Patent ID: 6133875
Filing Date: 2000-10-17
Classification: G01S,H01Q

Abstract:
A position determining apparatus comprising:a transmitter having a transmission antenna for transmitting an electromagnetic wave pulse generated by a short pulse signal;a receiver having a plurality of receiving antennas for receiving the electromagnetic wave pulse, the plurality of receiving antennas being positioned along a circular path;a cable for carrying the short pulse signal from said transmitter to said receiver; anda distance detector for determining the relative positions of the transmitter and the receiver based on the delay time between the short pulse signal received over said cable and the electromagnetic wave pulse received by each of the receiving antennas,wherein the transmitter and the receiver are separated by a solid body, and the transmission antenna is located on a line orthogonal to a plane containing the plurality of receiving antennas, andwherein the transmitter includes:a pulse generator for generating the short pulse signal; anda delay circuit for delaying the short pulse signal by a time equal to the time required for the short pulse signal to propagate through said cable, the short pulse signal delayed by said delay circuit being supplied to the transmission antenna.