US 8,949,069 B2 · Position determination based on propagation delay differences of multiple signals received at multiple sensors

Abstract

Methods and systems to determine at multi-dimensional coordinates of an object based on propagation delay differences of multiple signals received from the object by each of a plurality of sensors. The signals may include optical signals in a human visible spectrum, which may be amplitude modulated with corresponding frequency tones. An envelope may be detected with respect to each of the sensors, and signals within each envelope may be separated. A phase difference of arrival may be determined for each of the signals, based on a difference in propagation delay times of the signal with respect to multiple sensors. The phase differences of arrival may be converted to corresponding distance differences between a corresponding transmitter and the corresponding sensors. A linear distance and a perpendicular offset distance may be determined from a combination the distance differences, a distance between the corresponding transmitters, and a distance between the corresponding sensors.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method, comprising:

receiving first and second signals from corresponding first and second transmitters, at each of first and second sensors;
and
determining at least two-dimensional coordinates for each of the first and second transmitters relative to the first sensor based on a first phase difference between the first signal as received at the first sensor and the first signal as received at the second sensor, a second phase difference between the second signal as received at the first sensor and the second signal as received at the second sensor, a distance between the first and second transmitters, and a distance between the first and second sensors;
wherein the determining is performed using at least one of circuitry and a suitably programmed computer processor.

1 more element

A system, comprising:

first and second sensors, each to receive a first signal from a first transmitter and a second signal from a second transmitter;
and
a computation system to determine at least two-dimensional coordinates of each of the first and second transmitters relative to the first sensor based on a first phase difference between the first signal as received at the first sensor and the first signal as received at the second sensor, a second phase difference between the second signal as received at the first sensor and the second signal as received at the second sensor, a distance between the first and second transmitters, and a distance between the first and second sensors.

A non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with a computer program, including instructions to cause a processor to:

receive information corresponding to first and second signals received from corresponding first and second transmitters at each of first and second sensors;
and
determine at least two-dimensional coordinates for each of the first and second transmitters relative to the first sensor based on a first phase difference between the first signal as received at the first sensor and the first signal as received at the second sensor, a second phase difference between the second signal as received at the first sensor and the second signal as received at the second sensor, a distance between the first and second transmitters, and a distance between the first and second sensors.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Position determination based on propagation delay differences of multiple signals received at multiple sensors

Life of this patent

Position determination based on propagation delay differences of multiple signals received at multiple sensors

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20