Patent ID: 8749433
Filing Date: 2014-06-10
Classification: G01S

Abstract:
1. A position tracking system comprising: a transmitter constructed and arranged to emit an electromagnetic signal; an array of at least three receiver antennae, each of the at least three receiver antennae being disposed at a known three-dimensional position and constructed and arranged to receive the electromagnetic signal emitted from the transmitter; a single receiver channel disposed in electrical communication with each of the at least three receiver antennae, the single receiver channel constructed and arranged to multiplex among the at least three receiver antennae in order to receive the electromagnetic signal from each of the at least three receiver antennae, the single receiver channel further including oscillator circuitry constructed and arranged to provide a reference signal and phase comparator circuitry constructed and arranged to compare timing differences between the electromagnetic signal received at each of the at least three receiver antennae and the reference signal provided by the oscillator circuitry of the receiver channel; and a data processing component disposed in electrical communication with the single receiver channel to receive the timing differences, the data processing component constructed and arranged to calculate a position of the transmitter using the timing differences and the known three-dimensional position of each of the at least three receiver antennae.