Method and device for locating moving objects
AssigneeKoninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
InventorsDirk Wenzel, Wolfgang Tobergte, Holger Kunkat
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In order to provide a method for locating moving objects that will allow high precision in position determination and thus largely eliminate sorting errors, and also to provide a device suitable for executing the method, it is envisaged that on at least one defined location within the reading range of an interrogator (16) arranged in a stationary position, an interference pulse, which influences a response signal transmitted by a transponder (20) carried by a moving object (12) in response to a signal transmitted by the interrogator (16), is exerted on the object (12), and a position of the object (12) is determined in dependence on a time when the influence of the response signal occurred.
Claims15
A method for locating moving objects, at least one interrogator (16) arranged in a stationary position relative to a path of movement of the object (12), transmitting an electromagnetic signal within a reading range, the moving object (12) carrying at least one transponder (20) which transmits a response signal in response to the transmitted signal, and the interrogator (16) receiving and evaluating the response signal, characterized in that on at least one defined location within the interrogator's (16) reading range an interference pulse influencing the transponder's (20) response signal is exerted, and a position is determined for the object (12) dependent on a time when the influence of the response signal occurred.
A method as claimed in one of the previous claims, characterized in that the interrogator (16) and/or the transponder (20) each include at least one antenna for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic signals, especially high-frequency signals.
A method as claimed in one of the previous claims, characterized in that the transponder's (20) response signal contains information personalizing the transponder (20).
A method as claimed in one of the previous claims, characterized in that an amplitude of the response signal is evaluated.
A method as claimed in one of the previous claims, characterized in that the influence on the response signal caused by the interference signal is an erratic discontinuity especially of the amplitude of the signal.
A device (100) for locating moving objects (12) with at least one interrogator (16) arranged in a stationary position relative to a path of movement of the object (12), transmitting an electromagnetic signal within a reading range, to at least one transponder (20) assigned to the moving object (12), this transponder transmitting a response signal in response to the transmitted signal;
- and with an evaluation unit which evaluates the response signal from the transponder (20) received by the interrogator (16), characterized in that at at least one defined location within the reading range of the interrogator (16) an interference generator (22) is arranged, which exerts an interference pulse on the object (12), influencing the response signal of the transponder (20).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.