Abstract: A volume or fluid level sensing system as taught by the present invention comprises a flexible bladder, a solenoidal coil, a means for volume or fluid level measurement, and a user interface. Means for volume or fluid level measurement are preferentially means for inductance measurement which may be selected from the set including timing inductive measurement means, AC voltage divider inductive measurement means, resonance inductive measurement means. A user interface may be selected from the set including a digital display, a data interface, a voltage level display device, or a current level display device. The solenoidal coil may be embedded in the flexible bladder or in a flexible sock encompassing the flexible bladder. In addition, a bladder volume or fluid level indicating method as taught by the present invention comprises the steps of inductance measurement, volume or fluid level inference, and volume or fluid level reporting.

Abstract: A system and method for identification and location of an asset by tracking the mover of the asset using a locating device associated with the mover and identifying the asset using an identification reader associated with the mover and a passive identification tag associated with the asset. A single mover may move many assets. An asset is identified; the mover then moves the asset to a destination location, whereupon the mover and asset position are determined. The asset location may then be recorded in memory. The measurement of the destination location may be extended from the location measured by the active location device by using additional measurement devices, for example a forklift height sensor. A further embodiment utilizes RFID or barcode technology for the passive tag and may utilize near field positioning technology for the active location device.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a small aperture broadband localizing system, comprising one or more systems for ascertaining angle-of-arrival of an electromagnetic signal and a transmit tag. A system for ascertaining angle-of-arrival of an electromagnetic signal further comprises a compact antenna array and an evaluation apparatus, and an electromagnetic signal is preferentially a broadband or ultra-wideband (UWB) signal.

Abstract: A transparent bowl includes non-slip means and spoon-assisted food conglomeration means. Non-slip means may include a weight structure, a non-slip material affixed to the bowl bottom either substantially continuously covering the bottom or substantially discontinuously covering the bottom, using magnetic materials, or a suction cup. Spoon-assisted food conglomeration means may include a sloped bottom, a substantially spoon-shaped locus, a steep rim, or an inward-curving rim. The transparent bowl may further include an embedded decorative object or spillage reduction means. Spillage reduction means may include an abrupt taper terminus, a steep rim, an inward-curving rim, or a chamfered or rounded bowl vertex. The transparent bowl may further include a lid. Alternatively the bowl may comprise a sloped bottom terminating in a substantially spoon-shaped locus and further comprise non-slip means.

Abstract: An unknown location for a transmitter/receiver is determined using a calibration process. An area is established with reference receivers at known locations and a mobile transmitter provides a location signal. An alternative embodiment uses reference transmitters and a mobile receiver. For calibration, the transmitter is placed at multiple measured locations and signal measurements are taken to generate a calibration map. Multiple signal measurements may be taken at each receiver, and multiple receivers may be used. In one embodiment, signal measurements include a near-field phase. In operation, one or more location signals are measured at one or more receivers. The measured signals are compared with the calibration maps to generate a set of comparison maps which are combined to generate a likelihood map. A likely region and most likely location are determined from the likelihood map and may be displayed relative to a map of the environment.

Abstract: A space efficient magnetic antenna is disclosed for use in tracking, positioning and other applications. In a preferred embodiment, a space efficient magnetic antenna system comprises a first magnetic antenna with a first null axis aligned within a predetermined plane and a second magnetic antenna having a second null axis aligned substantially orthogonal to a first null axis. A second magnetic antenna system lies in a minimal coupling orientation with respect to a first magnetic antenna system. Additionally, a first magnetic antenna may further comprise a plurality of interconnected magnetic antenna elements. A space efficient magnetic antenna system may include an RF module. An RF module may alternately utilize a first magnetic antenna and a second magnetic antenna, or an RF module may drive a second magnetic antenna in phase quadrature with respect to a first magnetic antenna.

Abstract: An offset overlapping slot line antenna apparatus incorporates an offset overlapping slot line in a feed region so as to achieve a low input impedance. This technique is well suited for application to dipole, monopole, slot, and annular slot antennas, to name a few examples.

Abstract: A tag-along microsensor device comprises a means for transmitting a signal, adhesion means, and sensing means. In a preferred embodiment, a means for transmitting a signal includes a nano-antenna apparatus. Adhesion means may include mechanical, magnetic, or static electric adhesion means. Mechanical adhesion means may include a hook or barb, or a chemical adhesion means such as glue or other sticky chemical adhesive. Sensing means may include sensing of audio signals, accelerometers, gyros, or other sensors. Alternatively, a tag-along microsensor method includes the steps of deploying a tag-along microsensor, transmitting a signal from a tag-along microsensor, receiving a signal, and acting on a signal.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for low frequency asset tracking includes a low frequency transmitter tag associated with a cargo container or other high value commodity, a plurality of receivers that detect low frequency signals, and a microprocessor that uses algorithms and/or data pertaining to the propagation characteristics of the signal to locate the position of the container or high value commodity. The tag may include sensors to monitor container properties or conditions, such as temperature, motion, intrusion, RF fields, or other properties of interest. Sensor data may be modulated on the low frequency transmitter signal.

Abstract: Near field signal properties are used to determine a location by utilizing two magnetic antennas arranged so that the null axes are perpendicular and lie in a plane of interest, such as the horizontal plane. The two antennas may be used as transmitting antennas or receiving antennas. The antennas may be driven so as to produce an equivalent of an omnidirectional pattern in the plane of interest by driving the antennas in an orthogonal manner. The orthogonal drive may be time orthogonal or phase orthogonal. A location is determined based on near field response which may include propagation properties, which may include amplitude, phase, relative amplitude, or phase, or other properties. In one embodiment, multiple transmitters are utilized to determine the location of a single receiver. In another embodiment, multiple receivers are utilized to determine the location of a single transmitter. A space efficient magnetic antenna is disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method for directional transmission and reception of signals, including ultrawideband signals, includes an RF device and an antenna structure comprising (a) a feed structure, (b) an angular transition, and (c) a plurality of electrically isolated radiating elements. In alternate embodiments an antenna structure is a substantially planar antenna structure and a plurality of electrically isolated radiating elements comprise a first electrically isolated radiating element and a second electrically isolated radiating element. A first electrically isolated radiating element and a second electrically isolated radiating element may cooperate to form a substantially elliptically tapered slot horn, or a substantially linear tapered slot horn. A substantially linear tapered slot horn may terminate in a substantially elliptical termination. A feed axis and a radiating axis may be aligned at an angle ? not equal to zero (??0) such as an angle ? equal to 90 degrees.

Abstract: A chiral polarization UWB slot antenna comprises a feed region and opposing tapered slot lines along an arcuate path of angle measure 360° or less. Opposing tapered slot lines may terminate in bulbous ends and may be characterized by an impedance profile such as an exponential or a Klopfenstein impedance profile. In alternate embodiments, an arcuate path has an arc length substantially equal to a half wavelength at a frequency of interest and an angle measure substantially equal to 180°. In still further alternate embodiments an arcuate path is substantially described by a radial variation with respect to angle of r(?)=R sin ? where R is a constant that in some embodiments is substantially equal to ½? times wavelength (R=?/(2?)) at a particular frequency of interest. In some embodiments, a frequency of interest lies substantially within the range defined by 3.1 GHz to 10.6 GHz.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a broadband electric-magnetic antenna apparatus and method. The present invention teaches a variety of electric antennas suitable for use in the present invention as well as a variety of magnetic antennas suitable for use in the present invention. Combination of a broadband electric antenna element and a broadband magnetic element to create a broadband electric-magnetic antenna system is discussed. This invention further teaches systems for using a broadband electric magnetic antenna system to radiate or receive quadrature signals.

Abstract: A spectral control antenna apparatus includes a feed region or feed gap and a surrounding space or medium. A signal path between a feed region and a surrounding space or medium is characterized by a length dependent impedance with a plurality of extrema whereby the antenna apparatus exhibits a desired spectral response. The invention is well-suited for application to planar antennas, particularly planar antennas characterized by a slot type transmission line structure. If such a transmission line structure is an offset slot line, then by overlapping sections of the offset slot line relatively low impedances are possible, thus enabling the large variations in impedance necessary for effective filtering behavior.

Abstract: A nano-antenna apparatus (or equivalently a nano-antenna device) comprises a first conducting surface, a second conducting surface, a gap region between a first conducting surface and a second conducting surface and at least one discharge switch at least one discharge switch cooperates with first conducting surface, a second conducting surface to form a substantially continuous closed surface enclosing a volume. This volume may be substantially similar to a spheroid, a prolate spheroid, an oblate spheroid, a Cartesian rectangular solid or other shape. This volume may enclose at least one electric device. A dimension of the volume and a dielectric constant characterizing a dielectric layer may be chosen so as to yield a desired frequency response. Further, this volume may partition outside energy from inside energy, causing the former energy to radiate away. This invention further teaches a method for transmitting UWB impulse.

Abstract: An intrusion detection system and method are provided that can utilize impulse radio technology to detect when an intruder has entered a protection zone. In addition, the intrusion detection system and method can utilize impulse radio technology to determine a location of the intruder within the protection zone and also track the movement of the intruder within the protection zone. Moreover, the intrusion detection system and method can utilize impulse radio technology to create a specially shaped protection zone before trying to detect when and where the intruder has penetrated and moved within the protection zone.

Abstract: A system and method for electromagnetic position determination utilizing a calibration process. For calibration, a transmitter is positioned at multiple locations in an area of interest and multiple receivers receive and record signal characteristics from the transmitter to generate a calibration data set. The unknown position of a transmitter may be determined by receiving signals from the transmitter by multiple receivers. A locator data set is generated based on the comparison between two received signal characteristics determined for each receiver. The locator data set is compared with the calibration data set to determine the unknown position. In one embodiment, the signal comparisons are the differences between electric and magnetic field phase. Further embodiments utilize signal amplitude differences. A reciprocal method utilizing a single receiver and multiple transmitter locations is disclosed.