High precision time of flight measurement system for industrial automation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018239010-A1
Application number	US-201815960224-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 23, 2018
Priority date	Jun 15, 2015
Publication date	Aug 23, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A system for tracking position of objects in an industrial environment includes an interrogator, a transponder, and a processor. The interrogator transmits a signal and provides a first reference signal corresponding to the transmitted signal. The transponder provides a response signal. The interrogator receives the response signal and provides a second reference signal corresponding to the response signal. The processor determines a location of either the interrogator or the transponder, relative to the other, based on the two reference signals.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A system comprising:
at least one first radio frequency transceiver configured to be mounted to a body part of a user; a plurality of interrogators configured to determine a position of the at least one first radio frequency transceiver; and at least one controller to track, using the determined position of the at least one first radio frequency transceiver, movement of the body part of the user while picking items from, and/or placing items into, a plurality of bins.

2 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one feedback mechanism to provide feedback to the user in picking items from and/or placing items into the plurality of bins.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one feedback mechanism is configured to signal to the user a correct one of the plurality of bins to pick an item from and/or to place an item into.

4 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one feedback mechanism is configured to signal to the user that an item has been correctly picked and/or correctly placed.

5 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one feedback mechanism is configured to signal to the user that an item has been incorrectly picked and/or incorrectly placed.

6 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one feedback mechanism provides an indication of an unsafe condition.

7 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one feedback mechanism comprises haptic feedback.

8 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one feedback mechanism comprises at least one light emitting diode.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one first radio frequency transceiver is affixed to a wristband configured to be worn by the user.

10 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one second radio frequency transceiver mounted to a portion of a robot, wherein the plurality of interrogators are configured to determine a position of the at least one second radio frequency transceiver, and wherein the at least one controller is configured to track, using the determined position of the at least one second radio frequency transceiver, movement of the portion of the robot.

11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the at least one controller is configured to track the position of the body part of the user relative to the position of the portion of the robot.

12 . The system of claim 10 , comprising at least one feedback mechanism to provide feedback to the user about the user's proximity to the portion of the robot.

13 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the at least one controller is configured to stop movement of the portion of the robot based on the determined position of the body part of the user relative to the determined position of the portion of the robot.

14 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the at least one controller is configured to move the portion of the robot away from the body part of the user based on the determined position of the body part of the user relative to the determined position of the portion of the robot.

15 . A system comprising:
at least one first radio frequency transceiver configured to be mounted to a body part of a user; at least one second radio frequency transceiver mounted to a portion of a robot; a plurality of interrogators configured to determine a position of the at least one first radio frequency transceiver and configured to determine a position of the at least one second radio frequency transceiver; and at least one controller configured to track, using the determined position of the at least one first radio frequency transceiver, movement of the body part of the user, and configured to track, using the determined position of the at least one second radio frequency transceiver, movement of the portion of the robot relative to the movement of the body part of the user.

16 . The system of claim 15 , comprising at least one feedback mechanism to provide feedback to the user about the position of the body part relative to the position of the portion of the robot.

17 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the at least one controller is configured to stop movement of the portion of the robot based on the determined position of the body part of the user relative to the determined position of the portion of the robot.

18 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the at least one controller is configured to move the portion of the robot away from the body part of the user based on the determined position of the body part of the user relative to the determined position of the portion of the robot.

19 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the at least one feedback mechanism comprises haptic feedback.

20 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the at least one feedback mechanism comprises at least one light emitting diode.

21 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the at least one first radio frequency transceiver is affixed to a wristband configured to be worn by the user.

22 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the at least one controller is configured to track, using the determined position of the at least one first radio frequency transceiver, movement of the body part of the user while picking items from, and/or placing items into, a plurality of bins.

23 . The system of claim 22 , comprising at least one feedback mechanism to provide feedback to the user in picking items from and/or placing items into the plurality of bins.

24 . The system of claim 23 , wherein the at least one feedback mechanism is configured to signal to the user a correct one of the plurality of bins to pick an item from and/or to place an item into.

25 . The system of claim 23 , wherein the at least one feedback mechanism is configured to signal to the user that an item has been correctly placed and/or correctly picked.

26 . The system of claim 23 , wherein the at least one feedback mechanism is configured to signal to the user that an item has been incorrectly placed and/or incorrectly picked.

27 . The system of claim 23 , wherein the at least one feedback mechanism provides an indication of an unsafe condition.

28 . A method comprising:
determining a position of at least one first radio frequency transceiver mounted to a body part of a user using a plurality of interrogators; and tracking movement of the body part of the user while picking items from, and/or placing items into, a plurality of bins using the determined position of the at least one first radio frequency transceiver.

29 . The method of claim 28 , further comprising providing feedback to the user in picking items from and/or placing items into the plurality of bins.

30 . A method comprising:
determining a position of at least one first radio frequency transceiver mounted to a body part of a user using a plurality of interrogators; determining a position of at least one second radio frequency transceiver mounted to a portion of a robot using the plurality of interrogators; tracking, using the determined position of the at least one first radio frequency transceiver, movement of the body part of the user; and tracking, using the determined position of the at least one second radio frequency transceiver, movement of the portion of the robot relative to the movement of the body part of the user.

Assignees

• Humatics Corp

Inventors

• Mindell David A
• Charvat Gregory L
• Hirsch Michael
• Kinsey James Campbell
• Beane Matthew Ian

Classifications

• G01S2205/01

  specially adapted for specific applications · CPC title

• G01S13/935

  for terrain-avoidance · CPC title

• G01S13/84

  for distance determination by phase measurement · CPC title

• G01S13/75

  using transponders powered from received waves, e.g. using passive transponders {, or using passive reflectors} · CPC title

• G08B21/02

  Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons · CPC title