Ultrasound Positioning System With Collision Avoidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems lack an efficient method for determining the position of mobile objects over short ranges, such as within a room, for applications like tracking tags for television audience data, as they face challenges in accurately calculating distances and avoiding collisions between multiple mobile units.
Innovation Solution
An ultrasound position determination system comprising a base unit and mobile units that transmit and receive ultrasonic signals, allowing the base unit to calculate distances by measuring the time taken for signals to pass between units, with features like unique delays and signal identification to prevent collisions and ensure accurate positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple mobile units transmit ultrasonic signals simultaneously to enable position determination, then position determination capability is improved, but collision between signals increases
Solution Approach 1:
The base unit transmits unique identification signals before the mobile units transmit their position signals. Each mobile unit detects which base unit transmitted the identification signal and waits for a predetermined time period after detecting the signal before transmitting its own ultrasonic signal. This preliminary identification and timing mechanism ensures that mobile units do not transmit simultaneously, avoiding signal collisions while enabling accurate position determination for multiple units.
2Productivity
If mobile units transmit signals immediately upon detection to reduce response time, then communication efficiency is improved, but collision risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a preliminary action where mobile units first detect the base unit's identification signal and then wait for a predetermined time period before transmitting. This predetermined delay ensures that even if multiple mobile units detect the same base unit signal simultaneously, they will not transmit at the same moment, thereby avoiding collisions while maintaining efficient communication.
Solution Approach 2:
The base unit transmits identification signals that provide feedback to mobile units about which base unit they should respond to. This feedback mechanism allows mobile units to synchronize their transmission timing based on the detected identification signal, ensuring reliable communication without collisions while maintaining high productivity.
3Measurement precision
If the base unit continuously monitors all mobile units to improve position tracking accuracy, then measurement accuracy is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous monitoring, the base unit operates in a periodic manner by transmitting identification signals at specific intervals and mobile units respond after detecting these signals and waiting for a predetermined time. This periodic action allows the base unit to maintain position tracking accuracy by receiving ultrasonic signals from mobile units at regular intervals without requiring continuous active monitoring, thereby reducing energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
Mobile units actively transmit their own position information when they detect the base unit's identification signal, rather than passively being monitored. This self-service approach allows the base unit to obtain position data without continuous active monitoring, reducing the base unit's energy consumption while maintaining accurate position tracking through the ultrasonic signal transmission and timing measurement mechanism.
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 mobile unit positions, including in multi-unit scenarios, with reduced collision risks and the ability to include additional information like battery status, enhancing applications like proximity detection and data logging.
Implementation Method 1
Each of the mobile and base units are operable to transmit and receive ultrasonic signals
Implementation Method 2
The base unit is adapted to determine the time taken for the signal to pass from the mobile unit to the base unit and thereby calculate a distance between the mobile unit and the base unit
Data Source
AI summary
An ultrasound position determination system includes a base unit and at least one mobile unit. Each of the mobile and base units are operable to transmit and receive ultrasonic signals. The mobile unit is adapted to transmit a predetermined signal in dependence upon the state of transmission of the base unit. The base unit is adapted to determine the time taken for the signal to pass from the mobile unit to the base unit and thereby calculate a distance between the mobile unit and the base unit.