Short range spread-spectrum radiolocation system and method

Patent · 29 April 2003

OSTI ID:921177

Smith, Stephen F ^[1]

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1. Loudon, TN

A short range radiolocation system and associated methods that allow the location of an item, such as equipment, containers, pallets, vehicles, or personnel, within a defined area. A small, battery powered, self-contained tag is provided to an item to be located. The tag includes a spread-spectrum transmitter that transmits a spread-spectrum code and identification information. A plurality of receivers positioned about the area receive signals from a transmitting tag. The position of the tag, and hence the item, is located by triangulation. The system employs three different ranging techniques for providing coarse, intermediate, and fine spatial position resolution. Coarse positioning information is provided by use of direct-sequence code phase transmitted as a spread-spectrum signal. Intermediate positioning information is provided by the use of a difference signal transmitted with the direct-sequence spread-spectrum code. Fine positioning information is provided by use of carrier phase measurements. An algorithm is employed to combine the three data sets to provide accurate location measurements.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN
• Sponsoring Organization: United States Department of Energy
• Assignee: UT-Battelle, LLC (Oak Ridge, TN)
• Patent Number(s): 6,556,942
• Application Number: 09/676,401
• OSTI ID: 921177
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English