Patents Assigned to Tera Research Incorporated
  • Patent number: 6784826
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for measuring position and motion of a “marker” antenna (14), disposed on a subject (12) at a physical location to be tracked. Relative distance of the marker antenna (14) from receiving antennas (18) is measured by phase differences of its microwave signals (40) at the receiving antennas (18) for at least two successive marker positions. Alternatively, actual distances (104, 106) are calculated by choosing a source position (102) and iterating the distances (104, 106) until the calculated phase differences match those measured. Four to six receiving antennas (18) are positioned at edges of a volume (16) where activity is conducted. Each received signal (40) is amplified and down-converted in a mixer (44). A single reference oscillator (46) feeds all the mixers (42) to preserve phase relationships of the received signals. Received signals (40) are digitized and presented to a multi-channel digital tuner (50).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Tera Research Incorporated
    Inventors: Ronald J. Kane, David Stevenson Spain, Jr.