RF Tag Grid for Indoor Location Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless technologies face limitations in providing accurate and efficient location information within defined areas, especially in environments where GPS capabilities are limited, such as indoors.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing a grid of RF tag circuits powered by unmodulated RF energy, where each tag circuit stores location information and emits modulated RF energy, allowing mobile devices to determine their location and navigate through the area by receiving and interpreting this information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a dense grid of RF tag circuits is deployed along the floor to improve location accuracy, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and installation cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the coverage area into discrete grid cells, each containing an RF tag circuit. This segmentation allows the large-scale location system to be broken down into manageable, independent units that can be individually installed and maintained, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high measurement precision through the dense grid arrangement.
Solution Approach 2:
RF exciters serve as intermediary components that wirelessly power the passive RF tag circuits embedded in the floor. This intermediary mechanism eliminates the need for batteries or power cables at each tag location, significantly reducing installation complexity and maintenance requirements while enabling dense grid deployment for high accuracy location determination.
2Ease of manufacture
If passive RF tag circuits powered by unmodulated RF energy are used, then ease of manufacture and installation are improved, but the read range is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the operating parameters of the RF tags by using unmodulated RF excitation at specific frequencies. This parameter change allows passive tags to be powered remotely without batteries, greatly simplifying installation. The limited read range is compensated by deploying tags in a dense grid pattern, ensuring that any location within the area falls within the read range of at least one tag.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from considering read range as a single-dimensional constraint to a two-dimensional solution space by deploying tags across the floor平面 in a dense grid. This dimensional approach ensures that even though individual tag read ranges are limited, the collective coverage of the grid provides comprehensive area coverage for accurate location determination.
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 continuous and accurate location determination and navigation within the defined area, even with a short read range, by using a dense grid of RF tag circuits along the floor, improving accuracy and reducing the need for extensive infrastructure.
Implementation Method 1
The plurality of RF exciters may be configured to emit unmodulated RF energy. The grid of RF tag circuits may be configured to receive the unmodulated RF energy from one or more of the plurality of RF exciters and to emit modulated RF energy
Data Source
AI summary
A system for determining a location within an area defined by a grid of radio-frequency (RF) tag circuits includes RF exciters that are configured to emit unmodulated RF energy. The grid of the RF tag circuits are configured to receive the unmodulated RF energy from one or more of the RF exciters and to emit modulated RF energy. Each RF tag circuit may store information associated with a location of the RF tag circuit within the area and the modulated RF energy emitted from each RF tag circuit may carry the information.