Beacon Emission Angle Control for Single-Antenna Indoor Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing indoor positioning systems for mobile terminals in environments without satellite radio wave reception rely on multiple array antennas for accurate positioning, but these systems assume the array antenna's position is known, and there is a need for a method to accurately determine the position of moving objects using a single array antenna with beacons arranged at predetermined positions.

Innovation Solution

A beacon network with multiple beacons emitting signal waves including identification information, and a radio wave absorber to adjust the emission angle, allowing a moving-object positioning system to determine the position of a moving object using a single array antenna by identifying the beacons and estimating arrival directions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If multiple array antennas are used to accurately estimate beacon position, then positioning accuracy is improved, but device complexity and installation cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidnumber of array antennas

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using multiple array antennas to determine beacon position, the patent inverts the approach by using a single array antenna in the moving object to receive signals from multiple beacons. The beacon positions are determined by the moving object itself rather than by fixed infrastructure antennas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The moving object performs self-positioning by using its own single array antenna to receive signal waves from multiple beacons and calculate its position based on arrival directions. The system serves itself without requiring external multiple antenna arrays.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Measurement precision

If multiple array antennas are arranged at different positions, then beacon position estimation accuracy is improved, but installation cost and system complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebeacon position estimation accuracyVSAvoidinstallation cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional approach by placing the array antenna in the moving object rather than fixing multiple antennas in the environment. This reduces infrastructure installation costs while maintaining positioning capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The system segments the positioning function by distributing multiple beacons throughout the environment and using a single moving array antenna to receive signals from multiple sources, rather than requiring multiple fixed antenna arrays.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Device complexity

If a single array antenna is used, then device complexity is reduced, but positioning accuracy deteriorates due to inability to obtain exact distance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of array antennasVSAvoidpositioning accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines information from multiple beacons received by a single array antenna to achieve positioning. By merging signals from multiple sources with known positions, the system compensates for the limitation of having only one antenna.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from multiple beacon signals to iteratively determine the moving object's position. The arrival directions from multiple beacons provide feedback information that enables accurate position calculation even with a single antenna.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

4Area of stationary object

If beacons emit signal waves in all directions, then signal coverage is improved, but interference between beacons increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal coverage areaVSAvoidsignal interference

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by making each beacon's signal emission directional rather than omnidirectional. Each beacon transmits signals preferentially in specific directions, creating localized coverage zones that reduce overlap and interference with other beacons.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables accurate positioning of moving objects within indoor environments without requiring multiple array antennas, reducing installation costs and improving positioning accuracy by using a single array antenna and beacons arranged on ceilings, such as in factories or warehouses.

Implementation Method 1

a radio wave absorber to adjust an emission angle of the signal wave emitted from at least one of the plurality of beacons

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRadio wave absorption: Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentUS11784407B2Beacon network, moving-object positioning system, and logistics management system

Publication Date: 2023.10.10 NIDEC CORP(JP)

AI summary

A beacon network includes a plurality of beacons arranged at predetermined positions to periodically or intermittently emit a signal wave including identification information, and a radio wave absorber to adjust an emission angle of the signal wave emitted from at least one of the plurality of beacons.