Patents by Inventor Edward L. Hill
Edward L. Hill has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20180242111Abstract: System and methods of tracking a position of a mobile device with an electromagnetic signal-transmitting antenna include receiving electromagnetic signals from the transmitting antenna of the mobile device by a plurality of receiver antennae of a base station and by one or more receiver antennae of a relay station. The relay station transmits to the base station timing information associated with the electromagnetic signals received by the one or more receiver antennae of the relay station. The base station computes a position of the transmitting antenna of the mobile device based on timing information computed from the electromagnetic signals received by the plurality of receiver antennae of the base station and on the timing information received from the relay station.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2018Publication date: August 23, 2018Applicant: POSITION IMAGING, INC.Inventor: Edward L. Hill
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Publication number: 20180197139Abstract: A package delivery sharing system includes a holding area for holding packages intended for delivery to one or more package recipients and a computing system with a processor and memory storing records of packages in the holding area. The processor is configured to track each package in the holding area awaiting delivery to the one or more package recipients, to offer a fee to individuals other than the package recipients for delivering a given package in the holding area to a particular package recipient, to select a person who accepts the fee in return for transporting the given package to the particular package recipient, to enable the person to access the holding area, to help the person to find the given package, through light guidance or other visual cues, and take the given package, and to confirm that the person took a correct package from the holding area.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 3, 2018Publication date: July 12, 2018Inventor: Edward L. Hill
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Patent number: 10001833Abstract: A system and method for providing immersive interaction between users and interactive software programs comprise receiving radio frequency (RF) signals, transmitted by an RF-transmitting device, at three or more spatially separated antennas. Time of arrival information is acquired from the RF signals. A position of the RF-transmitting device is computed from the time of arrival information acquired from the RF signals. The position of the RF-transmitting device is registered within a virtual environment produced by an interactive software program (which can execute on a mobile device). The virtual environment, as affected by the registered position of the RF-transmitting device, is transmitted to a display apparatus for display.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2016Date of Patent: June 19, 2018Assignee: POSITION IMAGING, INC.Inventor: Edward L. Hill
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Publication number: 20180164103Abstract: Systems and methods for navigating a person through a business enterprise identify the person based on information carried by radio-frequency (RF) signals received from an RF-transmitting device carried by the person, capture images of the identified person, determine from the captured images a current location of the person within the business enterprise, and optically track the current location of the person as the person moves within the business enterprise.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2017Publication date: June 14, 2018Inventor: Edward L. Hill
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Patent number: 9961503Abstract: System and methods of tracking a position of a mobile device with an electromagnetic signal-transmitting antenna include receiving electromagnetic signals from the transmitting antenna of the mobile device by a plurality of receiver antennae of a base station and by one or more receiver antennae of a relay station. The relay station transmits to the base station timing information associated with the electromagnetic signals received by the one or more receiver antennae of the relay station. The base station computes a position of the transmitting antenna of the mobile device based on timing information computed from the electromagnetic signals received by the plurality of receiver antennae of the base station and on the timing information received from the relay station.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2016Date of Patent: May 1, 2018Assignee: POSITION IMAGING, INC.Inventor: Edward L. Hill
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Patent number: 9933509Abstract: Tracking systems and methods for obtaining position coordinates of transmitters are provided. One or more transmitters send multiple carrier signals to multiple receivers, where the time difference of arrival of the multiple carrier signals are used to determine the location of each transmitter. Accuracy is obtained by using phase information of multiple carrier frequencies for time difference of arrival measurements. The accuracy obtained by a receiver depends on the quality of the received carrier signal; a received carrier signal may become distorted by the presence of multipath interference. By using multiple signals with different frequencies, the system can screen or compensate for multipath effects. This screening can be accomplished either through various signal-sampling techniques or by averaging the signals received at the receiver. Because signals with different frequencies have different multipath experiences, a computer can analyze and compensate for “good” and “bad” signals.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2014Date of Patent: April 3, 2018Assignee: POSITION IMAGING, INC.Inventors: Edward L. Hill, Guohua Min, Harry Lee Deffebach, III
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Publication number: 20170372524Abstract: A system includes a wireless device having a radio frequency (RF) receiver, an RF transmitter, and means for producing sensory feedback to a user of the wireless device. A position-tracking system includes at least three antennae. The position-tracking system computes a multi-dimensional position of the wireless device using triangulation or trilateration based on time of arrival information from radio signals transmitted by the RF transmitter of the wireless device and received by each of the at least three antennae. A processor receives the multi-dimensional position of the wireless device determined by the position-tracking system, correlates the multi-dimensional position to a point of interest registered with an interactive software program that produces a virtual reality environment, and generates, in response to the multi-dimensional position correlated with the registered point of interest, data configured to activate the sensory feedback producing means of the wireless device.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 28, 2017Publication date: December 28, 2017Inventor: Edward L. Hill
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Publication number: 20170350961Abstract: An RF position tracking system for wirelessly tracking the three-dimensional position of a tracked object. The tracked object has at least one mobile antenna and at least one inertial sensor. The system uses a plurality of base antennas which communicate with the mobile antenna using radio signals. The tracked object also incorporates the inertial sensor to improve position stability by allowing the system to compare position data from radio signals to data provided by the inertial sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 24, 2017Publication date: December 7, 2017Inventors: Edward L. Hill, Mark Schneider
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Patent number: 9782669Abstract: A system includes a wireless device having a radio frequency (RF) receiver, an RF transmitter, and means for producing sensory feedback to a user of the wireless device. A position-tracking system includes at least three antennae. The position-tracking system computes a multi-dimensional position of the wireless device using triangulation or trilateration based on time of arrival information from radio signals transmitted by the RF transmitter of the wireless device and received by each of the at least three antennae. A processor receives the multi-dimensional position of the wireless device determined by the position-tracking system, correlates the multi-dimensional position to a point of interest registered with an interactive software program that produces a virtual reality environment, and generates, in response to the multi-dimensional position correlated with the registered point of interest, data configured to activate the sensory feedback producing means of the wireless device.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2013Date of Patent: October 10, 2017Assignee: POSITION IMAGING, INC.Inventor: Edward L. Hill
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Publication number: 20170261592Abstract: Systems and methods for position tracking include at least three spatially separated radio-frequency (RF) sources of radio signals. Each RF source is disposed in an area at a location known to that RF source. Each RF source includes an RF transmitter configured to transmit radio signals that carry a unique identifier and the known location of that RF source. The position tracking system and method include at least one tag. Each tag is coupled to a different mobile object and includes a radio module with an RF receiver for receiving the radio signals transmitted by the at least three spatially separated RF sources. Each tag further includes memory and a processor that executes executable code stored in the memory to compute a range from that tag to each of the at least three RF sources and to compute a position of that tag based on at least three computed ranges.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 1, 2017Publication date: September 14, 2017Inventors: Guohua Min, Alexander W. Seiger, YiFeng Xiong, Edward L. Hill
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Publication number: 20170123426Abstract: Vehicles and methods of navigating vehicles comprise at least three receiver antennae configured to receive radio frequency (RF) signals from one or more RF-transmitting antennae coupled to an object, receiver circuitry coupled to the receiver antennae to acquire the RF signals and to determine timing information from the acquired RF signals, memory storing information related to fixed distances between each receiver antenna and each other receiver antenna, a processor configured to determine a relative position of the vehicle with respect to the one or more RF-transmitting antennae based on the stored information related to the fixed distances between each receiver antenna and each other receiver antenna and on the timing information determined by the receiver circuitry, and a control system configured to control operation of the vehicle in response to the relative position of the vehicle with respect to the one or more RF-transmitting antennae determined by the processor.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 12, 2017Publication date: May 4, 2017Inventors: Edward L. Hill, Brett Bilbrey, Harry Lee Deffebach, III, Krenar Komoni
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Publication number: 20170030997Abstract: A tracking system uses a mobile reader or scanner that scans, for example through a barcode reader, a passive tag reader, a probe, input, camera, or an active RF tag communication reader, and records item (asset or inventory) data. After being recorded, this item data and other relevant data is sent by radio transmission to a receiver network in the tracking system. The receiver network has at least two receivers (or at least two receiver antennae). The scanner location data, calculated by comparing the signal information at each receiver antenna receiving the radio transmission, is then used to register and record the location data of the scanned item.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 12, 2016Publication date: February 2, 2017Inventors: Edward L. Hill, Harry Lee Deffebach, III
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Publication number: 20170031432Abstract: A system and method for providing immersive interaction between users and interactive software programs comprise receiving radio frequency (RF) signals, transmitted by an RF-transmitting device, at three or more spatially separated antennas. Time of arrival information is acquired from the RF signals. A position of the RF-transmitting device is computed from the time of arrival information acquired from the RF signals. The position of the RF-transmitting device is registered within a virtual environment produced by an interactive software program (which can execute on a mobile device). The virtual environment, as affected by the registered position of the RF-transmitting device, is transmitted to a display apparatus for display.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 12, 2016Publication date: February 2, 2017Inventor: Edward L. Hill
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Publication number: 20170034661Abstract: System and methods of tracking a position of a mobile device with an electromagnetic signal-transmitting antenna include receiving electromagnetic signals from the transmitting antenna of the mobile device by a plurality of receiver antennae of a base station and by one or more receiver antennae of a relay station. The relay station transmits to the base station timing information associated with the electromagnetic signals received by the one or more receiver antennae of the relay station. The base station computes a position of the transmitting antenna of the mobile device based on timing information computed from the electromagnetic signals received by the plurality of receiver antennae of the base station and on the timing information received from the relay station.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 12, 2016Publication date: February 2, 2017Inventor: Edward L. Hill
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Publication number: 20160366561Abstract: Position tracking systems and methods for tracking a physical location of a radio frequency (RF) transmitter include an RF transmitter transmitting an RF signal from a plurality of known locations. At least four RF receiver antennae are disposed at unknown locations within range of the RF transmitter to receive the RF signals transmitted from the plurality of known locations. A receiver station in communication with the at least four RF receiver antennae initially calibrates a relative position of each RF receiver antenna with respect to the other RF receiver antennae based on the plurality of known locations and on information acquired in response to the RF signals received at the at least four RF receiver antennae.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 25, 2016Publication date: December 15, 2016Inventors: Guohua Min, Edward L. Hill
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Patent number: 9519344Abstract: A system and method for providing immersive interaction between users and interactive software programs comprise receiving radio frequency (RF) signals, transmitted by an RF-transmitting device, at three or more spatially separated antennas. Time of arrival information is acquired from the RF signals. A position of the RF-transmitting device is computed from the time of arrival information acquired from the RF signals. The position of the RF-transmitting device is registered within a virtual environment produced by an interactive software program (which can execute on a mobile device). The virtual environment, as affected by the registered position of the RF-transmitting device, is transmitted to a display apparatus for display.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2013Date of Patent: December 13, 2016Assignee: Position Imaging, Inc.Inventor: Edward L. Hill
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Patent number: 9497728Abstract: System and methods of tracking a position of a mobile device with an electromagnetic signal-transmitting antenna include receiving electromagnetic signals from the transmitting antenna of the mobile device by a plurality of receiver antennae of a base station and by one or more receiver antennae of a relay station. The relay station transmits to the base station timing information associated with the electromagnetic signals received by the one or more receiver antennae of the relay station. The base station computes a position of the transmitting antenna of the mobile device based on timing information computed from the electromagnetic signals received by the plurality of receiver antennae of the base station and on the timing information received from the relay station.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2015Date of Patent: November 15, 2016Assignee: Position Imaging, Inc.Inventor: Edward L. Hill
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Patent number: 9482741Abstract: Position tracking systems and methods for tracking a physical location of a radio frequency (RF) transmitter include an RF transmitter transmitting an RF signal from a plurality of known locations. At least four RF receiver antennae are disposed at unknown locations within range of the RF transmitter to receive the RF signals transmitted from the plurality of known locations. A receiver station in communication with the at least four RF receiver antennae initially calibrates a relative position of each RF receiver antenna with respect to the other RF receiver antennae based on the plurality of known locations and on information acquired in response to the RF signals received at the at least four RF receiver antennae.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2014Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: Position Imaging, Inc.Inventors: Guohua Min, Edward L. Hill
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Publication number: 20160238692Abstract: A tracking system is described having at least two mobile transmitter/receivers (“transceivers”) which sense and respond to at least one tracking transceiver. The signals sent to and received from the mobile transceivers are analyzed to get a distance (range) that each is from the tracking transceiver. This can be converted into a position relative to the mobile transceivers. If there are enough transceivers, and at least one knows its absolute location, the absolute location of the mobile transceivers may be determined. Existing smartphones, cellphones, Wi-Fi routers, Bluetooth devices, and near-field devices that have on-board processors, can be modified to run executable code to implement the current invention. They may communicate using at least one of the modalities for tracking. These may be implemented in tracking the position and orientation of moving devices, such as a head-mounted display for virtual/Augmented Reality, automobiles, packages in a package delivery truck.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 11, 2016Publication date: August 18, 2016Inventors: Edward L. Hill, Brett Bilbrey, Harry Lee Deffebach, III, Krenar Komoni
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Publication number: 20150323643Abstract: A position tracking system for tracking a physical location of a radio frequency (RF) transmitter comprises at least four RF receiver antennae at known locations. Each receiver antenna receives RF signals from the RF transmitter. One receiver antenna is used as a reference antenna. A receiver channel unit is in communication with the RF receiver antennae. The receiver channel unit comprises a reference receiver channel and a measurement receiver channel. A multiplexer is dynamically configurable to selectively connect the reference receiver channel to the reference receiver antenna and to connect, in succession, each other receiver antenna to the measurement receiver channel. A comparator measures phase differences between the RF signals received by the reference antenna and those received by each other receiver antennae. A data processor computes the physical location of the RF transmitter from the phase differences measured by the comparator and the known locations of the receiver antennae.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2013Publication date: November 12, 2015Inventors: Edward L. Hill, Mark Schneider