Abstract: A device comprising: a substrate; a semiconductor die mounted on the substrate; a transmit antenna fabricated on the substrate and configured to transmit radio-frequency (RF) signals at least at a first center frequency; a receive antenna fabricated on the substrate and configured to receive RF signals at least at a second center frequency different than the first center frequency; and circuitry integrated with the semiconductor die and configured to provide RF signals to the transmit antenna and to receive RF signals from the receive antenna.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for measuring time of flight to an object. A transmitter transmits an electromagnetic signal and provides a reference signal corresponding to the electromagnetic signal. A receiver receives the electromagnetic signal and provides a response signal corresponding to the received electromagnetic signal. A detection circuit is configured to determine a time of flight between the transmitter and the receiver based upon the reference signal and the response signal.

Abstract: A system comprising synchronization circuitry, a first interrogator, and a second interrogator. The first interrogator includes a transmit antenna; a first receive antenna, and circuitry configured to generate, using radio-frequency (RF) signal synthesis information received from the synchronization circuitry, a first RF signal for transmission by the transmit antenna, and generate, using the first RF signal and a second RF signal received from a target device by the first receive antenna, a first mixed RF signal indicative of a distance between the first interrogator and the target device. The second interrogator includes a second receive antenna, and circuitry configured to generate, using the RF signal synthesis information, a third RF signal; and generate, using the third RF signal and a fourth RF signal received from the target device by the second receive antenna, a second mixed RF signal indicative of a distance between the second interrogator and the target device.

Abstract: A device comprising: a radio frequency (RF) coupler comprising input, output, and coupled ports; an antenna capable of receiving RF signals having a first characteristic and transmitting RF signals having a second characteristic, the antenna connected to the RF coupler to provide received RF signals to the input port of the RF coupler and transmit RF signals received at the input port via coupling to signals received at the coupled port; and signal transformation circuitry having an input connected to the output port of the RF coupler to receive RF signals provided by the antenna to the input port and an output connected to the coupled port, the signal transformation circuitry configured to transform first RF signals having the first characteristic received from the output port to second RF signals having the second characteristic and to provide them to the coupled port.

Abstract: A system comprising synchronization circuitry, a first interrogator, and a second interrogator. The first interrogator includes a transmit antenna; a first receive antenna, and circuitry configured to generate, using radio-frequency (RF) signal synthesis information received from the synchronization circuitry, a first RF signal for transmission by the transmit antenna, and generate, using the first RF signal and a second RF signal received from a target device by the first receive antenna, a first mixed RF signal indicative of a distance between the first interrogator and the target device. The second interrogator includes a second receive antenna, and circuitry configured to generate, using the RF signal synthesis information, a third RF signal; and generate, using the third RF signal and a fourth RF signal received from the target device by the second receive antenna, a second mixed RF signal indicative of a distance between the second interrogator and the target device.

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.

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.

Abstract: Radio-frequencies (RF) antennas for use in micro-localization systems are described. The RF antennas described herein may enable localization of objects with high resolutions, such as in the order of one centimeter or less. The RF antennas may be further configured to reduce range error variability across different directions, so that the accuracy of a micro-localization system is substantially the same regardless of the position of the object. An illustrative RF antenna includes a conductive housing forming a first cavity separated from a second cavity by a conductive wall. The RF antenna may further include an emitting element coupled to the conductive housing, a port coupled to the conductive housing, and an antenna feed electrically coupling the emitting element to the port. The antenna feed may pass through the cavities and the conductive wall. The antenna feed may comprise a symmetric and an asymmetric portion, disposed in the different cavities.

Abstract: A device comprising: a radio frequency (RF) coupler comprising input, output, and coupled ports; an antenna capable of receiving RF signals having a first characteristic and transmitting RF signals having a second characteristic, the antenna connected to the RF coupler to provide received RF signals to the input port of the RF coupler and transmit RF signals received at the input port via coupling to signals received at the coupled port; and signal transformation circuitry having an input connected to the output port of the RF coupler to receive RF signals provided by the antenna to the input port and an output connected to the coupled port, the signal transformation circuitry configured to transform first RF signals having the first characteristic received from the output port to second RF signals having the second characteristic and to provide them to the coupled port.

Abstract: A device comprising: a radio frequency (RF) coupler comprising input, output, and coupled ports; an antenna capable of receiving RF signals having a first characteristic and transmitting RF signals having a second characteristic, the antenna connected to the RF coupler to provide received RF signals to the input port of the RF coupler and transmit RF signals received at the input port via coupling to signals received at the coupled port; and signal transformation circuitry having an input connected to the output port of the RF coupler to receive RF signals provided by the antenna to the input port and an output connected to the coupled port, the signal transformation circuitry configured to transform first RF signals having the first characteristic received from the output port to second RF signals having the second characteristic and to provide them to the coupled port.

Abstract: Mobile localization of an object having an object positional frame of reference using sparse time-of-flight data and dead reckoning can be accomplished by creating a dead reckoning local frame of reference, including an estimation of object position with respect to known locations from one or more Ultra Wide Band transceivers. As the object moves along its path, a determination is made using the dead-reckoning local frame of reference. When the object is within a predetermine range of one or more of the Ultra Wide Band transceivers, a “conversation” is initiated, and range data between the object and the UWB transceiver(s) is collected. Using multiple conversations to establish accurate range and bearing information, the system updates the object's position based on the collected data.

Abstract: A system comprising synchronization circuitry, a first interrogator, and a second interrogator. The first interrogator includes a transmit antenna; a first receive antenna, and circuitry configured to generate, using radio-frequency (RF) signal synthesis information received from the synchronization circuitry, a first RF signal for transmission by the transmit antenna, and generate, using the first RF signal and a second RF signal received from a target device by the first receive antenna, a first mixed RF signal indicative of a distance between the first interrogator and the target device. The second interrogator includes a second receive antenna, and circuitry configured to generate, using the RF signal synthesis information, a third RF signal; and generate, using the third RF signal and a fourth RF signal received from the target device by the second receive antenna, a second mixed RF signal indicative of a distance between the second interrogator and the target device.

Abstract: A system for interaction with a the environment includes an initial manipulation module operable to orient a device in a general direction of a surface of an object and a range control module operable to converge the device and the surface. Once the device and surface are in the proximity of each other a contact sensor detects when physical contact between the surface and the device occurs. Thereafter, a proprioception module measures normal force disparities between the surface and device motion actuators and finally, an exteroception module to measure translational resistance disparities between relative motion of the surface and the device. The system uses these disparity measurements and actuator positions to modify the manipulation of the device.

Abstract: A unified collaboration environment is formed by establishing a local workspace positional frame of reference using a plurality of UWB transceivers. With a frame of reference established a communication link is established between each of the workspaces, and a collaboration module to establish a peer-to-peer network. Data is received from each of the workspaces including the local workspace frame of reference, the set of available assets and workspace behavior (tasks). The collaboration module crafts a unified collaboration environment by transforming the local workspace into a collaborative positional frame of reference. A user, through a user interface, can offer real-time input to a virtualized version of the workspace to augment actions within the workspace environment.

Abstract: A system comprising a first interrogator device that includes: a first antenna configured to transmit, to a target device, a first radio-frequency (RF) signal having a first center frequency; a second antenna configured to receive, from the target device, a second RF signal having a second center frequency that is a harmonic of the first frequency; and first circuitry configured to obtain, using the first RF signal and the second RF signal, a first mixed RF signal indicative of a first distance between the first interrogator and the target device. The system further comprises at least one processor configured to determine the first distance based, at least in part, on the first mixed RF signal, and determine a location of the target device based, at least in part, on the determined first distance.

Abstract: A device comprising: a substrate; a semiconductor die mounted on the substrate; a transmit antenna fabricated on the substrate and configured to transmit radio-frequency (RF) signals at least at a first center frequency; a receive antenna fabricated on the substrate and configured to receive RF signals at least at a second center frequency different than the first center frequency; and circuitry integrated with the semiconductor die and configured to provide RF signals to the transmit antenna and to receive RF signals from the receive antenna.

Abstract: A device comprising: a radio frequency (RF) coupler comprising input, output, and coupled ports; an antenna capable of receiving RF signals having a first center frequency and transmitting RF signals having a second center frequency, the antenna connected to the RF coupler to provide received RF signals to the input port of the RF coupler and transmit RF signals received at the input port via coupling to signals received at the coupled port; and signal transformation circuitry having an input connected to the output port of the RF coupler to receive RF signals provided by the antenna to the input port and an output connected to the coupled port, the signal transformation circuitry configured to transform first RF signals having the first center frequency received from the output port to second RF signals having the second center frequency and to provide them to the coupled port.

Abstract: A device comprising: a substrate; a semiconductor die mounted on the substrate; a transmit antenna fabricated on the substrate and configured to transmit radio-frequency (RF) signals at least at a first center frequency; a receive antenna fabricated on the substrate and configured to receive RF signals at least at a second center frequency different than the first center frequency; and circuitry integrated with the semiconductor die and configured to provide RF signals to the transmit antenna and to receive RF signals from the receive antenna.