Patents by Inventor Robert J. Fontana
Robert J. Fontana 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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Patent number: 10139472Abstract: An example disclosed method includes defining a first zone within a monitored area, a first group of receivers covering the first zone; defining a second zone within the monitored area, a second group of receivers covering the second zone; determining, via a processor, a first position of a first tag based on timing measurements obtained via the first group of receivers; determining, via the processor, whether the first position indicates that the first tag is within the first zone; and when the first position indicates that the first tag is not within the first zone, not reporting data associated with the first tag.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2016Date of Patent: November 27, 2018Assignee: ZIH Corp.Inventors: Aitan Ameti, Keming Chen, Robert J. Fontana, Edward A. Richley, Belinda Turner
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Publication number: 20160245897Abstract: An example disclosed method includes defining a first zone within a monitored area, a first group of receivers covering the first zone; defining a second zone within the monitored area, a second group of receivers covering the second zone; determining, via a processor, a first position of a first tag based on timing measurements obtained via the first group of receivers; determining, via the processor, whether the first position indicates that the first tag is within the first zone; and when the first position indicates that the first tag is not within the first zone, not reporting data associated with the first tag.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2016Publication date: August 25, 2016Inventors: Aitan Ameti, Keming Chen, Robert J. Fontana, Edward A. Richley, Belinda Turner
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Patent number: 9360547Abstract: An ultra wideband (UWB) or short-pulse RF system is disclosed that can be used to precisely locate or track objects (such as personnel, equipment, assets, etc.) in real-time in an arbitrarily large, physically connected or disconnected, multipath and/or noisy environment. A system implementation includes multiple zones or groups of receivers that receives RF signals transmitted by one or more timing reference tags and one or more objects having associated object tags. Each zone or group may share a common receiver. By combining a multiple reference tag system with a virtual group of receivers, i.e., a zoning technique or system, a cost-effective system can be provided that offers scalability and flexibility to monitor a significantly expanded coverage area.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2012Date of Patent: June 7, 2016Assignee: ZIH CORP.Inventors: Aitan Ameti, Keming Chen, Robert J. Fontana, Edward A. Richley, Belinda Turner
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Patent number: 8742986Abstract: Various methods and apparatuses that utilize a wireless time reference system are provided herein. One example method involves calibrating independent, spatially-located clocks of a geoposition system in order to geolocate an object having an associated object tag. The example method may include transmitting an RF pulse pair, receiving the pulse pair at multiple locations, utilizing respective frequencies of first and second spatially-located clocks to produce count values to effect measurement of an interarrival interval at each of multiple locations, determining a ratio of count values relative to said first and second spatially-located clocks, and utilizing said ratio to calibrate time indications of said clocks. Other related methods and apparatus are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2011Date of Patent: June 3, 2014Assignee: ZIH Corp.Inventors: Altan Ameti, Keming Chen, Robert J Fontana, Edward A Richley, Belinda Turner
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Publication number: 20120188129Abstract: An ultra wideband (UWB) or short-pulse RF system is disclosed that can be used to precisely locate or track objects (such as personnel, equipment, assets, etc.) in real-time in an arbitrarily large, physically connected or disconnected, multipath and/or noisy environment. A system implementation includes multiple zones or groups of receivers that receives RF signals transmitted by one or more timing reference tags and one or more objects having associated object tags. Each zone or group may share a common receiver. By combining a multiple reference tag system with a virtual group of receivers, i.e., a zoning technique or system, a cost-effective system can be provided that offers scalability and flexibility to monitor a significantly expanded coverage area.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2012Publication date: July 26, 2012Applicant: MULTISPECTRAL SOLUTIONS, INC.Inventors: Aitan Ameti, Keming Chen, Robert J. Fontana, Edward A. Richley, Belinda Turner
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Publication number: 20120086607Abstract: Various methods and apparatuses that utilize a wireless time reference system are provided herein. One example method involves calibrating independent, spatially-located clocks of a geoposition system in order to geolocate an object having an associated object tag. The example method may include transmitting an RF pulse pair, receiving the pulse pair at multiple locations, utilizing respective frequencies of first and second spatially-located clocks to produce count values to effect measurement of an interarrival interval at each of multiple locations, determining a ratio of count values relative to said first and second spatially-located clocks, and utilizing said ratio to calibrate time indications of said clocks. Other related methods and apparatus are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 10, 2011Publication date: April 12, 2012Applicant: Multispectral Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Aitan Ameti, Keming Chen, Robert J. Fontana, Edward A. Richley, Belinda Turner
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Patent number: 8149169Abstract: An ultra wideband (UWB) or short-pulse RF system is disclosed that can be used to precisely locate or track objects (such as personnel, equipment, assets, etc.) in real-time in an arbitrarily large, physically connected or disconnected, multipath and/or noisy environment. A system implementation includes multiple zones or groups of receivers that receives RF signals transmitted by one or more timing reference tags and one or more objects having associated object tags. Each zone or group may share a common receiver. By combining a multiple reference tag system with a virtual group of receivers, i.e., a zoning technique or system, a cost-effective system can be provided that offers scalability and flexibility to monitor a significantly expanded coverage area.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2010Date of Patent: April 3, 2012Assignee: Multispectral Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Aitan Ameti, Keming Chen, Robert J. Fontana, Edward A. Richley, Belinda Turner
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Patent number: 8063826Abstract: Instead of normalizing time reference of independent spatially-located clocks using a reference tag transmission from known location, the present invention uses an interarrival time interval between a pulse pair of UWB pulses as a timing metric. Thus, a method of synchronizing spatially-located clocks or normalizing time indications thereof comprises transmitting a UWB pulse pair, determining at first and second monitoring stations a respective count value indicative of a locally measured time interval between received pulse pairs, determining a ratio between clock counts of first and second monitoring stations, and utilizing the ratio to determine clock skew, e.g., a timing correction to be applied to respective local clocks of the monitoring stations.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2009Date of Patent: November 22, 2011Assignee: Multispectral Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Aitan Ameti, Keming Chen, Robert J. Fontana, Edward A. Richley, Belinda Turner
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Patent number: 7710322Abstract: An ultra wideband (UWB) or short-pulse RF system is disclosed that can be used to precisely locate or track objects (such as personnel, equipment, assets, etc.) in real-time in an arbitrarily large, physically connected or disconnected, multipath and/or noisy environment. A system implementation includes multiple zones or groups of receivers that receives RF signals transmitted by one or more timing reference tags and one or more objects having associated object tags. Each zone or group may share a common receiver. By combining a multiple reference tag system with a virtual group of receivers, i.e., a zoning technique or system, a cost-effective system can be provided that offers scalability and flexibility to monitor a significantly expanded coverage area.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2006Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignee: Multispectral Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Aitan Ameti, Keming Chen, Robert J. Fontana, Edward A. Richley, Belinda Turner
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Publication number: 20090243934Abstract: Instead of normalizing time reference of independent spatially-located clocks using a reference tag transmission from known location, the present invention uses an interarrival time interval between a pulse pair of UWB pulses as a timing metric. Thus, a method of synchronizing spatially-located clocks or normalizing time indications thereof comprises transmitting a UWB pulse pair, determining at first and second monitoring stations a respective count value indicative of a locally measured time interval between received pulse pairs, determining a ratio between clock counts of first and second monitoring stations, and utilizing the ratio to determine clock skew, e.g., a timing correction to be applied to respective local clocks of the monitoring stations.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 15, 2009Publication date: October 1, 2009Inventors: Aitan Ameti, Keming Chen, Robert J. Fontana, Edward A. Richley, Belinda Turner
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Patent number: 7492316Abstract: Instead of normalizing time reference of independent spatially-located clocks using a reference tag transmission from known location, the present invention uses an interarrival time interval between a pulse pair of UWB pulses as a timing metric. Thus, a method of synchronizing spatially-located clock or normalizing time indications thereof comprises transmitting a UWB pulse pair, determining at first and second monitoring stations a respective count value indicative of a locally measured time interval between received pulse pairs, determining a ratio between clock counts of first and second monitoring stations, and utilizing the ratio to determine clock skew, e.g., a timing correction to be applied to respective local clocks of the monitoring stations.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2006Date of Patent: February 17, 2009Assignee: Multispectral Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Aitan Ameti, Keming Chen, Robert J. Fontana, Edward A. Richley, Belinda Turner
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Patent number: 7412007Abstract: A method and system to produce a spectrally filtered ultra wideband (UWB) signal preferably utilizing a singly terminated filter having an input section and a current switching device directly coupled to the input section. The switching device is operated in a highly nonlinear manner such that an impulse of energy excites the filter in such a way that a vast majority of impulse energy is transmitted to an antenna after spectral filtering thereby yielding a highly efficient, broadband (e.g., ultra wideband) transmission. A substantial fraction of the current switched into the filter passes directly to the antenna. Optionally, the input section of the filter possesses a secondary resonance and the current switching device has a conduction time chosen to be compatible with the secondary resonance.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2003Date of Patent: August 12, 2008Assignee: Multispectral Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Edward A. Richley, Robert J. Fontana
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Patent number: 7369598Abstract: A waveform-adaptive ultra-wideband (UWB) transmitter and noise-tracking UWB receiver for use in communications, object detection and radar applications. In one embodiment, the output of an oscillator is gated by a low-level impulse generator either directly or through an optional filter. In a special case of that embodiment wherein the oscillator is zero frequency and outputs a DC bias, a low-level impulse generator impulse-excites a bandpass filter to produce an UWB signal having an adjustable center frequency and desired bandwidth based on a characteristic of the filter. In another embodiment, the low-level impulse signal is approximated by a time-gated continuous-wave oscillator to produce an extremely wide bandwidth pulse with deterministic center frequency and bandwidth characteristics. The low-level impulse signal can be generated digitally. The UWB signal may be modulated to carry data, or may be used in object detection or ranging applications.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2005Date of Patent: May 6, 2008Assignee: Multispectral Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Robert J. Fontana, J. Frederick Larrick, Jr.
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Patent number: 7209523Abstract: A waveform-adaptive ultra-wideband (UWB) transmitter and noise-tracking UWB receiver for use in communications, object detection and radar applications. In one embodiment, the output of an oscillator is gated by a low-level impulse generator either directly or through an optional filter. In a special case of that embodiment wherein the oscillator is zero frequency and outputs a DC bias, a low-level impulse generator impulse-excites a bandpass filter to produce an UWB signal having an adjustable center frequency and desired bandwidth based on a characteristic of the filter. In another embodiment, the low-level impulse signal is approximated by a time-gated continuous-wave oscillator to produce an extremely wide bandwidth pulse with deterministic center frequency and bandwidth characteristics. The low-level impulse signal can be generated digitally. The UWB signal may be modulated to carry data, or may be used in object detection or ranging applications.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 1999Date of Patent: April 24, 2007Assignee: Multispectral Solutions, Inc.Inventors: J. Frederick Larrick, Robert J. Fontana
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Patent number: 6882315Abstract: An RF object locating system and method that uses or includes a set of N (N>2) receivers (monitoring stations) located at fixed positions in and/or about a region to be monitored, one or more reference transmitters that transmit a timing reference, a location processor that determines object location based on time-of-arrival measurements, and at least one object having an untethered tag transmitter that transmits RF pulses, which may additionally include object ID or other information. Free-running counters in the monitoring stations, whose phase offsets are determined relative to a reference transmitter, are frequency-locked with a centralized reference clock. Time-of-arrival measurements made at the monitoring stations may be stored and held in a local memory until polled by the location processor.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2001Date of Patent: April 19, 2005Assignee: Multispectral Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Edward A. Richley, Robert J. Fontana, Donald V. Perino, Aitan Ameti
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Patent number: 6812884Abstract: A transceiver for short-pulse radar applications is disclosed in which a shift register or the like is used to collect return signal information in a manner to reduce the number of transmit pulses needed and to increase the speed of determining the positions of multiple scattering objects. In addition, there is also disclosed cooperating transceivers arranged as transponders similarly utilizing shift registers or other pulse sampling techniques to accurately determine the linear distance between them based on relationships between or among propagation time, measured offsets, and internal clock skews. Corresponding methods are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2003Date of Patent: November 2, 2004Assignee: Multispectral Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Edward A. Richley, Robert J. Fontana
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Publication number: 20040178947Abstract: A transceiver for short-pulse radar applications is disclosed in which a shift register or the like is used to collect return signal information in a manner to reduce the number of transmit pulses needed and to increase the speed of determining the positions of multiple scattering objects. In addition, there is also disclosed cooperating transceivers arranged as transponders similarly utilizing shift registers or other pulse sampling techniques to accurately determine the linear distance between them based on relationships between or among propagation time, measured offsets, and internal clock skews. Corresponding methods are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2003Publication date: September 16, 2004Inventors: Edward A. Richley, Robert J. Fontana
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Publication number: 20040108954Abstract: An RF object locating system and method that uses or includes a set of N (N>2) receivers (monitoring stations) located at fixed positions in and/or about a region to be monitored, one or more reference transmitters that transmit a timing reference, a location processor that determines object location based on time-of-arrival measurements, and at least one object having an untethered tag transmitter that transmits RF pulses, which may additionally include object ID or other information. Free-running counters in the monitoring stations, whose phase offsets are determined relative to a reference transmitter, are frequency-locked with a centralized reference clock. Time-of-arrival measurements made at the monitoring stations may be stored and held in a local memory until polled by the location processor.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2001Publication date: June 10, 2004Inventors: Edward A. Richley, Robert J. Fontana, Donald V. Perino, Aitan Ameti
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Patent number: 6690741Abstract: A data-modulated ultra wideband transmitter that modulates the phase, frequency, bandwidth, amplitude and/or attenuation of ultra-wideband (UWB) pulses. The transmitter confines or band-limits UWB signals within spectral limits for use in communication, positioning, and/or radar applications. One embodiment comprises a low-level UWB source (e.g., an impulse generator or time-gated oscillator (fixed or voltage-controlled)), a waveform adapter (e.g., digital or analog filter, pulse shaper, and/or voltage variable attenuator), a power amplifier, and an antenna to radiate a band-limited and/or modulated UWB or wideband signals. In a special case where the oscillator has zero frequency and outputs a DC bias, a low-level impulse generator impulse-excites a bandpass filter to produce an UWB signal having an adjustable center frequency and desired bandwidth based on a characteristic of the filter.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 1999Date of Patent: February 10, 2004Assignee: Multispectral Solutions, Inc.Inventors: J. Frederick Larrick, Jr., Robert J. Fontana
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Patent number: RE44634Abstract: A waveform-adaptive ultra-wideband (UWB) transmitter and noise-tracking UWB receiver for use in communications, object detection and radar applications. In one embodiment, the output of an oscillator is gated by a low-level impulse generator either directly or through an optional filter. In a special case of that embodiment wherein the oscillator is zero frequency and outputs a DC bias, a low-level impulse generator impulse-excites a bandpass filter to produce an UWB signal having an adjustable center frequency and desired bandwidth based on a characteristic of the filter. In another embodiment, the low-level impulse signal is approximated by a time-gated continuous-wave oscillator to produce an extremely wide bandwidth pulse with deterministic center frequency and bandwidth characteristics. The low-level impulse signal can be generated digitally. The UWB signal may be modulated to carry data, or may be used in object detection or ranging applications.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2010Date of Patent: December 10, 2013Assignee: Multispectral Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Robert J. Fontana, J. Frederick Larrick, Jr.