Single-Base Pet Containment Location Using TDOA Receivers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless pet location systems using multiple base units are costly, inconvenient to power remotely, and suffer from imprecise location determination due to environmental variations and antenna pattern changes, especially when outdoor installations are required.
Innovation Solution
A wireless pet location system utilizing a single base unit with a transceiver and two or more receivers, employing time difference of arrival and far field modeling to determine the pet's location within a grid system, reducing the need for multiple base units and improving location precision.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple base units are used to determine pet location, then location coverage is improved, but system cost and power requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The single base unit is segmented into multiple functional receivers (first receiver, second receiver, third receiver) that operate independently to detect signals from different directions. This segmentation allows the system to achieve multi-point detection capability without requiring multiple physical base units, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining location determination precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a multi-unit spatial distribution approach to a single-unit multi-receiver configuration. By adding the dimension of multiple receivers within one base unit, the system achieves the functionality of multiple base units without the associated complexity and cost, effectively solving the contradiction between measurement precision and device complexity.
2Reliability
If multiple base units are deployed remotely, then location tracking capability is enhanced, but power supply complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple receiver functions into a single base unit, consolidating what would otherwise require multiple distributed units. This combination eliminates the need for multiple remote power supplies, simplifying power management and improving ease of operation while maintaining reliable location tracking capability through the coordinated operation of multiple receivers within the unified base unit.
3Measurement precision
If environmental variations and antenna pattern changes occur, then signal reception becomes unreliable, but location precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Each receiver within the base unit is positioned and configured to detect signals from specific directions or quadrants. This local quality assignment allows the system to optimize signal reception for different spatial zones, compensating for environmental variations and antenna pattern changes by having specialized receivers for different directional regions, thereby maintaining location determination accuracy despite reliability challenges.
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 achieves precise pet location determination with reduced costs and simplified power requirements, enabling effective containment and behavior monitoring using a single base unit.
Implementation Method 1
a first transceiver configured to transmit a communication to a transceiver remote to the base unit
Implementation Method 2
a first transceiver, a second receiver, and a third receiver... receive a response from the transceiver, wherein the response comprises a return communication
Implementation Method 3
use information of the return communication to determine a first time of flight, wherein the first time of flight comprises the time elapsed between transmission of the return communication and the receiving of the return communication by the first transceiver
Implementation Method 4
use the clock to determine a time difference of arrival between the first transceiver receiving the return communication, the second receiver receiving the return communication, and the third receiver receiving the return communication
Data Source
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AI summary
A wireless animal location system is provided that identifies a location of a pet roaming within an environment using a single base unit. The wireless animal location system tracks and manages animal behavior in the environment using information of pet location.