Method and apparatus for ranging finding, orienting and/or positioning of single and/or multiple devices

Abstract

A method and apparatus for ranging finding of signal transmitting devices is provided. The method of signal reception is digitally based only and does not require receivers that are analog measurement devices. Ranging can be achieved using a single pulse emitting device operating in range spaced relation with a minimum of a single signal transmitter and a single digital receiver and processing circuitry. In general a plurality of transmitting pulsed emitters may be ranged and positioned virtually simultaneously in 3-dimensions (XYZ coordinates) using a configuration of a plurality of digital receivers arranged in any fixed 3-dimensional configuration. Applications may involve at least one single transmitter to receiver design to determine range, or at least one transmitted reflecting signal off from an object to determine range.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A device for conveying a signal for determining a distance travelled by the signal between the device and a receiver, the device comprising a transmitter operable to transmit a series of pulses having a varying pulse strength that varies across the series of pulses in accordance with a designated pulse strength profile. 
     
     
         2 . The device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the pulse strength profile comprises at least one of (i) a progressively increasing pulse strength pattern, and (ii) a progressively decreasing pulse strength pattern. 
     
     
         3 . The device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the pulse strength profile comprises at least one of (i) a fixed pulse strength pattern, (ii) a random pulse strength pattern, and (iii) a varying pulse strength pattern. 
     
     
         4 . The device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein a carrier frequency of the transmitter is selected from the group comprising: near infrared, far infrared, visible, ultra-violet, high frequency radio, and ultrasonic. 
     
     
         5 . The device as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a processor configured to control generation of a signal waveform to be applied to the series of pulses in defining said designated pulse strength profile according to a power function R(x), where x is a pulse number which increases from zero to N, and where R(x) is a power level calculated as a function of the pulse number x to vary between a power level of zero and a maximum power level of N. 
     
     
         6 . The device as defined in  claim 5 , wherein said power function is selected from an incrementing function R(x)=x, and a decrementing function R(x)=N−x. 
     
     
         7 . The device as defined in  claim 5 , wherein said power function defines an interleaved pattern. 
     
     
         8 . The device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the series of pulses comprises a series of body pulses, and wherein the transmitter is operable to transmit a train of pulses including a series of preamble pulses having a relatively constant pulse strength, and the series of body pulses. 
     
     
         9 . The device as defined in  claim 8 , wherein the preamble pulses define at least one of a unique transmitter identifier and a synchronization code. 
     
     
         10 . The device as defined in  claim 8 , wherein the train of pulses forms a data stream representing a message including the series of preamble pulses having a common carrier frequency, the series of preamble pulses having a pattern corresponding to a predetermined preamble segment of the message, the data stream further including the series of body pulses representative of a body segment of the message, the body pulses including a common carrier frequency with the preamble pulses. 
     
     
         11 . The device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the device is incorporated into a computer interface selected from the group comprising a mouse, a tilt-joystick, a pointer controller, a six-degree-of-freedom interface, and a gesture interface. 
     
     
         12 . A system comprising:
 a transmitter operable to transmit a signal formed at least in part by a series of pulses having a pulse strength that varies across said series in accordance with a designated pulse strength profile;   a receiver; and   a signal processor operatively coupled to said receiver, said signal processor processing received pulses as a function of a received pulse strength profile thereof to output a range value representative of a distance travelled by said series of pulses between said transmitter and said receiver.   
     
     
         13 . The system as defined in  claim 12 , wherein the signal processor processes said received pulse strength profile to (i) identify received pulses having a pulse strength above a designated threshold value and (ii) output said range value as a function thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The system as defined in  claim 12 , wherein said series of pulses is reflected off an object, the range value representative of a distance travelled by said series between the transmitter, the object, and the receiver. 
     
     
         15 . The system as defined in  claim 12 , further comprising two or more emitters each operable to transmit a respective series of said pulses and an identifier associated therewith, said signal processor identifying a source of the received pulses from each said associated identifier to output a respective range value for each of said emitters. 
     
     
         16 . The system as defined in  claim 15 , wherein each of said emitters operates from a common transmitting device, a configuration of said emitters on said transmitting device accessible to said signal processor, the signal processor thereby operable to track, at least in part, at least one of a position and an orientation of the transmitting device from each said respective range value. 
     
     
         17 . The system as defined in  claim 12 , further comprising two or more receivers, said signal processor operatively coupled to each of said receivers and operable to synchronize processing of said received pulses from each of said receivers as a function of a respective received pulse strength profile thereof to output a respective range value representative of a respective distance travelled by said series of pulses between said transmitter and each of said receivers. 
     
     
         18 . A signal processor for operative coupling to one or more receivers for processing a transmitted signal received thereby to identify a distance travelled by the transmitted signal, the transmitted signal comprising a series of pulses having a transmitted pulse strength that varies across the series in accordance with a designated pulse strength profile, the signal processor operable to:
 access a received pulse strength profile of received pulses in said series;   identify those of said received pulses having a received pulse strength above a designated threshold; and   correlate said identified pulses with a value representative of the distance, said value pre-calibrated as a function of a relative change between said received pulse strength profile and said designated pulse strength profile over distance.   
     
     
         19 . The signal processor as defined in  claim 18 , wherein the signal processor is further operable to count said identified pulses above said designated threshold, said range value designated as a function of said count. 
     
     
         20 . The signal processor as defined in  claim 18 , wherein the signal processor is further operable to:
 access a source identifier received in association with the transmitted signal;   associate a respective range value for each of a plurality of source transmitters; and   calculate, at least in part, at least one of a relative position and orientation of said source transmitters from each said respective range value.   
     
     
         21 . The signal processor as defined in  claim 18 , wherein the transmitted signal is emitted by a transmitter and received concurrently by two or more receivers, the signal processor being further operable to:
 access a synchronization code received in association with the transmitted signal by each of the two or more receivers;   synchronize processing of the concurrently received signals via said synchronization code to output respective range values representative of a distance travelled by the signal to each of said two or more receivers; and   calculate, at least in part, at least one of a position and an orientation of the transmitter as a function of said respective range values.   
     
     
         22 . The signal processor as defined in  claim 18 , the distance travelled comprising a distance travelled by the signal from a designated source transmitter to a reflective object and from the reflective object to the one or more receivers, the signal processor operable to:
 access a designated location of the one or more receivers relative to the designated source transmitter; and   calculate, at least in part, at least one of a position and an orientation of the reflective object relative to the one or more receivers and designated source transmitter based on said range value and said designated location.   
     
     
         23 . A method for identifying a distance travelled by a signal between an emitter and a receiver, comprising:
 generating a signal formed at least in part by a series of pulses having a pulse strength that varies across said series in accordance with a designated transmission pulse strength profile;   transmitting said signal via the emitter;   receiving at least a subset of said series of pulses at the receiver;   detecting a received pulse strength profile of said received pulses; and   correlating said detected pulse strength profile with a distance travelled by the signal between the emitter and the receiver.   
     
     
         24 . The method as defined in  claim 23 , wherein said detecting comprises counting received pulses having a received pulse strength above a designated threshold, and wherein said correlating comprising associating a pre-calibrated range value with said count representative of said distance. 
     
     
         25 . The method as defined in  claim 23 , wherein said transmitted pulse strength profile comprises a patterned pulse strength profile selected from a progressively increasing pattern and a progressively decreasing pattern. 
     
     
         26 . The method as defined in  claim 23 , wherein a distance travelled by the signal to two or more receivers is identified, the method further comprising:
 receiving a respective subset of said series of pulses at each of the receivers;   synchronizing detection of said received pulse strength profile for each of said receivers; and   correlating each said detected pulse strength profile with a respective distance.   
     
     
         27 . The method as defined in  claim 23 , for identifying a distance travelled by the signal from two or more emitters, the method further comprising:
 transmitting said signal from each of the emitters along with an respective identification code;   receiving each said respective identification code and a corresponding subset of said series of pulses at the receiver from each of the emitters;   detecting a respective received pulse strength profile for each of said emitters; and   correlating each said detected pulse strength profile with a respective distance.   
     
     
         28 . The method as defined in  claim 23 , wherein the transmitted signal travels from the emitter to the receiver via a reflective object, the method further comprising determining, at least in part, at least one of a position and an orientation of the reflective object as a function of said distance.