Multi-Device Orientation And Positioning Using Global Measurement Fusion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing positioning systems face challenges in accurately and efficiently determining the orientations and positions of anchor nodes in indoor environments, particularly due to the limitations of GNSS and the time-consuming manual methods for re-distribution.

Innovation Solution

A collaborative method involving electronic devices that perform ranging and angle measurements with neighboring devices, combined with GNSS positioning, to determine orientations and positions through a global computation, optimizing for accuracy and efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If manual methods are used to obtain orientations and positions of anchor nodes, then accuracy can be achieved, but the process is time-consuming and inefficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of orientations and positionsVSAvoidtime for obtaining orientations and positions
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The electronic devices automatically perform ranging measurements and angle measurements with their neighboring devices, and the server automatically collects these measurements and performs global computation to determine orientations and positions, eliminating the need for manual intervention while achieving accurate results efficiently

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical methods with wireless measurement systems (ranging measurements and angle measurements) and automated computational processing, substituting human effort with electronic sensing and algorithmic computation to achieve both accuracy and efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If GNSS measurements are used for positioning, then absolute position information can be obtained, but the accuracy is insufficient in indoor environments

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidreliability of positioning in indoor environments
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple measurement types (ranging measurements between devices, angle measurements between devices, and GNSS positioning measurements) into a unified global computation framework, allowing the system to leverage the strengths of each measurement type while compensating for their individual weaknesses, particularly improving indoor positioning reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite positioning solution by integrating different measurement modalities (relative positioning from ranging/angle measurements and absolute positioning from GNSS), similar to how composite materials combine different substances to achieve superior properties, thereby achieving reliable positioning in indoor environments where single-method approaches fail

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Adaptability or versatility

If anchor nodes are re-distributed to improve positioning coverage, then system performance can be enhanced, but the orientations and positions cannot be obtained accurately in a short time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning coverageVSAvoidtime for obtaining orientations and positions after re-distribution
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs automatic measurements and global computation immediately after anchor nodes are deployed or re-distributed, obtaining orientations and positions without manual intervention, enabling rapid system setup and reconfiguration while maintaining accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The electronic devices and server automatically perform all necessary measurements and computations to determine orientations and positions after re-distribution, enabling the system to quickly adapt to new configurations without requiring time-consuming manual calibration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4614180A1Method for determining orientations and positions of a plurality of electronic devices
Publication Date: 2025.09.10 U-BLOX
  • EP4614180A1 patent drawingFigure 1a~2
  • EP4614180A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4614180A1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

A method for determining orientations and positions of a plurality of electronic devices is applied for at least 3 or 4 electronic devices in an area, and comprises that each electronic device obtains angle measurements, ranging measurements and positioning measurements of the electronic device; one of the at least 3 or 4 electronic devices and/or a server collects the angle measurements, the ranging measurements and the positioning measurements of each electronic device and determines an orientation and a position of each electronic device based on the collected measurements by performing a global computation.