RF Anchor Transceiver Positioning via Time-of-Flight
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for determining the position of a target transceiver using a radio frequency network are inaccurate when the target is located outside the perimeter defined by anchor transceivers, as errors are significantly magnified.
Innovation Solution
A system and method utilizing a master anchor transceiver and a plurality of slave anchor transceivers that transmit a time-of-flight (TOF) initialization signal, receive a TOF response from the target transceiver, and calculate distances to determine the target's relative position, incorporating clock drift correction and triangulation for accurate positioning outside the defined area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If simple geometry calculations are used to determine target position based on TOF data from anchor transceivers, then the method is simple and easy to implement, but the positional accuracy deteriorates significantly when the target is located outside the perimeter defined by the anchors
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the positioning function by introducing a master anchor transceiver that performs complex calculations (including clock drift correction and triangulation) centrally, while slave anchor transceivers perform only simple TOF measurements. This segmentation allows the majority of anchors to remain simple while one anchor handles the computational complexity, resolving the contradiction between implementation simplicity and positional accuracy for outside-the-box targets.
Solution Approach 2:
The master anchor transceiver acts as an intermediary that receives TOF data from all slave anchors and performs the complex triangulation and clock drift correction calculations. This intermediary handles the mathematical complexity centrally, allowing individual anchor transceivers to remain simple while achieving high positional accuracy for targets outside the anchor perimeter.
2Measurement precision
If more anchor transceivers are added to improve positional accuracy for outside-the-box targets, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments functionality between master and slave anchors, where slave anchors perform only simple TOF measurements and the master anchor performs all complex calculations. This allows multiple anchors to be added to improve accuracy without proportionally increasing individual device complexity, as each slave anchor remains functionally simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The master anchor transceiver is designed with multi-functionality, handling both TOF measurements and complex triangulation/clock drift correction calculations. This universal anchor can serve multiple purposes and work with varying numbers of slave anchors, allowing the system to scale accuracy by adding anchors without requiring each anchor to be equally complex.
3Measurement precision
If clock drift correction and triangulation calculations are performed to achieve accurate positioning outside the box, then measurement precision improves, but the complexity of calculations and processing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The master anchor transceiver serves as an intermediary that performs all complex triangulation and clock drift correction calculations centrally, rather than distributing these complex calculations across all anchors or requiring the target transceiver to perform them. This centralizes computational complexity in one device while keeping other anchors simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The master anchor transceiver performs self-service by autonomously conducting the complex mathematical calculations (triangulation and clock drift correction) using TOF data received from slave anchors, without requiring external computational assistance. This self-contained approach handles calculation complexity within a single device.
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
Enables accurate determination of the target transceiver's position both within and outside the bounded area by the anchor transceivers, improving positional accuracy through precise distance calculations and triangulation.
Implementation Method 1
measuring the TOF of an RF signal between the target transceiver and two or more of the anchor transceivers
Implementation Method 2
transmission of a time-of-flight (TOF) initialization signal by the master anchor transceiver
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method of measuring the distance and determining the coordinate position of one or more target transceivers relative to a set of anchor transceivers with known locations is provided. The position of the target transceiver is determined by using a time-of-flight (TOF) initialization signal generated by the master anchor transceiver, a TOF response transmission generated by the target transceiver, calculation of the distances between the target transceiver and each anchor transceiver, and transmission of a TOF distance report by the master anchor transceiver. The system and method of the present invention permit the accurate locating of a target transceiver that is located “outside the box.”