Near field electromagnetic positioning calibration system and method

A method for calibrating an electromagnetic position determination system, said position determining system determining an unknown position of a beacon transmitter by generating a positioning data set and matching said positioning data set with a plurality of calibration data sets;

• said unknown position determined based on a position corresponding to a calibration data set of said plurality of calibration data sets, that most closely matches said positioning data set;
• said method for calibrating said position determination system comprising:
• 1) generating said plurality of calibration data sets, each calibration data set of said plurality of calibration data sets generated by:
• a) transmitting a calibration transmission from a known transmitter position corresponding to each said calibration data set;
• and
• b) receiving said calibration transmission at a plurality of known receiver positions, each said calibration data set comprising a plurality of comparison values comparing two received signal characteristics of said calibration transmission at each receiver position of said plurality of known receiver positions.

A method for calibrating an electromagnetic position determination system, said position determining system determining an unknown position of a beacon transmitter by generating a positioning data set and matching said positioning data set with a plurality of calibration data sets;

• said unknown position determined based on a position corresponding to a calibration data set of said plurality of calibration data sets, that most closely matches said positioning data set;
• said method for calibrating said position determination system comprising:
• 1) generating said plurality of calibration data sets, each calibration data set of said plurality of calibration data sets generated by:
• a) transmitting a calibration transmission from a known transmitter position corresponding to each said calibration data set;
• and
• b) receiving said calibration transmission at a plurality of known receiver positions, each said calibration data set comprising a plurality of measurements of at least one near field signal characteristic of said calibration transmission at each receiver position of said plurality of known receiver positions.

A system for calibrating a position determination system, said position determination system comprising:

• a positioning transmitter located with an object, said positioning transmitter producing a beacon signal;
• a plurality of positioning receivers for receiving said beacon signal;
• each of said positioning receivers of said plurality of positioning receivers having a respective known positioning receiver position;
• each of said positioning receivers of said plurality of positioning receivers comprising:
• means for receiving a first signal characteristic of said beacon signal;
• means for receiving a second signal characteristic of said beacon signal;
• and
• a positioning comparison unit for comparing said first signal characteristic and said second signal characteristic of said beacon signal to generate a positioning comparison result;
• wherein a position for said object is determined by comparing said positioning comparison result with a calibration database;
• said calibration system comprising:
• a calibration transmitter producing a calibration signal;
• a plurality of calibration receivers for receiving said calibration signal;
• each of said calibration receivers of said plurality of calibration receivers having a respective known calibration receiver position;
• each of said calibration receivers of said plurality of calibration receivers comprising:
• means for receiving a first signal characteristic of said calibration signal;
• means for receiving a second signal characteristic of said calibration signal;
• and
• a comparison unit for comparing said first signal characteristic and said second signal characteristic of said calibration signal to generate a calibration comparison result;
• wherein said calibration transmitter transmits said calibration signal at a plurality of calibration transmitter positions and each said calibration receiver generates a calibration comparison result associated with each calibration transmitter position;
• said calibration database comprising said calibration comparison results associated with each said calibration transmitter position.

A system for calibrating a position determination system, said position determination system comprising:

• a plurality of positioning transmitters for transmitting said beacon signal;
• each of said positioning transmitters of said plurality of positioning transmitters having a respective known positioning transmitter position;
• a positioning receiver located with an object, said positioning receiver producing a beacon signal;
• said positioning receiver comprising:
• means for receiving a first signal characteristic of said beacon signal;
• means for receiving a second signal characteristic of said beacon signal;
• and
• a positioning comparison unit for comparing said first signal characteristic and said second signal characteristic of said beacon signal to generate a positioning comparison result;
• wherein a position for said object is determined by comparing said positioning comparison result with a calibration database;
• said calibration system comprising:
• a plurality of calibration transmitters for transmitting said beacon signal;
• each of said calibration transmitters of said plurality of calibration transmitters having a respective known calibration transmitter position;
• a calibration receiver for receiving said calibration signal;
• said plurality of calibration receiver comprising:
• means for receiving a first signal characteristic of said calibration signal;
• means for receiving a second signal characteristic of said calibration signal;
• and
• a comparison unit for comparing said first signal characteristic and said second signal characteristic of said calibration signal to generate a calibration comparison result;
• wherein said calibration receiver receives said plurality of calibration signals from said plurality of calibration transmitters from a plurality of calibration receiver positions;
• said calibration receiver producing a calibration comparison result for each calibration transmitter at each calibration receiver position;
• said calibration database comprising said calibration comparison results associated with each said calibration receiver position.