RF Localization Using Segmented Transceiver Arrays

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current radio frequency identification and localization devices face challenges in tertiary and industrial buildings due to phenomena of attenuation and reflection of radio waves, caused by obstacles, high mobility of goods and people, and interference from numerous radiofrequency devices, leading to inaccurate localization and cumbersome implementation requirements.

Innovation Solution

The deployment of directional RF transceivers with a semi-spherical reception area, installed according to a division of surfaces into basic units, such as office frames, to overcome attenuation and reflection issues, combined with a processing system that analyzes reception levels from multiple transceivers to determine the location of identifying elements with high precision.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If free-field localization techniques are used, then the system is simple to implement, but the measurement error increases due to signal attenuation and reflection from obstacles

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimplementation simplicityVSAvoidlocalization accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the building surface into basic units (e.g., office frames) and deploys transceivers according to this segmentation. This structured approach maintains implementation simplicity while improving localization accuracy by ensuring adequate transceiver coverage in each segmented area, reducing the impact of obstacles within partitioned spaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from analyzing signal strength alone to incorporating directional information from multiple transceivers. By using directional antennas and analyzing the spatial distribution of received signals from different angles, the system achieves higher localization precision while maintaining a relatively simple deployment structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Measurement precision

If directional reception antennas are used to improve localization precision, then the measurement accuracy improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocalization accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using complex omnidirectional systems, the patent segments the reception function across multiple transceivers with directional antennas positioned at different locations. Each transceiver performs a relatively simple directional reception, but the collective system achieves high localization precision through the segmented spatial distribution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines the directional reception capabilities of multiple transceivers to achieve high-precision localization. By merging the data from several directional antennas and processing their combined signals, the system attains superior accuracy without requiring any single antenna to be overly complex.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Measurement precision

If transceivers are deployed densely to overcome attenuation and reflection, then the localization precision improves, but the implementation complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocalization accuracyVSAvoiddeployment complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses surface segmentation into basic units to determine transceiver deployment density. Rather than uniform dense deployment, the system strategically places transceivers according to the segmented structure, achieving adequate coverage and precision while reducing unnecessary deployment complexity and cost in areas where dense placement is not critical.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Ease of operation

If free-field techniques are used for localization, then the system is easy to operate, but the reliability decreases due to signal interference from numerous radiofrequency devices

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem operabilityVSAvoidlocalization reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent moves from scalar signal strength analysis to vector-based directional analysis. By incorporating angular information from multiple transceivers, the system creates a more robust localization method that is less susceptible to RF interference, maintaining ease of operation while significantly improving reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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

This approach allows for precise localization and identification of goods and people in partitioned spaces with reduced implementation complexity, enabling efficient data collection for land use management and integration with building automation systems.

Implementation Method 1

The device comprises N RF transceivers 4, arranged to transmit a signal and/or receive a signal

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRadio frequency electromagnetic wave transmission and reception: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

The processing means are suitable for analyzing the signal transmitted by an identifying element at least by measuring and analyzing the reception levels of the N transceivers

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSignal reception level measurement: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP2080034B1Device for localizing and/ or identifying goods and/ or persons in any room
Publication Date: 2013.09.11 D 5 X
  • EP2080034B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2080034B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2080034B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a device for localizing and/ or identifying goods and/ or persons in a room independently of its size, nature and use. The invention consists in that the device comprises elements for identification by radio frequency destined to equip the goods and/or persons to be identified and/or localized in the building, a plurality of radio frequency transmitters/receivers spread over all areas of the building to be observed which are divided according to a basic unit of area in association with the typologies for using said surfaces and allowing for the establishment of a frame of reference, wherein the arrangement of said transmitters/ receivers is defined according to said unit of area so that the emission of a signal by an identification element carried by a good and/ or a person is received in simultaneous manner by N transmitters/ receivers, a plurality of reference elements employed in the defined frame of reference, constituted by the transmitters receivers themselves, which consequently are installed in the room according to the defined frame of reference and/or formed by a plurality of identification elements, identified, installed or not installed according to the defined frame of reference; means for processing data regarding a radio frequency emission of at least one identification element received simultaneously by the N radio frequency transmitters/receivers, wherein said processing means allow for the identification of the identification element and its localization according to at least one of the reference elements. Application to room management.