Transponder Positioning Method for Complex Environments
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for determining the propagation direction and position of devices, especially in complex environments, face challenges such as low signal intensity, phase jumps, and high complexity, leading to inaccurate and costly solutions, particularly when dealing with multiple propagation paths and reflections.
Innovation Solution
The method employs an emission characteristic of an emitter with multiple emission devices, emitting de-correlated signal sequences from different positions and orientations, allowing for reliable measurements even in complex environments by calculating phase differences and determining the emission direction based on known distances and phase relations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a signal is reflected at a second object to determine distance, then distance measurement is enabled, but the reflected signal intensity is very low
Solution Approach 1:
A transponder is introduced as an intermediary device between the first and second objects. The transponder receives the signal from the first object, generates a new signal with a known phase relationship to the received signal, and transmits it to the second object. This mediator approach avoids the problem of weak reflected signals by creating a fresh signal with sufficient intensity for accurate phase measurement.
2Measurement precision
If a transponder generates a signal with fixed phase relationship to the received wave, then phase measurement accuracy is improved, but reception and emission happen simultaneously causing field overlap
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic signal sequences with different frequencies. The transponder receives a signal at one frequency and generates a response signal at a different frequency. This periodic action with frequency differentiation allows the receiver to distinguish between the transmitted signal and the transponder response, even though they occur simultaneously in time.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple reflections from different objects are evaluated, then position determination in complex environments is enabled, but the complexity of evaluation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the position determination problem by using multiple transponders at different known locations. Each transponder independently measures the phase of the signal from the first object. By dividing the complex environment into multiple measurement points with known positions, the system can determine the position of the first object through triangulation or multilateration without having to evaluate complex reflection patterns.
4Measurement precision
If phase measurement is used instead of signal return time, then measurement resolution is improved, but ambiguity modulo half wavelength occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The system resolves the wavelength ambiguity by introducing an additional dimension - the use of multiple frequencies. By measuring phase at different frequencies and combining these measurements, the system can determine absolute distance without the half-wavelength ambiguity that plagues single-frequency phase measurement. This multi-frequency approach effectively adds a dimensional layer to the measurement process.
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 enables accurate and efficient determination of propagation directions and positions, reducing complexity and cost while improving measurement reliability in environments with multiple propagation paths.
Implementation Method 1
at least one signal sequence is emitted via emission devices (3, 4) of the emission-device arrangement
Implementation Method 2
allowing for reliable measurements even in complex environments by calculating phase differences and determining the emission direction
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
The invention relates to a method, device, system and use for the determination of a distance, location and/or orientation. Know systems of such type or respectively infrastructures, come with the disadvantage that either the receivers are complex and expensive, do not work or work only insufficiently within closed buildings. It therefore is an object of the invention to provide a method, or respectively suitable anchors, a system or a use which makes it possible to accurately determine the position of, particularly a multiplicity of, objects in a simple and reliable way. This object is solved by a method for the at least relative determination of a position of at least one object using at least two active anchors, wherein a first, signal is emitted by a first of the at least two anchors and is received at the object and by at least a second of said at least two anchors, wherein a phase measurement is performed at least at said at least one second anchor and wherein at least also at said at least one second anchor a distance determination with respect to said first anchor is performed and/or the distance from said first anchor to said at least one second anchor is known, wherein a second, particularly electromagnetic, signal is emitted from said at least one second anchor, wherein an information on the phase measurement and the distance between said first and said at least one second anchor is made available to a computation unit and wherein at least one phase measurement respectively of said first and said at least one second signal is performed at said object and made available to said computation unit.