Abstract: A system for determining the location of a toolpiece, the system comprising: a tool carrying a toolpiece and comprising an imaging device for capturing images of the environment around the tool, the tool being actuable to manipulate the toolpiece to work on a workpiece; and an image processor remote from the tool and communicatively coupled to the imaging device for receiving images therefrom and having access to reference data representing an expected environment, the image processor being configured to compare an image captured by the imaging device with the reference data to identify a match therebetween and to determine in dependence on characteristics of that match the location of the toolpiece; wherein the system is configured to cause the tool to transmit images captured by the imaging device to the image processor in response to actuation of the tool.

Abstract: A method for detecting the presence of an object in a zone by means of a wireless detector located proximal to the zone, the wireless detector comprising an orientation sensor for sensing the spatial attitude of the detector, the method comprising: defining a solid angle relative to a first spatial reference plane, the solid angle being defined such that at least part of the zone is within that solid angle when the solid angle is projected from the location of the detector; detecting by means of the detector a wireless signal from the object, and thereby estimating the direction of the object from the detector with reference to a second spatial reference plane fixed relative to the detector; sensing by means of the orientation sensor the spatial attitude of the detector; and comparing the solid angle and the estimated direction in dependence on the sensed spatial attitude so as to determine whether the object is present in the zone.

Abstract: A system for determining the location of a toolpiece, wherein: the toolpiece is carried by a tool and the tool comprises an imaging device for capturing images of the environment around the tool; and the system comprises an image processor communicatively coupled to the imaging device for receiving images therefrom and having access to one or more reference images of an expected environment, the image processor being configured to compare an image captured by the imaging device with at least one reference image to identify a match therebetween and to determine in dependence on characteristics of that match the location of the toolpiece.

Abstract: A system for determining the location of a toolpiece, wherein: the toolpiece is carried by a tool and the tool comprises an imaging device for capturing images of the environment around the tool; and the system comprises an image processor communicatively coupled to the imaging device for receiving images therefrom and having access to one or more reference images of an expected environment, the image processor being configured to compare an image captured by the imaging device with at least one reference image to identify a match therebetween and to determine in dependence on characteristics of that match the location of the toolpiece.

Abstract: A method for detecting the presence of an object in a zone by means of a wireless detector located proximal to the zone, the wireless detector comprising an orientation sensor for sensing the spatial attitude of the detector, the method comprising: defining a solid angle relative to a first spatial reference plane, the solid angle being defined such that at least part of the zone is within that solid angle when the solid angle is projected from the location of the detector; detecting by means of the detector a wireless signal from the object, and thereby estimating the direction of the object from the detector with reference to a second spatial reference plane fixed relative to the detector; sensing by means of the orientation sensor the spatial attitude of the detector; and comparing the solid angle and the estimated direction in dependence on the sensed spatial attitude so as to determine whether the object is present in the zone.

Abstract: A method of identifying an article on a production line, the production line comprising a plurality of articles along its length, the relative positions of the plurality of articles along the length of the production line being predetermined, the method comprising: receiving location information of an object which executes the same motion with respect to at least a first subset of the plurality of articles on the production line; for at least a second subset of the plurality of articles, determining from the location information the location of the object at a predetermined interaction between the object and the article; and identifying an article of the plurality of articles at a specified location of the object in dependence on (i) a known location of any one article of the plurality of articles at any one time, and (ii) the locations of the object at the predetermined interactions between the object and the at least second subset of the plurality of articles.

Abstract: TOOL TRACKING A system for determining the location of a toolpiece, wherein: the toolpiece is carried by a tool and the tool comprises an imaging device for capturing images of the environment around the tool; and the system comprises an image processor communicatively coupled to the imaging device for receiving images therefrom and having access to one or more reference images of an expected environment, the image processor being configured to compare an image captured by the imaging device with at least one reference image to identify a match therebetween and to determine in dependence on characteristics of that match the location of the toolpiece.

Abstract: A receiver for receiving a signal, the signal conforming to a protocol such that the signal comprises a synchronising portion and a data portion, each portion comprising pulses located in respective time slots, the time offsets between successive time slots being defined by the protocol, the receiver comprising: a detector configured to detect a first pulse and a second pulse of the synchronising portion; a comparison module configured to compare the time offset between the first and second pulses to a corresponding time offset defined by the protocol so as to determine the relationship between the detected time offset and the corresponding time offset; a determination module configured to determine expected times of arrival of the time slots of the data portion using the determined relationship and the time offsets defined by the protocol; and a data reader configured to read data conveyed in the data portion at the expected times of arrival.

Abstract: A receiver device for receiving a signal that comprises one or more periodic features, the receiver device comprising: a detector configured to listen to the signal during at least a first reception phase, and to be triggered when a feature of the signal is received so as to determine the time of reception of that feature; and a receiver configured to process time-limited segments of the signal so as to derive information from features of the signal received during those segments, the receiver being configured to be dependent on the detector such that after the first reception phase the timings of the time-limited segments processed by the receiver are dependent on the time of reception determined by the detector.

Abstract: A radio transmitter for use with a coherent radio receiver comprising; transmission circuitry configured to transmit radio pulses in accordance with an underlying pulse transmission rate; receive circuitry configured to receive a message comprising an indication of a target transmit power of the radio transmitter; and power control circuitry configured to, in response to receiving said message, inhibit the transmission of selected radio pulses of the underlying pulse transmission rate so as to cause the transmission circuitry to transmit radio pulses at an effective pulse transmission rate having an average power in accordance with the target transmit power indication in the received message.

Abstract: A communication system comprising one or more transceiver units of a first type and one or more transceiver units of a second type capable of communicating with the transceiver units of the first type; each transceiver unit of the first type comprising: a frequency comparison unit for comparing the frequency of a signal received from a transceiver unit of the second type with a reference frequency; a feedback signal generator for generating a feedback signal dependent on the result of that comparison; and a transmitter for transmitting that signal to the transceiver unit of the second type; and each transceiver unit of the second type comprising: a local frequency reference unit on which the frequency of signals transmitted by it are dependent; and a frequency adjustment unit for receiving the feedback signal and adjusting the local frequency reference unit in dependence on the feedback signal.

Abstract: A receiver for receiving a signal, the signal conforming to a protocol such that the signal comprises a synchronising portion and a data portion, each portion comprising pulses located in respective time slots, the time offsets between successive time slots being defined by the protocol, the receiver comprising: a detector configured to detect a first pulse and a second pulse of the synchronising portion; a comparison module configured to compare the time offset between the first and second pulses to a corresponding time offset defined by the protocol so as to determine the relationship between the detected time offset and the corresponding time offset; a determination module configured to determine expected times of arrival of the time slots of the data portion using the determined relationship and the time offsets defined by the protocol; and a data reader configured to read data conveyed in the data portion at the expected times of arrival.

Abstract: A radio transmitter for use with a coherent radio receiver comprising; transmission circuitry configured to transmit radio pulses in accordance with an underlying pulse transmission rate; receive circuitry configured to receive a message comprising an indication of a target transmit power of the radio transmitter; and power control circuitry configured to, in response to receiving said message, inhibit the transmission of selected radio pulses of the underlying pulse transmission rate so as to cause the transmission circuitry to transmit radio pulses at an effective pulse transmission rate having an average power in accordance with the target transmit power indication in the received message.

Abstract: A receiver device for receiving a signal that comprises one or more periodic features, the receiver device comprising: a detector configured to listen to the signal during at least a first reception phase, and to be triggered when a feature of the signal is received so as to determine the time of reception of that feature; and a receiver configured to process time-limited segments of the signal so as to derive information from features of the signal received during those segments, the receiver being configured to be dependent on the detector such that after the first reception phase the timings of the time-limited segments processed by the receiver are dependent on the time of reception determined by the detector.

Abstract: A location system comprising a plurality of base units for enabling the locating of a device by means of one or more location signals communicated between the device and the base units and signal processing equipment for: i. determining the location of the device in dependence on the manner in which the location signal(s) is/are received and ii. deriving calibration data for calibrating the system in dependence on the manner in which the location signal(s) is/are received.

Abstract: A communication system comprising one or more transceiver units of a first type and one or more transceiver units of a second type capable of communicating with the transceiver units of the first type; each transceiver unit of the first type comprising: a frequency comparison unit for comparing the frequency of a signal received from a transceiver unit of the second type with a reference frequency; a feedback signal generator for generating a feedback signal dependent on the result of that comparison; and a transmitter for transmitting that signal to the transceiver unit of the second type; and each transceiver unit of the second type comprising: a local frequency reference unit on which the frequency of signals transmitted by it are dependent; and a frequency adjustment unit for receiving the feedback signal and adjusting the local frequency reference unit in dependence on the feedback signal.

Abstract: A communication system comprising one or more transceiver units of a first type and one or more transceiver units of a second type capable of communicating with the transceiver units of the first type; each transceiver unit of the first type comprising: a frequency comparison unit for comparing the frequency of a signal received from a transceiver unit of the second type with a reference frequency; a feedback signal generator for generating a feedback signal dependent on the result of that comparison; and a transmitter for transmitting that signal to the transceiver unit of the second type; and each transceiver unit of the second type comprising: a local frequency reference unit on which the frequency of signals transmitted by it are dependent; and a frequency adjustment unit for receiving the feedback signal and adjusting the local frequency reference unit in dependence on the feedback signal.

Abstract: A portable location device for use in a location system, the device comprising a transmitter for transmitting ultra-wideband signals, a receiver for receiving non-ultra-wideband signals and a control unit coupled to the receiver for controlling the operation of the device in dependence on the received non-ultra-wideband signals.

Abstract: A portable location device for use in a location system, the device comprising a transmitter for transmitting ultra-wideband signals, a receiver for receiving non-ultra-wideband signals and a control unit coupled to the receiver for controlling the operation of the device in dependence on the received non-ultra-wideband signals.

Abstract: A portable location device for use in a location system, the device comprising a transmitter for transmitting ultra-wideband signals, a receiver for receiving non-ultra-wideband signals and a control unit coupled to the receiver for controlling the operation of the device in dependence on the received non-ultra-wideband signals.