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US 11,768,269 B2Granted
Positioning based on signal propagation time difference
AssigneeExalocus Oy
InventorsErkki Pesonen, Jukka Heikkonen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A positioning method, as well as the system of base stations (T1,T2,T3) and detector (I) is based on measuring the propagation time difference of externally controlled electromagnetic pulses (F1,F2,F3) and the arrival signals of the controlled base station during a measurement cycle (t1+t2). In one embodiment, a reference clock is not required for measuring propagation time differences, but instead, accurate fixed distances between base stations can be used as a reference. System calibration is rarely performed. It checks the mutual locations of base stations. This may be partially automated. The positioning system does not require any sensors.
Claims15
A positioning method comprising:
- measuring at a detector propagation time difference of radio frequency electromagnetic pulses received from base stations during measurement cycle;
- defining the detector position information of the base stations;
- and
- determining in the detector, on basis of the propagation time difference and the position information, a position of the detector relative to the base stations, wherein the base stations are connected to each other via cables, wherein transmission of said radio frequency electromagnetic pulses from base stations is controlled via said cables, wherein calibrated position information of the base stations and calibrated distances between them are used as references for measuring the propagation time difference of the radio frequency electromagnetic pulses, wherein calibrated delays in transmission and reception of radio signals of the radio frequency electromagnetic pulses are used, and wherein reference clock of the base stations is not required for measuring the propagation time differences.
1 more element
A positioning method, comprising:
- measuring at one base station propagation time difference of radio frequency electromagnetic pulses received from the other base stations and a detector during a measurement cycle;
- defining position information of both the one base station and the other base stations;
- and
- determining at the base station, based on the propagation time difference and the position information, a position of the detector relative to the base stations, which base stations are connected to each other via cables, wherein transmission of said electromagnetic pulses from the base stations is controlled via said cables, wherein calibrated position information of the base stations and calibrated distances between them are used as references for measuring the propagation time difference of the radio frequency electromagnetic pulses, wherein calibrated delays in transmission and reception of radio signals of the radio frequency electromagnetic pulses are used, and wherein reference clock of the base stations is not required for measuring the propagation time differences.
1 more element
A detector, configured to:
- measure propagation time difference of radio frequency electromagnetic pulses received from base stations within a predetermined time period;
- determining distances of the base stations relative to each other;
- and
- determining position information of a detector on a basis of the propagation time difference and the distances, wherein the base stations are connected to each other via cables, wherein transmission of said electromagnetic pulses from the base stations is controlled via said cables, wherein calibrated position information of the base stations and calibrated distances between them are used as references for measuring the propagation time difference of the radio frequency electromagnetic pulses, wherein calibrated delays in transmission and reception of radio signals of the radio frequency electromagnetic pulses are used, and wherein reference clock of the base stations is not required for measuring the propagation time differences.
1 more element
A base station configured to:
- measure a propagation time difference of radio frequency electromagnetic pulses received from other base stations and a detector during a measurement cycle;
- determine position information of the base stations;
- and
- determine, based on the propagation time difference and the position information, a position of the detector relative to the base stations, which base stations are connected to each other via cables, wherein transmission of said electromagnetic pulses from the base stations is controlled via said cables, wherein calibrated position information of the base stations and calibrated distances between them are used as references for measuring the propagation time difference of the radio frequency electromagnetic pulses, wherein calibrated delays in transmission and reception of radio signals of the radio frequency electromagnetic pulses are used, and wherein reference clock of the base stations is not required for measuring the propagation time differences.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.