# US 2014/0152508 A1 · RF Confinement System

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- Number: US 2014/0152508 A1
- Document ID: US20140152508A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/093,436
- Filed: 2013-11-30
- Published: 2014-06-05
- Earliest claimed: 2012-11-30
- Assignees: Pet Mate Limited
- Inventors: Chrstopher Peter Kirk; Steve Martin Brooks
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140152508A1

## CPC

- G01S 5/08: Position of single direction-finder fixed by determining direction of a plurality of spaced sources of known location
- A01K 11/006: {Automatic identification systems for animals, e.g. electronic devices, transponders for animals (identification systems for access to feeding pens A01K1/0209; ear tags with electronic identification means A01K11/004)}
- G01S 5/14: Determining absolute distances from a plurality of spaced points of known location
- G01S 13/767: {Responders; Transponders (teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying using reflecting targets or active targets F41G3/26)}
- G01S 13/878: {Combination of several spaced transmitters or receivers of known location for determining the position of a transponder or a reflector (G01S13/874 takes precedence)}
- G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
- A01K: ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS

## Abstract

A system of locating a moveable RFID transceiver, in which the moveable transceiver is capable of sending and receiving TOF (Time of fight) signals, and also includes battery powered base stations suitable for outdoor use, and capable of sending and receiving TOF signals. The system measures the signals to derive time of flight information between the moveable transceiver and the base stations and using this data to calculate the position of the moveable transceiver. The position of the base stations may be fixed using TOF signals before attempting location of the moveable RFID transceiver. The base stations may be solar powered, and can work with a base network of only 2 base stations.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system of locating a moveable RFID transceiver, comprising;
a moveable transceiver capable of sending and receiving TOF (Time of fight) signals
battery powered base stations suitable for outdoor use, and capable of sending and receiving TOF signals
the system being capable of measuring the signals to derive time of flight information between the moveable transceiver and the base stations and using this data to calculate the position of the moveable transceiver.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A system according to claim 1, wherein the position of the base stations is fixed using TOF signals before attempting location of the moveable RFID transceiver.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A system according to claim 1 wherein the base stations are solar powered

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A system according to claim 1 wherein the base network of only 2 base stations.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A system according to claim 1 wherein there is included a home station capable of controlling the system, and receiving the TOF signals, allowing the location of the moveable transceiver to be ascertained within a non-symmetrical shape.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A system according to claim 1 wherein there is included a home station receiving and sending TOF signals, allowing the location of the moveable transceiver to be ascertained within a non-symmetrical shape.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

A system according to claim 1 wherein all devices are capable of receiving each TOF signal so as to calculate additional distances to reduce power requirements and/or RF traffic and detect reflections.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

A system according to claim 1 wherein the first TOF signal is sent from the moveable transceiver
a second TOF signal is sent from the first base station in response to first TOF signal, and received by the moveable transceiver, to generate one direct measurements of distance and/or a further two or more indirect measurements.
a third TOF signal is sent from second base station in response to first TOF signal, and received by the moveable transceiver, to generate a further one direct measurements of distance and/or a further two or more indirect measurements.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

A system according to claim 8 wherein a fourth TOF signal is sent from the moveable transceiver in response to second and third TOF signals to give a further two direct measurements of distance and/or a further four or more indirect measurements

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

A system according to claim 1 wherein the TOF signal includes data relating to the measurement a previous time of flight of a TOF signal.