Quantum positioning systems and methods
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
InventorThomas B. Bahder
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Included in this disclosure is a quantum positioning system (QPS) that includes a corner cube reflector and a plurality of baselines. Each baseline may include an interferometer, which may include a photon source, a beam splitter, and a photon detector. The interferometer is configured for creating a bi-photon pair and initiating communication of the bi-photon pair with the corner cube reflector. Also included in the QPS is a positioning device configured to calculate a user's position.
Claims13
A method for determining a user's position, comprising:
- creating at least one bi-photon pair in an interferometer positioned along a baseline position;
- directing the photons of the at least one bi-photon pair in opposite directions along the baseline;
- redirecting the photons of the at least one bi-photon pair moving along the baseline to a corner cube reflector;
- receiving the photons of the at least one redirected bi-photon pair from the corner cube reflector;
- and
- determining a difference in arrival times of the photons of the at least one redirected bi-photon pair at the interferometer as an indication of a user position.
A quantum positioning system comprising:
- a baseline having a first end and a second end;
- a corner cube reflector capable of redirecting an incoming photon in an opposite direction to an incident direction of the photon;
- means at said baseline for generating a pair of photons moving in opposite directions along said baseline to said first and second ends;
- means at said first end for redirecting an incoming photon along said baseline to said corner cube reflector and redirecting an incoming photon from said corner cube reflector back along said baseline;
- means at said second end for redirecting an incoming photon along said baseline to said corner cube reflector and redirecting an incoming photon from said corner cube reflector back along said baseline;
- and photon detection means at said baseline responsive to the return of said photons for determining a coordinate position on said baseline as a function of a difference in arrival times of said photons.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.