A Spatial Sensor Synchronization System Using a Time-Division Multiple Access Communication System

A spatial sensor synchronization system comprising:

• a Time-Division Multiple Access (TDMA) communication system;
• and
• a plurality of movable devices moving within TDMA communication system, each movable device including a spatial sensor and a tag that is configured to communicate within the TDMA communication system,
• wherein each spatial sensor is configured to perform a spatial measurement during a determined active time period,
• wherein each tags are addressed in sequence by the TDMA communication system with a determined sequence period separating two subsequent addresses in the TDMA communication system,
• wherein each tag includes a trigger output device configured to output an electrical trigger to the spatial sensor of the corresponding movable device, after being addressed by the TDMA communication system,
• wherein each spatial sensor includes a trigger input device connected to the trigger output device of the corresponding tag, the trigger input device configured to initiate a spatial sensor measurement a received electrical trigger, and
• wherein a duration of the sequence period is equal or greater than a duration of the determined active time period.

A method for synchronizing of a spatial sensor that is used together with a Time-Division Multiple Access (TDMA) communication system, the spatial sensor configured to make a spatial measurement during an active time period, the method comprising the steps of:

• connecting the spatial sensor to the TDMA communication system;
• addressing the spatial sensor with a sequence period, the sequence period separating two subsequent addresses in the TDMA communication system, a duration of the sequence period being equal to or greater than a duration of the active time period;
• extracting a timing signal by the spatial sensor after the step of addressing;
• aligning the spatial sensor to the timing signal;
• using the timing signal as a trigger signal to trigger the spatial measurement by the spatial sensor and/or one or more additional spatial sensors;
• and
• repeating the steps of connecting, addressing, extracting, aligning, and using.