Locating Method for Localizing at Least One Object Using Wave-Based Signals and Locating System

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This invention describes a method and system for precisely locating one or more objects using signals based on waves (such as radio, acoustic, or optical waves). The process involves measuring the phase of wave signals received by multiple receivers from an emitting or reflecting object, and then calculating the object's current position by comparing measured signal phases with predicted/hypothetical phases (which depend on spatial geometry). Advanced estimation techniques, like recursive filtering (e.g., Kalman filter), are used to improve accuracy, handle noise, and enable robust real-time tracking, even when signals are incoherent or in complex environments.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Asset tracking in warehouses (RFID tags, tools, equipment)
• Indoor location of people or robots (workplace safety, autonomous robot navigation)
• Vehicle, aircraft, or ship tracking for logistics or navigation
• Tracking tools and products on assembly lines (Industry 4.0)
• Car-to-car localization for advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS)
• Internet of Things (IoT) device localization
• Medical applications (locating medical equipment or personnel)
• Surveillance and security (monitoring in transport hubs, manufacturing, etc.)
• Mobile phone or wearable device positioning (using WLAN/cellular signals)
• Integration with existing wireless or radar infrastructure (Wi-Fi, cellular, UWB, MIMO, etc.)
• Tracking performance or movement in sports or entertainment applications

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• High-accuracy localization, even in challenging environments (e.g., indoors, near-field, with multipath or reflections)
• Works with different types of wave signals (radio, ultrasound, optical, etc.) and both coherent and incoherent sources
• Reduces computational burden by using direct phase comparison without complex beamforming
• Robust against noise and certain forms of signal distortion due to advanced filtering and phase difference usage
• Flexible: Can be retrofitted to existing infrastructure (Wi-Fi routers, cellular base stations, radars)
• Scalable for tracking multiple objects or targets simultaneously
• Adaptable to dynamic scenarios (moving objects, changing environments)
• Permits fusion with other sensor modalities (inertial sensors, optical, magnetic, etc.) for enhanced accuracy
• Does not require the tracked object to synchronize frequency or phase with receivers
• Can operate in both near-field (Fresnel zone) and far-field (Fraunhofer zone) regions

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Patent Abstract

The invention relates to a locating method for localizing at least one object using wave-based signals, wherein a wave field emanates from the object to be localized and the wave field emanating from the object is received by a number N of receivers, at least one measurement signal is formed in every receiver, said measurement signal being dependent on the spatial and temporal distribution of the wave field and the phase progression of said measurement signal being characteristically influenced by the signal propagation time from the object to the receiver, wherein, for position locating, phase values for each of the at least two measurement signals are taken as measured phase values, and wherein the current position (P(k)) of the object to be located at the time k is determined by a comparison of at least one linear combination of the measured phase values with at least one linear combination of the associated hypothetical phase values, which result from the transmitter-receiver distance(s), and using a recursive filter/estimator.