Abstract: An asset, object, person or animal monitoring system and associated method for monitoring assets, objects, people or animals utilizing impulse radio techniques. The asset, object, person or animal monitoring system of the present invention can vary the duty cycles of the impulse radio transmitters, by both manual and automatic means, to adapt to varied requirements.

Abstract: A system, apparatus and method are provided that utilize the communication capabilities and positioning capabilities of impulse radio technology to overcome the shortcomings in conventional prison monitoring systems. Basically, the present invention enables prison personnel to track the movements of a prisoner and/or monitor the vital signs of a prisoner using impulse radio technology that is well suited for a prison environment.

Abstract: A system for locating of objects in a three-dimensional space comprises: (a) an impulse radio network including at least three reference impulse radio units and at least one mobile position indicating apparatus; position information relating the impulse radio units is recorded by at least one indicating impulse radio unit; the impulse radio units are in communication; and (b) an affixing structure for affixing a respective mobile position indicating apparatus with a respective object. A respective mobile position indicating apparatus transmits an impulse radio identifying signal that is received by a receiving impulse radio unit. An indicating impulse radio unit cooperates with the receiving impulse radio unit in using the identifying signal for developing coordinate information for locating the respective mobile position indicating apparatus.

Abstract: A system and method for highly selective intrusion detection using a sparse array of time modulated ultra wideband (TM-UWB) radars. Two or more TM-UWB radars are arranged in a sparse array around the perimeter of a building. Each TM-UWB radar transmits ultra wideband pulses that illuminate the building and the surrounding area. Signal return data is processed to determine, among other things, whether an alarm condition has been triggered. High resolution radar images are formed that give an accurate picture of the inside of the building and the surrounding area. This image is used to detect motion in a highly selective manner and to track moving objects within the building and the surrounding area. Motion can be distinguished based on criteria appropriate to the environment in which the intrusion detection system operates.

Abstract: An ultra-wideband magnetic antenna includes a planar conductor having a first and a second slot about an axis. The slots are substantially leaf-shaped having a varying width along the axis. The slots are interconnected along the axis. A cross polarized antenna system is comprised of an ultra-wideband magnetic antenna and an ultra-wideband dipole antenna. The magnetic antenna and the dipole antenna are positioned substantially close to each other and they create a cross polarized field pattern. The present invention provides isolation between a transmitter and a receiver in an ultra-wideband system. Additionally, the present invention allows isolation among radiating elements in an array antenna system.

Abstract: A system, electronic monitor and method are provided that utilize impulse radio technology to enable a farmer to accurately track a position of an object (e.g., farm equipment, farm animal, farm employee) as the object moves around a farm and/or to enable a farmer to monitor a variety of parameters associated with the moving farm equipment. In addition, the system, electronic monitor and method can utilize impulse radio technology to help control either remotely or automatically one or more pieces of farm equipment.

Abstract: A system, electronic monitor and method are provided that utilize impulse radio technology to alert medical personnel when a patient needs medical assistance. In addition, the present invention includes a system, electronic monitor and method that utilize the communication capabilities and positioning capabilities of impulse radio technology to enable medical personnel to monitor one or more vitals signs of a patient and/or to enable medical personnel to determine a current a position of a patient in a building such as a hospital, nursing home or their home.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling air bag deployment systems based on the presence, position, size, and weight of a person present in an automobile or a child seat present in an automobile is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system includes a radar transmitter, radar receiver, and a processor. In alternative embodiments, the system further includes a weight sensor, a reflector, and a child seat reflector. The transmitter generates and transmits ultra-wide band (UWB) pulses and the receiver generates a receiver signal based on reflected UWB pulses received by the receiver. The receiver signal contains information indicative of the presence, position, and size of a person in the automobile. In addition, the receiver signal may contain information regarding the presence of a child seat in the passenger side seat of the automobile. The weight sensor generates a weight signal indicative of a weight present in either the passenger side seat or the driver side seat of the automobile.

Abstract: An integrated data collection and transmission system and method for collecting and transmitting data related to package delivery. The system and method utilize various components that are commonly connected via impulse radios.

Abstract: A scanner for reading characters from a string of characters recorded on a surface as well as reading bar code information encoded in bar codes. Upon obtaining either the text or the bar code information, the information is transferred to a remote location via impulse radio wireless techniques. The character or bar code scanner may include a lens of variable magnification so as to accommodate variable size print. The scanner is in communication with an external information processing apparatus such as a computer through an impulse radio wireless transmitter/receiver. The value of each pixel detected by the scanner is determined by comparing the light reflection value with a threshold that is adjusted in accordance with the values of pixels detected and averaged over previous frames. The hand-held scanner and impulse radio transceiver and impulse radio antenna may be housed in any elongate housing for pen-like use or in a palm-held housing such as a typical mouse.

Abstract: A network, sensor and method are provided that utilize the capabilities of impulse radio technology to help monitor and/or control the environment within a building. In particular, the network includes a sensor attached to a first impulse radio unit that is capable of transmitting an impulse radio signal containing sensor related information to a second impulse radio unit. The second impulse radio unit is attached to a control station that uses the sensor related information (e.g., environmental related information, safety related information or surveillance related information) to monitor and/or control the environment within a building. In one aspect of the present invention, the control system can better control and monitor the environment within the building because the sensor may be moved around within the building and reference impulse radio units may interact with the first impulse radio unit to enable the determination of the current position of the sensor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for communications between an information processing device and an external device, such as a personal digital assistance (PDA), via impulse radio wireless communications techniques and a method for controlling the same. The information processing apparatus can periodically accesses a predetermined server machine (e.g., a Web server) to acquire a desired file (e.g., an HTML file). The information processing apparatus attempts to continually perform caching of the most recent downloaded data. As a result, when the PDA, as an external device, is set into impulse radio communication mode and a user simply holds the PDA to a predetermined discoverable region of the information processing apparatus, a connection between them is established, thereby enabling the PDA to receive the most recent downloaded data.

Abstract: An antenna for transferring electromagnetic energy includes: (a) a ground element in a ground plane; (b) a transceiver element in a transceiver plane that intersects the ground element at a first end in a joint having a first terminus and a second terminus; and (c) a feed structure that conveys the electromagnetic energy intermediate the transceiver and the host device. A first transceiver edge departs from the joint in a first path in a first direction. A second transceiver edge departs from the joint in a second path in the first direction. Each edge includes at least a first edge sector having a first radius and a second edge sector having a second radius. The radii define a separation between the edge sectors. The first and second edge terminate in a terminal structure at a second end that is spaced from the ground element to establish a gap.

Abstract: A system and a method for position determination by impulse radio using a first transceiver having a first clock providing a first reference signal and a second transceiver placed spaced from the first transceiver. The system determines the position of the second transceiver. The second transceiver has a second clock that provides a second reference signal. A first sequence of pulses are transmitted from the first transceiver. The first sequence of pulses are then received at the second transceiver and the second transceiver is then synchronized with the first sequence of pulses. A second sequence of pulses are transmitted from the second transceiver. The first transceiver receives the second sequence of pulses and the first transceiver is synchronized with the second sequence of pulses. A delayed first reference signal is generated in response to the synchronization with the second sequence of pulses.

Abstract: An impulse radio communications system using one or more subcarriers to communicate information from an impulse radio transmitter to an impulse radio receiver. The impulse radio communication system is an ultrawide-band time domain system. The use of subcarriers provides impulse radio transmissions added channelization, smoothing and fidelity. Subcarriers of different frequencies or waveforms can be used to add channelization of impulse radio signals. Thus, an impulse radio link can communicate many independent channels simultaneously by employing different subcarriers for each channel. The impulse radio uses modulated subcarrier(s) for time positioning a periodic timing signal or a coded timing signal. Alternatively, the coded timing signal can be summed or mixed with the modulated subcarrier(s) and the resultant signal is used to time modulate the periodic timing signal. Direct digital modulation of data is another form of subcarrier modulation for impulse radio signals.

Abstract: A baseband signal converter device for an impulse radio receiver combines multiple converter circuits and an RF amplifier in a single integrated circuit package. Each converter circuit includes an integrator circuit that integrates a portion of each RF pulse during a sampling period triggered by a timing pulse generator. The integrator capacitor is isolated by a pair of Schottky diodes connected to a pair of load resistors. A current equalizer circuit equalizes the current flowing through the load resistors when the integrator is not sampling. Current steering logic transfers load current between the diodes and a constant bias circuit depending on whether a sampling pulse is present.

Abstract: A frame reference signal is produced as a function of a clock signal. A first timing generator generates a coarse timing signal having a nominal period and a transition occurring at a precise temporal position with respect to the nominal period. The nominal period is a function of the frame reference signal. The temporal position is a function of a first input timing command and the clock signal. A second timing generator generates at least one fine timing transition as a function of a second input timing command and the clock signal. A combiner circuit uses the coarse timing signal to select one of the at least one fine timing transitions to output a precise timing signal, wherein the precise timing signal has a high temporal precision with respect to the frame reference signal.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems and methods for transmitting and receiving one-of-many positions modulated impulse radio signals. An impulse radio receiver for demodulating a received impulse radio signal that is modulated according to a one-of-N positions modulation scheme, where N is the number of different possible positions where an impulse can be located within each time frame of the impulse radio signal, comprises a timing generator, one or more samplers and a data detector. The timing generator generates N timing signal, wherein each of the N timing signals is separated in time by more than ½ the width of impulses of the received impulse radio signal. The one or more samplers are triggered to sample the received impulse radio signal in accordance with the N timing signal and to provide a first to Nth sampler outputs. The data detector produces a demodulation decisions based on the first to Nth sampler outputs.

Abstract: An ultra-wideband magnetic antenna includes a planar conductor having a first and a second slot about an axis. The slots are substantially leaf-shaped having a varying width along the axis. The slots are interconnected along the axis. A cross polarized antenna system is comprised of an ultra-wideband magnetic antenna and an ultra-wideband dipole antenna. The magnetic antenna and the dipole antenna are positioned substantially close to each other and they create a cross polarized field pattern. The present invention provides isolation between a transmitter and a receiver in an ultra-wideband system. Additionally, the present invention allows isolation among radiating elements in an array antenna system.

Abstract: A system and method for highly selective intrusion detection using a sparse array of time modulated ultra wideband (TM-UWB) radars. Two or more TM-UWB radars are arranged in a sparse array around the perimeter of a building. Each TM-UWB radar transmits ultra wideband pulses that illuminate the building and the surrounding area. Signal return data is processed to determine, among other things, whether an alarm condition has been triggered. High resolution radar images are formed that give an accurate picture of the inside of the building and the surrounding area. This image is used to detect motion in a highly selective manner and to track moving objects within the building and the surrounding area. Motion can be distinguished based on criteria appropriate to the environment in which the intrusion detection system operates.