend controller activates transmitters in a venue to send burst signals using a double symmetry configuration formed of a plurality of separate transmitter groups. The backend controller activates the transmitters into a second, different configuration for bursting. The resulting location signal information from each configuration is obtained by the backend controller, which then more accurately determines the location of the target in the venue.
Claims17
A system for locating a target in a venue, the system comprising:
- a plurality of ultrasonic transmitters positioned within the venue according to a physical layout, each transmitter in the plurality of ultrasonic transmitters being configured to transmit ultrasonic ranging pulses in the venue for receipt by the target;
- and
- a backend controller, comprising a processor and a memory, the backend controller communicatively coupled to the plurality of ultrasonic transmitters, the backend controller being configured to activate the transmitters in a symmetry mode that comprises a plurality of symmetry transmitter groups, the transmitters in each symmetry transmitter group having a symmetry about a plurality of symmetry lines in the venue,
- the backend controller being configured to control each symmetry transmitter group to send a respective ranging pulse during a symmetry mode timeframe,
- the backend controller being further configured to receive location signal information during each of the symmetry mode timeframe of the symmetry mode, and
- the backend controller being further configured to determine, in response to the location signal information received during the symmetry mode, the location of the target in the venue.
A method of locating a target in a venue having a plurality of ultrasonic transmitters positioned within the venue, the method comprising:
- activating, using a backend controller communicatively coupled to the plurality of ultrasonic transmitters, the plurality of ultrasonic transmitters in a symmetry mode that comprises a plurality of symmetry transmitter groups, the transmitters in each symmetry transmitter group having a symmetry about a plurality of symmetry lines in the venue,
- transmitting, using the plurality of ultrasonic transmitters activated in the symmetry mode, ultrasonic ranging pulses in the venue during a symmetry mode timeframe;
- receiving location signal information during each of the symmetry mode timeframe;
- and
- determining, in response to the location signal information received during the symmetry mode, the location of the target in the venue.
An ultrasonic locationing system for locating a target in a venue, the system comprising:
- a plurality of ultrasonic transmitters positioned within the venue, each transmitter being configured to transmit ultrasonic ranging pulses in the venue for receipt by the target;
- and
- a backend controller, comprising at least one processor and at least one memory, the backend controller communicatively coupled to the plurality of transmitters, the backend controller being configured to actuate the transmitters in different transmitter groups for sending ultrasonic ranging pulses, each transmitter group exhibiting symmetry about one or more symmetry lines in the venue,
- the backend controller being further configured to actuate each transmitter group in a sequential order each over a respective timeframe, and
- the backend controller being configured to receive location signal information during each of the timeframe and to determine a location of the target in the venue from the received location signal information obtained from the plurality of transmitter groups.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.