Abstract: A wireless positioning apparatus receives a plurality of channel responses for a plurality of locations, generates a plurality of channel response patterns from the plurality of channel responses, and stores the plurality of channel response patterns. The wireless positioning apparatus receives an estimated channel response from a mobile station and compares the estimated channel response with the plurality of channel response patterns to estimate a location of the mobile station. The wireless positioning apparatus provides the estimated location information to the mobile station.

Abstract: Provided are a distance measuring device and a distance measuring method which can easily distinguish a reflected signal from a desired tag from an unnecessary wave so as to improve the distance measuring accuracy even when IR-UWB is used for measuring a distance. The method uses a reader ID indicated by a code string formed by P bits (P is a natural number) for identifying a base station and a tag ID indicated by a code string formed by Q bits (Q is a natural number) for identifying a radio terminal. The method generates a unique word containing P pulses, each of which is ON/OFF-modulated depending on whether each of P bits indicating the reader ID is 1 or 0. The method generates a frame containing 2 M unique words and a burst containing Q frames. The method further outputs a transmission signal containing a plurality of bursts. A radio terminal Amplitude Shift Keying (ASK)—modulates the transmission signal depending on whether each of the Q bits indicating the tag ID is 1 or 0.

Abstract: An object is to provide a card game machine capable of enhancing gameplay. A card game machine has a game board including a plurality of reader/writers configured to communicate with a semiconductor device which is mounted on a card and capable of wireless communication, and a control device connected to the reader/writer and configured to determine the position or orientation of the card or whether the card is put face up or down based on a signal from the reader/writer. By arrangement of a plurality of reader/writers and RF chips in the game board, not only data of the card but also signal strength can be detected, and the detailed position of an RF chip of the card which is placed on the game board can be specified.

Abstract: Processing associated with ranging operations is shifted from a first apparatus to a second apparatus. For example, upon sampling a received ranging signal (e.g., a pulse) from the second apparatus, the first apparatus does not process the ranging signal to identify a relatively precise time of arrival estimate. Instead, the first apparatus sends sample data (e.g., representative of the power and/or magnitude of the received signal) and associated timestamp information to the second apparatus. The second apparatus processes the received sample data and timestamp information to determine the time of arrival estimate on behalf of the first apparatus. The second apparatus then uses this time of arrival estimate to determine the distance between the apparatuses.

Abstract: A wireless ranging system for determining a range of a remote wireless device may include a wireless transmitter and a wireless receiver. The wireless ranging system may also include a ranging controller to cooperate with the wireless transmitter and receiver to generate a multi-carrier base waveform, transmit a sounder waveform to the remote wireless device including concatenated copies of the multi-carrier base waveform, and receive a return waveform from the remote wireless device in response to the sounder waveform. The ranging controller may also generate time domain samples from the return waveform, convert the time domain samples into frequency domain data, and process the frequency domain data to determine the range of the remote wireless device.

Abstract: Various methods, apparatuses and/or articles of manufacture are provided which may be implemented to perform and/or otherwise support collaborative navigation between a plurality of mobile devices. In one example, a first mobile device, in response to a determination that at least a second mobile device is located within a threshold distance of the first mobile device, may obtain a navigation parameter indicative of an initial position and/or movement of the second mobile device which was determined based, at least in part, on a measurement from a sensor at the second mobile device. The first mobile device then affect a determined position and/or movement of the first mobile device based, at least in part, on the navigation parameter.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for positioning one or more anchor nodes or one or more non-anchor nodes in one or more communication networks. A non-anchor node may be in communication with two or more anchor nodes. The method comprises determining two or more distance measurements, corresponding to raw distances of the non-anchor node from the two or more anchor nodes, at predetermined intervals of time. An estimated distance is then calculated between the two or more anchor nodes based on the two or more distance measurements. Estimated distances between a plurality of anchor nodes in the one or more communication networks is calculated in a similar manner. A partial distance matrix is then populated using the estimated distance between the plurality of anchor nodes. A plurality of geographic coordinates of the plurality of anchor nodes is reconstructed based on the partial distance matrix.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to achieve a position information detection system with high precision when an obstruction and a reflective object exist. A position information detection system includes a reader/writer whose position is known, a first RF chip whose position is known, and a second RF chip attached to an object to be detected; and calculates a distance between the reader/writer and the second RF chip from a first calculated distance between the reader/writer and the first RF chip, which is calculated from a signal intensity of a communication signal transmitted from the reader/writer, detected by the first RF chip, a second calculated distance between the second RF chip and the reader/writer, which is calculated from a signal intensity of a communication signal transmitted from the reader/writer, detected by the second RF chip, and a distance between the reader/writer and the first RF chip.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system and method for localization positioning in lighting systems. At least two of a Time Difference of Arrival (TDOA), Angle of Arrival (AOA), Received Signal Strength Index (RSSI) and a Position Estimation Algorithm with unified TDOA and RSSI are used to obtain localization positioning. The schemes introduce a maximum-likelihood estimation strategy incorporating a partial derivative matrix for each lighting unit using at least two reference nodes in order to achieve higher accuracy.

Abstract: Methods and systems disclosed herein may include receiving signals from a transmitter in a receiver; determine a bias of the transmitter and receiver; generating expected observations, based on the bias, corresponding to the received signals; and calculate a building height based on a power level of the received signals and a power level of the expected observations.

Abstract: A method for automatically identifying wireless signal quality of a region includes receiving signal quality information associated with wireless signals received by each of a plurality of mobile endpoints and receiving location information identifying locations of each of the plurality of mobile endpoints. The method also includes, based on the received signal quality information and the received location information, identifying a first region of an area, the first region having a first signal quality.

Abstract: A geographic tracking system with minimal power and size required at the mobile terminal collects observation data at the mobile terminal and forwards the data to a processor, which calculates the position. The mobile terminal is configured to measure both code phase and data phase of a GPS satellite signal. The code phase and data phase information enables the processor to reduce the number of candidate points to be considered.

Abstract: Described are computer-based methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, for determining a position. In some examples, the method includes determining measured time receipt differences from associated local receipt times for each pair of plurality of signals; determining a range difference for each of the plurality of signals based on the measured time receipt differences for each of the pairs of the plurality of signals; determining hypothesized range differences based on a hypothesized user position; determining an estimation difference for each of the plurality of signals based on the range difference and the hypothesized range difference for each of the plurality of signals based on a figure of merit; minimizing the estimation difference for the figure of merit based on a plurality of hypothesized user positions and an optimization routine; and outputting a user position based on a hypothesized user position associated with the minimized figure of merit.

Abstract: Systems and methods of locating missing endpoints in a utility meter network include periodically receiving electronic GPS data including coordinates identifying the physical location of a mobile meter reading device and collecting radio frequency (RF) data transmissions sent by one or more missing endpoints in proximity to the mobile meter reading device. Energy levels associated with the RF data transmissions can be used to determine a signal strength indicator for each transmission. The transmissions are collected while the mobile meter reading device is positioned in at least first and second different locations relative to each missing endpoint. A triangulation procedure is electronically implemented using the GPS coordinates and the signal strength indicator for a given missing endpoint as determined in the at least first and second different locations in order to identify an estimated location for the given missing endpoint, which is provided as electronic output to a user.

Abstract: A vehicle can be controlled in a first autonomous mode of operation by at least navigating the vehicle based on map data. Sensor data can be obtained using one or more sensors of the vehicle. The sensor data can be indicative of an environment of the vehicle. An inadequacy in the map data can be detected by at least comparing the map data to the sensor data. In response to detecting the inadequacy in the map data, the vehicle can be controlled in a second autonomous mode of operation and a user can be prompted to switch to a manual mode of operation. The vehicle can be controlled in the second autonomous mode of operation by at least obtaining additional sensor data using the one or more sensors of the vehicle and navigating the vehicle based on the additional sensor data.

Abstract: A hybrid direction apparatus and method that rapidly and accurately detects a direction of a radio signal source based on a direction detecting scheme by comparing an amplitude or signal strength, a virtual Doppler scheme, a phase difference comparison scheme while removing an ambiguity based on an amplitude or signal strength scheme, and identify a direction relatively precisely based on a phase difference scheme using only two antennas. Also, an arrival direction of a relative radio wave when an arrival direction of a radio wave is vertical to a single rotating axis may be precisely identified by mounting a directional antenna and a phase comparison antenna on the single rotating axis, and rotating the two antennas.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes an acquiring unit configured to receive signals, which are transmitted from a fixed station, including identification information for identifying the fixed station, measure receive signal strength indications of the received signals, and acquire position information indicating positions at which the receive signal strength indications are measured, the receive signal strength indications, and the identification information in association with each other; and a gain/attenuation rate calculating unit configured to calculate correction information including a transmission antenna gain in a specific direction from the fixed station and an attenuation rate in a propagation path, the correction information being obtained from the receive signal strength indication measured at a first distance in the specific direction from the fixed station and the receive signal strength indication measured at a second distance in the specific direction that is different from the first

Abstract: It is proposed a method for selecting an effective angle of reception of a directional antenna of a receiver node, the receiver node belonging to a wireless communications network comprising a plurality of emitter nodes. The method is implemented by the receiver node and comprises steps of: determining at least two possible angles of reception associated with a first emitter node, and for each of said at least two possible angles of reception, determining a difference between that angle and an angle of reception associated with a second emitter node different from said first emitter node, and selecting the effective angle of reception from among said at least two possible angles of reception associated with said first emitter node as a function of the determined differences.

Abstract: A signal-transmitting arrow operable to transmit an encoded RF signal, an arrow locating and game tracking receiver system for use with the signal-transmitting arrow, and a transmitter-nock unit for installation on an arrow to construct a signal-transmitting arrow. The arrow includes an arrow shaft, an arrow head disposed at an arrow shaft forward end, and a nock disposed at an arrow shaft rearward end. A transmitter unit includes a transmitter housing that is removably mounted in interior chamber at the rearward end of the arrow shaft, and is rigidly connected to the nock to provide the transmitter-nock unit. The transmitter unit has an RF transmitter with a rigid antenna that extends rearwardly into the nock. The receiver system includes omnidirectional and directional antennas and RF receivers, a processor for generating direction indicating signal, and a user interface that indicates arrow location.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for processing communication signals in a wireless personal area network (WPAN) using a transceiver comprising a first transmitter and a first receiver operable to transmit and receive signals using a first transmission protocol and a second transmitter operable to transmit signals using a second transmission protocol. In various embodiments, the first receiver is used to receive a first signal that was transmitted using the first communication protocol and the second transmitter is used to transmit a second signal using the second transmission protocol in response to receipt of the first signal. The second signal is then processed to determine the location of the object. In some embodiments, the first transmission protocol is compliant with an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers 802.15.4 transmission protocol and the second transmission protocol is compliant with an Ultra-Wide Band (UWB) protocol.

Abstract: A system for determining the dimensional coordinates of a point of interest in a work space, includes a plurality of fixed-position ranging radios, located at known positions in the work space, and a wand having a first end configured for indicating a point of interest. A pair of ranging radios are mounted on the wand. A measurement circuit, responsive to the pair of ranging radios, determines the position of each of the pair of ranging radios with respect to the plurality of fixed-position ranging radios, and determines the position of the first end of the wand with respect to the plurality of fixed position ranging radios. A robotic total station may be used in lieu of the fixed-position ranging radios to monitor the positions of retroreflective elements on the wand.

Abstract: A radio frequency signal oscillator and an intermediate frequency signal oscillator are incorporated in a communication processing device, and a carrier wave with which an intermediate frequency signal is overlapped is generated using the oscillators and transmitted from an antenna. Mixers separate and extract an I signal and a Q signal from the intermediate frequency signal in the signal received by the antenna. A phase difference detector detects a phase difference of the intermediate frequency signal in a reflected wave to the intermediate frequency signal in the carrier wave using the I signal and the Q signal after the reception of the reflected wave from a tag is started. A distance calculator calculates a distance from the antenna to the tag using the phase difference and a wavelength of the intermediate frequency signal.

Abstract: Active RFID technologies are used to tag assets and people within buildings or open areas, such as parking lots or military bases; and to identify, preferably within a few meters, the real-time location (RTL) of the tag, i.e. to create a real-time location system, known as an RTLS. A novel and complex algorithm is provided that combines signal strength computations with factors that incorporate physical realities, such as walls and floors, to determine a tag's real-time location more accurately.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include a method of determining a location of a mobile device. The method comprises transmitting a signal between a plurality of known locations and receiving signal at device of unknown location such as a mobile device. The signal may include multiple tones having different frequencies and resulting in sets of residual phase differences. The location of the mobile device may be determined using the known locations and the frequency and phase differences between the transmitted tones. In one embodiment, OFDM signals may be used between an access point and mobile device, for example, to determine the location of the mobile device.

Abstract: A method of forming an estimate of the two-dimensional position of a radio receiver relative to a plurality of radio transmitters each having an associated position estimate and a position uncertainty expressible as an uncertainty ellipse having major and minor axes, the method comprising using the uncertainty vectors describing the uncertainty ellipses of the radio transmitters in a predetermined coordinate system to define a new compound coordinate basis, and forming an estimate of the two-dimensional position of the radio receiver in the compound coordinate basis by projecting the major and minor axes of each uncertainty ellipse onto the new compound coordinate basis and calculating the position of the radio receiver by means of a weighted centroid that uses weighting values calculated in the new compound coordinate basis and position estimates of the plurality of the radio transmitters expressed in the compound coordinate basis.

Abstract: Provided is a radio communication device including a reception unit that receives a radio signal, a measurement unit that measures a field intensity of the radio signal received by the reception unit, a determination unit that determines whether the radio signal received by the reception unit satisfies a predetermined condition for a noise component, and an estimation unit that estimates a distance from a transmission source device of the radio signal based on the field intensity of the radio signal determined by the determination unit to satisfy the predetermined condition.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining the distance between a radio beacon and a vehicle device passing in front of said radio beacon, in a road toll system. A signal of a frequency having a known temporal profile is emitted. Said method consists of the following steps: the signal is captured in the other component when passing and the temporal profile of the frequency is recorded in relation to the known temporal profile; a modification in the recorded frequency profile exceeding a first threshold value is detected; two distant wave zones in the frequency profile, lying temporally in front of and behind the detected modification, which displays a frequency modification below a second threshold value, are searched for; the recorded frequency profile is scaled in such a manner that the distance wave zones take the predetermined values; and said distance “a” from the scaled frequency path is determined.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for using location-based information to determine whether to perform a ranging procedure. A change in location of a device is identified. The identified change in location represents the distance the device has moved during an interval between ranging procedures. The identified change in location is analyzed to determine whether the change exceeds a threshold distance. If the change in location does not satisfy the threshold distance, a change in a signal quality metric of the device from the location associated with the previously performed ranging procedure to the current location is identified. The identified change in signal quality metric is analyzed to determine whether the change exceeds a threshold value. If the change in location of the device is less than the threshold distance and the change in the signal quality metric is less than the threshold value, the next scheduled ranging procedure is bypassed.

Abstract: Techniques are generally described for determining locations of a plurality of communication devices in a network. In some examples, methods for creating a location discovery infrastructure (LDI) for estimating locations of one or more of a plurality of communication nodes may comprise one or more of determining a plurality of locations in the terrain to place a corresponding plurality of beacon nodes, determining a plurality of beacon node groups for the placed beacon nodes, and determining a schedule for the placed beacon nodes to be active. Additional variants and embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: A mobile apparatus is provided. The mobile apparatus comprises a transceiver and a processor. The transceiver receives a nearby signal from a nearby mobile apparatus, wherein the nearby signal carries a nearby positioning information. The processor electrically connected to the transceiver estimates a nearby received signal strength of the nearby signal according to the nearby signal, and generates a host positioning information according to the nearby received signal strength and the nearby positioning information.

Abstract: A control system for a motor vehicle includes: (a) at least one driving data sensor for acquiring driving data characterizing a driving state of the motor vehicle; (b) at least one camera for capturing images of the surroundings; (c) an accident recorder that can record the images of the surroundings in a buffer; and (d) an electronic controller for controlling the driving data sensor, the camera, and the accident recorder. The electronic controller is programmed to trigger an autonomous braking action of the motor vehicle based on driving data and/or images of the surroundings.

Abstract: An RF transceiver of a first network device respectively receives first, second, and third coordinates of second, third, and fourth network devices. A control module determines first, second, and third delay periods respectively corresponding to transmissions between first and second, first and third, and first and fourth network devices. The control module determines first, second, and third distances between the first and second, first and third, and first and fourth network devices respectively based on the first, second, and third delay periods. The control module determines a location of the first network device based on the first, second, and third distances and the first, second, and third coordinates.

Abstract: A method for controlling a vehicle upon a roadway includes monitoring a trajectory of a host vehicle based upon a global positioning device within the host vehicle, monitoring a first wireless communication between the host vehicle and a plurality of target vehicles, the first wireless communication including a respective trajectory of each of the target vehicles based upon a respective global positioning device within each of the target vehicles, determining navigational commands for the host vehicle based upon the trajectory of the host vehicle and the trajectory of each of the target vehicles, and operating the host vehicle based upon the navigational commands.

Abstract: A method for controlling a plurality of vehicles to operate the plurality of vehicles in a platoon includes, within a leader vehicle selected from the plurality of vehicles: monitoring through a vehicle-to-vehicle communication a respective actual position of each of the plurality of vehicles that is not the leader vehicle based upon data from a respective global positioning device within each of the plurality of vehicles that is not the leader vehicle, determining distances to operate the plurality of vehicles in the platoon based upon the respective actual positions of each of the plurality of vehicles, and selecting a respective commanded vehicle position including a respective global positioning coordinate for each of the plurality of vehicles based upon the determined distances.

Abstract: A system and method for populating a map database for a vehicle navigation system with the location and type of wireless access points that can be used to update or service wireless systems on the vehicle. The map database can be initially populated with the known wireless access points at the time of manufacture of the vehicle, and then the vehicle communications system can detect new wireless access points as the vehicle travels, which can be stored on the map database. By storing the location and type of the access points in the map database, the vehicle will know the direction of the access point relative to the vehicle, and can compensate for the Doppler shift as a result of the relative movement of the vehicle to the access point.

Abstract: A method for determining a position of a mobile device may include receiving a communication signal at the mobile device simulcast from a plurality of transmitters. One of the plurality of transmitters is identified based on information obtained from the received simulcast communication signal, and an identifiable signal associated with the identified one of the plurality of transmitters is received at the mobile device. A range of the identified one of the plurality of transmitters from the mobile device is determined based on the received identifiable signal.

Abstract: We describe a device that is able to compute its range and time offset relative to another similar device, and thereby also a three-dimensional position, speed and time relative to other similar devices provided that at least four are present and within range. It does so by transmitting at least two signals at different frequencies and by receiving similar signals transmitted by the other devices. The signals are constructed so that they are independent of the radio band used and so that they lead to cancellation of common-mode effects in the transmitter and receiver circuits. No fixed infrastructure of transmitters, receivers or local measurement units is required and the devices do not need to be synchronized. The system scales to very large networks of devices in which they work collectively each solving a part of the problem that describes the relative positions of all interconnected devices.

Abstract: A portable terminal is provided, which includes a communication unit that transmits/receives a signal modulated by a predetermined modulation method to/from three or more base stations; a storage unit which stores in advance a plurality of propagation models indicating propagation environments of the signal for respective combinations of the base stations and stores in advance position information of the base stations; and a control unit that controls the communication unit and the storage unit; wherein the control unit specifies a propagation model that corresponds to a combination of the base stations among the plurality of propagation models stored in the storage unit based on the signal and calculates communicable distances of the signal based on the corresponding propagation model, calculates circles having the corresponding communicable distances as their radii and having positions of the base stations as their centers, respectively, obtains an overlapping area where the circles overlap one another, and

Abstract: To provide a positioning system that clearly defines a disposition of a base station for identifying a position of a radio set. While a wireless base station 1 that transmits and receives a distance-measuring signal to and from a terminal 2 to be measured by wireless communication is disposed at each corner forming an equilateral triangular, the length of each side of the equilateral triangle is made to be a maximum communication distance of the wireless base station 1.

Abstract: A system for determining the dimensional coordinates of a point of interest in a work space, includes a plurality of fixed-position ranging radios, located at known positions in the work space, and a wand having a first end configured for indicating a point of interest. A pair of ranging radios are mounted on the wand. A measurement circuit, responsive to the pair of ranging radios, determines the position of each of the pair of ranging radios with respect to the plurality of fixed-position ranging radios, and determines the position of the first end of the wand with respect to the plurality of fixed position ranging radios. A robotic total station may be used in lieu of the fixed-position ranging radios to monitor the positions of retroreflective elements on the wand.

Abstract: A ranging system includes a time of flight subsystem including circuitry incorporated in a mobile node and a base station for generating a TOF signal between the mobile node and the base station, measuring the time taken for transmission of the TOF signal, and generating a TOF distance signal based on the measured time. An accelerometer, mounted in the mobile node, generates an accelerometer signal. A distance filter generates the distance estimate. The filter is configured to (i) initialize the value of a distance estimate signal based on the TOF distance signal, (ii) detect a human step based on variances in the accelerometer signal, and (iii) change the value of the distance estimate signal by a predetermined quantum only upon detection of the human step, the change being positive or negative depending on a direction of the TOF distance signal relative to the distance estimate signal.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a transmitter and a receiver device, which includes a receiver section and a processing module. The transmitter transmits a high carrier frequency signal. The receiver section includes first and second antennas that have an antenna radiation relationship for receiving the high carrier frequency signal. A receiver module of the receiver section determines first and second signal properties of the received high carrier frequency signal. The processing module determines a position of the receiver device with respect to the transmitter based on the first and second signal properties and maps the position to a coordinate system.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide a method for ranging. The method includes receiving by a ranging apparatus a first ranging signal transmitted from a first remote apparatus. The first ranging signal includes a first digital sequence that is a logic combination of a first group of co-prime component codes having co-prime cycle lengths. Further, the method includes detecting first component shifts of the first digital sequence corresponding to the first group of co-prime component codes, and determining a first ranging code shift of the first digital sequence based on the first component shifts.

Abstract: A method for matching an actual device in a wireless network to a corresponding device indicated in a plan of such devices is provided. The method is suitable for initiating the commissioning process for a lighting control network or an automated home network and it enables the program controlling the system to establish a number of reference nodes, with respect to which the coordinates of the rest of the nodes in the network are established, without the engineer having to manually enter the identification details of the reference nodes in the computer system. The method includes identifying a device in the plan having unique characteristics compared to the other devices in the plan, receiving data comprising the characteristics of the actual device from the wireless network, and in response to the characteristics of the actual device including the unique characteristics, matching the physical device with the identified device.

Abstract: The disclosed subject matter generally relates to hybrid positioning systems and methods and, more specifically, systems and methods of detecting moved WLAN assess points using a wireless local area network based positioning system (WLAN-PS) and a satellite-based positioning system (SPS) with at least two satellites measurement.

Abstract: An apparatus having a first antenna; a second antenna; and a controller coupled to the first and second antennas, wherein the controller is configured to determine a first ranging measurement between the first antenna and a device antenna on a device; determine a second ranging measurement between the second antenna and the device antenna; and determine an orientation and position of the apparatus relative to the device by combining the first and second ranging measurements. A method for implementing the orientation and position process is also disclosed herein.

Abstract: A system and method for positioning using signal transmit power, SNR of the signal receiving unit, signal receive PER or PLR, and distance relationship between the signal source and receiving unit. The system includes a ranging signal transmitting unit and receiving unit. The transmitting unit continuously transmits a fixed number of ranging signal packets using different transmit powers, and the receiving unit receives the ranging signal packets, collect statistics for the PLR at each transmit power, and calculates the distance between the transmitting unit and itself using the distance relationship. The present invention uses the reference signal source and the method for calculating relative distance to reduce the impact from the noise and environment changes on the positioning, and introduces the critical transmit power to further enhance positioning precision. With the method provided in the present invention, using a common active RFID tag achieves high precision and effective positioning.

Abstract: A mobile computing device includes a housing, a processor provided within the housing, and a location-determining system configured to determine a current location of the mobile computing device at a first rate. The location determining system may be configured to adjust the first rate to a different second rate based on a threshold distance value and a distance from the current location to an anticipated future location of the mobile computing device.

Abstract: A geographic tracking system with minimal power and size required at the mobile terminal collects observation data at the mobile terminal and forwards the data to a processor, which calculates the position. The mobile terminal is configured to measure both code phase and data phase of a GPS satellite signal. The code phase and data phase information enables the processor to reduce the number of candidate points to be considered.

Abstract: An antenna and a method for using the antenna in a wireless appliance are provided. The antenna includes a conducting surface having a length and a width; a dielectric slit having a slit length portion oriented along either the length or the width, the slit forming two lips on the conducting surface; the slit having an opening on one of the length and the width, the opening having a flare size; a feed-point element connecting the two lips; wherein the dimensions of the length, the width, the slit length portion, and the flare size are smaller than an effective propagation wavelength of the RF radiation in the antenna. An antenna including a conducting surface having a conductive plate with a plate area defined by a plate perimeter overlaying a portion of a conducting surface is also provided. A method to provide an antenna as above is also disclosed.