Phase-Based Positioning Without Reference Nodes or Tight Sync
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing one-way localization systems require additional reference nodes, which are costly and resource-intensive, and lack a simplified method to remove phase offsets.
Innovation Solution
A phase-based positioning system using a pair of anchors (transceiver and receiver devices) that transmit and receive signal fragments with known phase relationships to calculate phase differences, eliminating the need for precise synchronization and additional reference devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If additional reference nodes are used to remove phase offsets in one-way localization systems, then positioning accuracy is improved, but system cost and resource consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the reference device from the system by using the receiver device itself to measure and compensate for phase offsets. Instead of requiring a separate reference node, the system uses the receiver's own local oscillator phase as the reference, eliminating the need for additional hardware while maintaining positioning accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The receiver device performs multiple functions: it receives signals from target devices, measures phase differences, and simultaneously serves as the reference device for phase offset compensation. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated reference nodes while maintaining system accuracy.
2Measurement precision
If additional reference nodes are deployed for phase offset removal, then positioning precision is improved, but resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reference functionality is extracted from a separate device and integrated into the receiver device itself. The receiver uses its own local oscillator as the phase reference, eliminating the need for additional reference nodes and reducing resource consumption while maintaining positioning precision.
3Measurement precision
If precise synchronization between transceiver and receiver devices is implemented, then phase measurement accuracy is improved, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of synchronizing the receiver to the transceiver's clock, the system inverts the approach by using the receiver's own local oscillator as the reference. Phase offsets are measured and compensated in the reverse direction, eliminating the need for complex inter-device synchronization while maintaining measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The receiver device serves itself by using its own local oscillator as the phase reference. It autonomously measures and compensates for its own phase offsets without requiring external synchronization signals or complex coordination with transceiver devices.
Data Source
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AI summary
According to an aspect of this disclosure, a system (100) for phase-based positioning is provided. The system comprises at least one target device (101) configured to transmit a first signal fragment (102). In addition, the system comprises at least one transceiver device (103) configured to receive the first signal fragment (102) from the target device (101), to measure a phase of the first signal fragment (102), and to transmit a second signal fragment (104) with a phase having a known phase relationship with the measured phase of the first signal fragment (102). Furthermore, the system comprises at least one receiver device (105) configured to receive the first signal fragment (102) from the target device (101), to measure the phase of the first signal fragment (102), to receive the second signal fragment (104) from the transceiver device (103), and to measure the phase of the second signal fragment (104). Moreover, the system comprises at least one processing unit (107) configured to calculate a phase difference between the phase of the first signal fragment (102) and the phase of the second signal fragment (104) measured by the receiver device (105) to estimate position information of the target device (101).