Travel time measurement based on frequency switching

A method for signal round-trip time measurement or signal runtime measurement or for measuring a phase round-trip shift at least between a first object and a second object, including the steps of:

• a. performing a reference sequence including, at least once, the following steps of:
• i. sending a reference signal (RS) from the second object to the first object before, at or after a first reference time (t1′);
• ii. receiving the reference signal (RS) at the first object;
• wherein, at the second object, determining a first time difference (dt1) between a virtual frequency switching time (t1) and a reference time (t1′);
• and
• wherein, at the first object, determining a second time difference (dt2) between a first switching time at which a phase relationship between a phase position of a first signal (S1) and the phase position of a first further signal (S1w.n) at the first object corresponds to a first phase relationship (phi1), and reception of the reference signal (RS) at the first object;
• and
• calculating a signal round-trip time or signal runtime or phase round-trip shift between the first and second object from the first time difference (dt1) and second time difference (dt2).

A device set up for determining at least one first virtual frequency switching time (t1) and sending a second signal and at least one second further signal, and set up for synchronization, for signal round-trip time measurement or signal runtime measurement or for measuring the phase round-trip shift or for range finding or measuring a distance change, having at least one means for receiving a first signal (S1) and at least one first further signal, and for sending the second signal and at least one second further signal from a first object, set up for determining at least one virtual frequency switching time between a first frequency (f1) of the first signal (S1) and at least one first further frequency (f1w.n) of the at least one first further signal (S1w.n);

• wherein least one first further phase progression of the at least one first further signal (S1w.n) has a first first phase relationship (phi1.1) to the first phase progression of the first signal (S1) at the first object, and
• wherein the device is set up to determine from a phase progression of the first signal (S1) received at the device, and of least one phase progression of the at least one first further signal (S2w.n) received at the device, the at least one virtual frequency switching time (t1.1) as a time, at which, at the device, a phase relationship between interpolated or received phase positions of the first and the first further signal (S1, S1w.1) corresponds to the first first phase relationship (phi1.1).

A device set up to emit a first signal (S1) and at least one first further signal (S1w.n) for signal round-trip time measurement or signal runtime measurement or for measuring the phase round-trip shift or for range finding, said device comprising:

• at least one PLL for generating the first signal (S1) at a first frequency and the at least one first further signal (S1w) at a first further frequency;
• wherein the device is set up to toggle between generation of the first signal (S1) and generation of the at least one first further signal (S1w.n) using knowledge or determination of a phase difference (phi1.n) between the first signal (S1) and the first further signal (S1w.n);
• wherein the device is set up to receive a second signal (S2) from a second object and at least one second further signal from said second object;
• wherein the device is further set up to determine at least one virtual frequency switching time between a second frequency (f2) of the second signal (S2) and at least one second further frequency (f2w.n) of the at least one second further signal (S2w.n);
• wherein at least one second further phase progression of the at least one second further signal (S2w.n) has a first second phase relationship (phi2.1) to a second phase progression of the second signal (S2) at the second object;
• and
• wherein the device is set up to determine from a phase progression of the second signal (S2) received at the device, and of at least one phase progression of the at least one second further signal (S2w.n) received at the device, at least one virtual frequency switching time (t2.1) as a time, at which, at the device, a phase relationship between interpolated or received phase positions of the second and a second further signal (S2, S2w.1) corresponds to the first second phase relationship (phi2.1).

A system for synchronization, for signal round-trip time measurement or signal runtime measurement or for measuring the phase round-trip shift or for range finding or measuring a distance change comprising at least one first and one second device;

• wherein the first device is set up to emit a first signal (S1) and at least one first further signal (S1w.n), having at least one PLL for generating the first signal (S1) at a first frequency and the at least one first further signal (S1w) at a first further frequency;
• wherein the first device is set up to toggle between generation of the first signal (S1) and generation of the at least one first further signal (S1w.n) using knowledge or determination of the phase difference (phi1.n) between the first signal (S1) and a first further signal (S1w.n);
• wherein at least one first further phase progression of the at least one first further signal (S1w.n) has a first first phase relationship (phi1.1) to a first phase progression of the first signal (S1) at the first device, wherein first device is set up to predetermine, determine or know the first first phase relationship (phi1.1);
• and
• wherein the first device is set up to receive a second signal (S2) from the second device and at least one second further signal from said second device, and is set up to determine at least one virtual frequency switching time between a second frequency (f2) of the second signal (S2) and at least one second further frequency (f2w.n) of at least one second further signal (S2w.n);
• wherein the first device is set up to determine from a phase progression of the second signal (S2) received at the first device, and of at least one phase progression of the at least one second further signal (S2w.n) received at the first device, at least one virtual frequency switching time (t2.1) as a time, at which, at the first device, a phase relationship between interpolated or received phase positions of the second signal (S2) and a second further signal (S2w.1) corresponds to a first second phase relationship (phi2.1);
• wherein the second device is set up to emit the second signal (S2) and the at least one second further signal (S2w.n), having at least one PLL for generating the second signal (S2) at the second frequency and the at least one second further signal (S2w) at a second further frequency;
• wherein the second device is set up to toggle between generation of the second signal (S2) and generation of the at least one second further signal (S2w.n);
• wherein at least one second further phase progression of the at least one second further signal (S2w.n) has a first second phase relationship (phi2.1) to a second phase progression of the second signal (S2) at the second device;
• and
• wherein the second device is set up to predetermine, determine or know the first second phase relationship (phi2.1) and is set up to determine from a phase progression of the first signal (S1) received at the second device, and of at least one phase progression of the at least one second further signal (S2w.n) received at the second device, the at least one virtual frequency switching time (t1.1) as a time, at which, at the second device, a phase relationship between interpolated or received phase positions of the first and the first further signal (S1, S1w.1) corresponds to the first first phase relationship (phi1.1).