Handheld Hidden-Object Locator Using Distance and Motion Direction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing locating devices for non-visible objects within walls, ceilings, and floors are complex, prone to errors, and costly due to the use of precise displacement sensors and sensor arrays.
Innovation Solution
A handheld locating system utilizing a tracking sensor and orientation sensor, combined with an evaluation unit, determines relative position information by processing electrical signals from these sensors, allowing for simplified and less error-prone object localization using displacement and motion direction sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If precise displacement sensors and sensor arrays are used to determine object direction, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the tracking sensor and orientation sensor into a single integrated system where the orientation sensor provides motion direction information that complements the tracking sensor's distance measurements. This merging eliminates the need for complex sensor arrays while achieving accurate object localization through the synergistic use of distance and motion direction data
Solution Approach 2:
The orientation sensor acts as an intermediary that provides motion direction information, which serves as a substitute for the complex sensor arrays previously required. This intermediary component simplifies the overall system by providing the necessary directional data through a different, less complex sensing approach
2Measurement precision
If precise displacement sensors are used to determine object path, then measurement precision is improved, but reliability decreases due to error susceptibility
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback by continuously monitoring both distance and motion direction, then combining this information to determine object position. The evaluation unit processes both sensor inputs to cross-validate measurements, reducing susceptibility to errors from any single sensor while maintaining high measurement precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite sensing system that combines tracking sensor data with orientation sensor data. This composite approach integrates multiple measurement sources to achieve reliable object path determination that is less susceptible to errors than any individual sensor type alone
3Measurement precision
If sensor arrays with multiple sensor orientations are used, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential directional information needed for object localization by using the orientation sensor to provide motion direction. This extraction approach removes the unnecessary complexity of multiple sensor orientations while retaining the critical directional data needed for accurate positioning
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces expensive, complex sensor arrays with simpler, more cost-effective sensors that provide sufficient directional information. The orientation sensor offers a cheaper alternative to complex multi-orientation sensor arrays while maintaining adequate measurement precision for practical applications
Data Source
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Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
The invention relates to a tracking system 100 for determining relative position information regarding the relative position of the tracking system 100 to a trackable object 160 located under an inspection surface 150, wherein the tracking system 100 comprises a tracking sensor 110, an orientation sensor 120 and an evaluation unit 140, wherein the tracking sensor 110 is configured to provide a first signal that changes with a change in a distance 180 between the tracking system 100 and the object 160, and the orientation sensor 120 is configured to provide a second signal that changes with a change in a direction of movement 105 of the tracking system 100 to an environment 101 of the tracking system 100, wherein the evaluation unit 140 is configured to determine the relative position information regarding the relative position of the tracking system 100 to the object 160 taking into account the first signal and the second signal.