Abstract: A method for monitoring the location accuracy of an object tracking system includes receiving, from the object tracking system, a recorded position of a wireless test tag installed at a fixed position. This fixed position may be accurately determined without the tracking system, for example, using a laser measurement device. The method includes determining a positioning error of the tracking system by comparing the recorded position, as measured with the tracking system, to the fixed position. The method also includes outputting, in response to the positioning error exceeding a threshold, an indication that the tracking system has reduced accuracy. The method may be extended to several test tags located at several fixed positions throughout the operating area of the tracking system, in which case the indication of reduced accuracy may be generated when any one or more of the test tags has a positioning error exceeding the threshold.

Abstract: A method optimizes an object tracking system that uses receivers to receive beacon signals, or pings, from tracking tags that are attached to objects. An optimizer receives locations of the tracking tags and groups identifiers of the tracking tags into two or more sets. The first set identifies tracking tags that are attached to objects involved in a situation of interest. The optimizer determines a first receiver group based on the locations of tracking tags in the first set and the locations of the receivers. The optimizer determines a center of a smallest three-dimensional polygon bounding the locations of tracking tags in the first set. An antenna of each receiver in the first receiver group is then steered to point towards the center of the polygon while a number of receiver events per second generated by the receiver for tracking tags in the first set increases.

Abstract: A wireless charging system includes a hollow electromagnetic waveguide and a platform that, when placed inside the waveguide, positions one or more wireless devices to absorb energy from an electromagnetic field propagating along the waveguide. The system also includes first and second couplers located near opposite ends of the waveguide. The first coupler, when driven with an electrical signal, couples energy from the electrical signal into the electromagnetic field. At the same time, the second coupler couples energy from the electromagnetic field into an electrical receiving signal. The second coupler may be connected to a dissipative load to dissipate the energy of the electrical receiving signal. Alternatively, the electrical receiving signal can be processed to power the wireless charging system. The wireless charging system charges the wireless devices with high efficiency regardless of their positions inside the waveguide, thereby ensuring that the wireless devices charge at a similar rate.

Abstract: A method optimizes an object tracking system that uses receivers to receive beacon signals, or pings, from tracking tags that are attached to objects. An optimizer receives locations of the tracking tags and groups identifiers of the tracking tags into two or more sets. The first set identifies tracking tags that are attached to objects involved in a situation of interest. The optimizer determines a first receiver group based on the locations of tracking tags in the first set and the locations of the receivers. The optimizer determines a center of a smallest three-dimensional polygon bounding the locations of tracking tags in the first set. An antenna of each receiver in the first receiver group is then steered to point towards the center of the polygon while a number of receiver events per second generated by the receiver for tracking tags in the first set increases.

Abstract: A wireless charging system concurrently charges several wireless devices within a shielded chamber acting as a hollow electromagnetic waveguide. Electrically conductive walls of the chamber create transverse modes that support longitudinal propagation of the electromagnetic field along the waveguide with no diminution of the energy flux density due to the inverse-square law. A transmitting antenna located inside the chamber emits an electromagnetic field that excites one or more transverse modes of the waveguide. An absorptive lid absorbs the electromagnetic field to minimize reflections that could excite longitudinal modes. Each wireless device includes a whisker antenna that receives part of the electromagnetic field for charging a battery. Due to the spatial uniformity of the electromagnetic field, the wireless devices charge with high efficiency regardless of their positions, ensuring they all charge at a similar rate.

Abstract: A nonplanar tracking tag includes a nonplanar complementary patch antenna having an antenna ground plane, a first antenna patch lying in a first plane forming a first angle with the antenna ground plane, and a second antenna patch lying in a second plane forming a second angle with the antenna ground plane. The patch antenna may be formed on a flexible circuit and electrically coupled to a transceiver. The tracking tag may also include a dielectric material shaped and sized to position the first and second antenna patches, when the flexible circuit is wrapped around the dielectric material, in the first and second planes. Advantageously, the radiation pattern produced by the nonplanar complementary patch antenna is biased away from a normal axis of the tracking tag, and therefore can communicate efficiently with receivers when the tracking tag is oriented with its normal axis pointing away from the receivers.

Abstract: A method for dynamically configuring a receiver of an object tracking system includes detecting an environmental or situation change with the tracking system, and transmitting, in response to the detected change, a signal to the receiver to switch from a first analog front end to a second analog front. The analog front ends may have antennas with different gain, or antennas with the same gain but different filters. The environmental change may be detected based on events per second received from the receiver. The situational change may be detected by determining a bounding region encompassing tracking-tag locations and identifying an optimum analog front end from a plurality of analog front ends of the receiver. A signal is then transmitted to the receiver to switch to the optimum analog front end. The optimum analog front end is the one analog front end having the greatest coverage of the bounding area.

Abstract: A planar flexible ultra-wide band (UWB) RF antenna includes a flexible non-electrically-conductive substrate and at least one antenna patch having electrically conductive metal positioned on one side of the flexible non-electrically-conductive substrate and having geometry defining a wirelessly transmitted UWB signal. The antenna may electrically couple with an RF transmitter circuit formed on a second side of the flexible substrate and controlled by a microcontroller circuit, formed on the second side, to transmit a radio signal. The RF tag may include at least one decoupling circuit directly electrically connected to the RF antenna and having a decoupling frequency that is different from a transmitting frequency of the antenna. The decoupling circuit transfers power from the antenna when the antenna receives capacitive power from an external non-electrical contact charger operating at the decoupling frequency and having at least one plate of similar geometry to the at least one antenna patch.

Abstract: A planar flexible ultra-wide band (UWB) RF antenna includes a flexible non-electrically-conductive substrate and at least one antenna patch having electrically conductive metal positioned on one side of the flexible non-electrically-conductive substrate and having geometry defining a wirelessly transmitted UWB signal. The antenna may electrically couple with an RF transmitter circuit formed on a second side of the flexible substrate and controlled by a microcontroller circuit, formed on the second side, to transmit a radio signal. The RF tag may include at least one decoupling circuit directly electrically connected to the RF antenna and having a decoupling frequency that is different from a transmitting frequency of the antenna. The decoupling circuit transfers power from the antenna when the antenna receives capacitive power from an external non-electrical contact charger operating at the decoupling frequency and having at least one plate of similar geometry to the at least one antenna patch.

Abstract: A method for dynamically configuring a receiver of an object tracking system includes detecting an environmental or situation change with the tracking system, and transmitting, in response to the detected change, a signal to the receiver to switch from a first analog front end to a second analog front. The analog front ends may have antennas with different gain, or antennas with the same gain but different filters. The environmental change may be detected based on events per second received from the receiver. The situational change may be detected by determining a bounding region encompassing tracking-tag locations and identifying an optimum analog front end from a plurality of analog front ends of the receiver. A signal is then transmitted to the receiver to switch to the optimum analog front end. The optimum analog front end is the one analog front end having the greatest coverage of the bounding area.

Abstract: A wireless charging system concurrently charges several wireless devices within a shielded chamber acting as a hollow electromagnetic waveguide. Electrically conductive walls of the chamber create transverse modes that support longitudinal propagation of the electromagnetic field along the waveguide with no diminution of the energy flux density due to the inverse-square law. A transmitting antenna located inside the chamber emits an electromagnetic field that excites one or more transverse modes of the waveguide. An absorptive lid absorbs the electromagnetic field to minimize reflections that could excite longitudinal modes. Each wireless device includes a whisker antenna that receives part of the electromagnetic field for charging a battery. Due to the spatial uniformity of the electromagnetic field, the wireless devices charge with high efficiency regardless of their positions, ensuring they all charge at a similar rate.

Abstract: Systems, methods and software products optimize installation and operation of an object tracking system. Performance of the athlete tracking system is continually monitored and optimized based upon one or more of: statically positioned tags, grouping tags within two or more tag sets to assign ping rates, selecting receiver configuration and aim dynamically based upon environmental and situational conditions. Tracking tags are improved to facilitate coupling of the tag to an athlete and may be self-configurable. A trackable protection pad allows a tracking tag to be positioned substantially horizontal when the athlete is competing. A data replay tool replays location tracking information in chronological order and visually plots location of tracking tags and errors in the determined location. A tag manager automatically configures the tracking tags. A robotic vehicle automated installation of the object tracking system.

Abstract: Systems and methods improve tracking performance of an ultra-wideband (UWB) tracking tag positioned on a player on a sporting field. A UWB antenna is formed with power radiated disproportionately in forward and backward directions as compared to sideways. The UWB tracking tag is aligned with the UWB antenna when positioned on the player such that less power is absorbed by the player than radiated away from the player. The UWB antenna is monopole and may be folded from a single metal sheet forming: a flat top; a first side folded at an acute angle from one edge of the top; a second side folded at an acute angle from another edge of the top; a first solder tab folded at an obtuse angle from the first side; and a second solder tab folded at an obtuse angle from the second side, to join in parallel with the first solder tab.

Abstract: A nonplanar tracking tag includes a nonplanar complementary patch antenna having an antenna ground plane, a first antenna patch lying in a first plane forming a first angle with the antenna ground plane, and a second antenna patch lying in a second plane forming a second angle with the antenna ground plane. The patch antenna may be formed on a flexible circuit and electrically coupled to a transceiver. The tracking tag may also include a dielectric material shaped and sized to position the first and second antenna patches, when the flexible circuit is wrapped around the dielectric material, in the first and second planes. Advantageously, the radiation pattern produced by the nonplanar complementary patch antenna is biased away from a normal axis of the tracking tag, and therefore can communicate efficiently with receivers when the tracking tag is oriented with its normal axis pointing away from the receivers.

Abstract: Systems and methods improve tracking performance of an ultra-wideband (UWB) tracking tag positioned on a player on a sporting field. A UWB antenna is formed with power radiated disproportionately in forward and backward directions as compared to sideways. The UWB tracking tag is aligned with the UWB antenna when positioned on the player such that less power is absorbed by the player than radiated away from the player. The UWB antenna is monopole and may be folded from a single metal sheet forming: a flat top; a first side folded at an acute angle from one edge of the top; a second side folded at an acute angle from another edge of the top; a first solder tab folded at an obtuse angle from the first side; and a second solder tab folded at an obtuse angle from the second side, to join in parallel with the first solder tab.

Abstract: Systems, methods and software products optimize installation and operation of an object tracking system. Performance of the athlete tracking system is continually monitored and optimized based upon one or more of: statically positioned tags, grouping tags within two or more tag sets to assign ping rates, selecting receiver configuration and aim dynamically based upon environmental and situational conditions. Tracking tags are improved to facilitate coupling of the tag to an athlete and may be self-configurable. A trackable protection pad allows a tracking tag to be positioned substantially horizontal when the athlete is competing. A data replay tool replays location tracking information in chronological order and visually plots location of tracking tags and errors in the determined location. A tag manager automatically configures the tracking tags. A robotic vehicle automated installation of the object tracking system.

Abstract: Systems and methods improve tracking performance of an ultra-wide-band (UWB) tracking tag positioned on a player on a sporting field. A UWB antenna is formed with power radiated disproportionately in forward and backward directions as compared to sideways. The UWB tracking tag is aligned with the UWB antenna when positioned on the player such that less power is absorbed by the player than radiated away from the player. The UWB antenna is monopole and may be folded from a single metal sheet forming: a flat top; a first side folded at an acute angle from one edge of the top; a second side folded at an acute angle from another edge of the top; a first solder tab folded at an obtuse angle from the first side; and a second solder tab folded at an obtuse angle from the second side, to join in parallel with the first solder tab.

Abstract: Systems, methods and software products optimize installation and operation of an object tracking system. Performance of the athlete tracking system is continually monitored and optimized based upon one or more of: statically positioned tags, grouping tags within two or more tag sets to assign ping rates, selecting receiver configuration and aim dynamically based upon environmental and situational conditions. Tracking tags are improved to facilitate coupling of the tag to an athlete and may be self-configurable. A trackable protection pad allows a tracking tag to be positioned substantially horizontal when the athlete is competing. A data replay tool replays location tracking information in chronological order and visually plots location of tracking tags and errors in the determined location. A tag manager automatically configures the tracking tags. A robotic vehicle automated installation of the object tracking system.

Abstract: Systems, methods and software products optimize installation and operation of an object tracking system. Performance of the athlete tracking system is continually monitored and optimized based upon one or more of: statically positioned tags, grouping tags within two or more tag sets to assign ping rates, selecting receiver configuration and aim dynamically based upon environmental and situational conditions. Tracking tags are improved to facilitate coupling of the tag to an athlete and may be self-configurable. A trackable protection pad allows a tracking tag to be positioned substantially horizontal when the athlete is competing. A data replay tool replays location tracking information in chronological order and visually plots location of tracking tags and errors in the determined location. A tag manager automatically configures the tracking tags. A robotic vehicle automated installation of the object tracking system.

Abstract: Systems, methods and software products optimize installation and operation of an object tracking system. Performance of the athlete tracking system is continually monitored and optimized based upon one or more of: statically positioned tags, grouping tags within two or more tag sets to assign ping rates, selecting receiver configuration and aim dynamically based upon environmental and situational conditions. Tracking tags are improved to facilitate coupling of the tag to an athlete and may be self-configurable. A trackable protection pad allows a tracking tag to be positioned substantially horizontal when the athlete is competing. A data replay tool replays location tracking information in chronological order and visually plots location of tracking tags and errors in the determined location. A tag manager automatically configures the tracking tags. A robotic vehicle automated installation of the object tracking system.