Wireless Camera Tracking with Multi-Antenna Direction Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motorized targeting systems face difficulties in maintaining a stable focus on moving subjects, especially when obstacles are present between the system and the subject, as they struggle to accurately determine the subject's direction through signal strength measurements.
Innovation Solution
A wireless camera tracking system comprising a tag device and a tracker device with multiple antennas, where the tag transmits messages sequentially through each antenna, allowing the tracker to make signal strength measurements and determine the subject's direction using TDMA patterns and signal strength analysis, even in the presence of obstacles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If signal strength measurements are used to determine subject direction, then the system can automatically track moving subjects, but obstacles between the system and subject cause measurement errors that reduce tracking accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the signal transmission by having each tag antenna transmit sequentially rather than simultaneously. This TDMA approach divides the tracking problem into discrete antenna pairs, allowing the tracker to measure signal strength from each antenna individually and determine direction more accurately even in the presence of obstacles.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses multiple antennas arranged in specific spatial patterns (e.g., circular or linear arrays) to add spatial dimensionality to signal strength measurements. By analyzing signal strength variations across multiple antenna positions and transmission time periods, the system can triangulate the subject's direction more accurately and compensate for obstacle interference.
2Measurement precision
If multiple antennas are used for signal transmission and measurement, then direction determination accuracy improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the tracking function between two simpler devices: a tag with multiple transmission antennas and a tracker with multiple reception antennas. Each device's complexity is reduced by specializing its function, while the combined system achieves high measurement precision through the coordinated use of multiple antennas and time-division multiplexing.
Solution Approach 2:
The tag antennas transmit signals periodically in a time-division manner, with each antenna transmitting during its designated time slot. This periodic transmission pattern simplifies the receiver's task by providing clear temporal separation between signals from different antennas, reducing processing complexity while maintaining accurate direction determination.
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
The system effectively maintains focus on moving subjects by accurately determining their direction, even with obstacles, ensuring continuous video or still capture, and can be adapted for various applications beyond camera systems.
Implementation Method 1
Each antenna may be used to transmit a message that identifies: 1) the tag; and 2) the antenna of the tag through which the message was transmitted. Each antenna of the tag may be used to transmit in a sequential or repeating pattern.
Implementation Method 2
the tracker may make a received signal strength indication (RSSI) measurement on each of the tracker's antennas
Data Source
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AI summary
Various arrangements of wireless tracking systems are presented. A tag device may be presented that include a first plurality of antennas. Each antenna of the first plurality of antennas may have an antenna radiation pattern pointed in a different direction. The tag device may include a wireless transmitter interface that transmits via each antenna of the first plurality of antennas. The wireless tracking system may also include a tracker device that tracks a direction to the tag device. The tracker device may include a second plurality of antennas. Each antenna of the second plurality of antennas may have an antenna radiation pattern pointed in a different direction. The tracker device may include a wireless interface receiver that performs a plurality of signal strength measurements using the second plurality of antennas.