Abstract:
A wireless bidirectional communication system and method for tracking smart tags affixed to assets located within a defined area. Asset tracking is provided by a central processor operated by a user. The central processor combined with communication modules communicates with the system tags for deriving corresponding assets' locations. Communication is synchronized by way of broadcasting a clock generator signal over the communication link. The broadcasted clock signal is further used by the system for generating distinct time slots assigned to a tag by demand. Synchronizing the communication between the tags and the central processor is beneficial for maintaining reliable and short messages across the data link and maintaining low power draw from the tag battery.
Abstract:
A coded system for radio-frequency communication (RFC); the system comprising at least one base station (20) and a plurality of mobile devices (10); the base station and mobile devices are individually provided with running time information synchronized inter se; the mobile device is adapted for transmitting an identifying signal to the base station device; the base station is adapted for receiving the signal; wherein the signal further comprises a preamble including a running-time-dependent code generated according to a predetermined algorithm (220); the base station is adapted for comparing the code with a reference code generated by the base station according to the algorithm (260), authorizing the RFC in response to coincidence of the running-time-dependent codes generated by the base station and the mobile (270).
Abstract:
Apparatus for tracking an object (12A, 12B, 12C) including radiator modules (16A, 16B, 16C), disposed in an array of known locations adjoining a region (13) in which the object moves; each module includes at least one emitter (44, 46, 48) which emits a respective color selected from among a first plurality of colors. The apparatus includes a controller (32), which drives the at least one emitter to emit during a respective time slot, selected from among a second plurality of time slots during which the modules may emit. The apparatus also includes a location unit (22), fixed to the object and including at least one camera (72), which captures a sequence of electronic images containing some of the locations of the modules. The apparatus further includes a processing unit (26), which processes the electronic images to determine, responsively to the colors emitted by the modules and the time slots in which the colors are emitted, a location of the object.
Abstract:
A method for identifying objects including fixing tags (24) to respective objects (22), each such tag comprising at least one optical emitter (44, 46, 48). The at least one optical emitter on each of the tags is driven to emit optical radiation of a respective color, selected from among a first plurality of colors emittable by the tags, during a respective time slot, selected from among a second plurality of time slots during which the tags may emit the optical radiation. A camera (28) captures sequence of electronic images of an area containing the objects to which the tags are fixed. The electronic images in the sequence are processed in order to identify, responsively to the colors of the optical radiation emitted by the tags and the time slots in which the optical radiation is emitted, the objects to which the tags are fixed.
Abstract:
A method of multiplexing optical signals in a node of an optical network including as inputs a plurality of electrical signals, a plurality of laser transmitter (201a, 201b, ...201n), and as outputs a plurality of optical fibers, (a) generating clock pulses as a first clock frequency; (b) dividing the clock pulses (209) respectively into a number of parallel trigger outputs; (c) sampling the electrical signals respectively by triggering on the parallel trigger outputs; (d) converting the sampled electrical signals to sampled optical signals by modulating respectively the laser transmitters with the sampled electrical signals and outputting respectively the sampled optical signals on the optical fibers; (e) combining the sampled optical signals (211) onto a single optical fiber.