Patent ID: 8624774

Claim:
A method of locating an object sought, by means of electromagnetic signals exchanged between a search device incorporated in a portable apparatus and a target device attached to the object, wherein the search device includes a transceiver associated with a pair of antennae that are spaced apart from each other, a display means, and an electronic means for managing the transceiver and the display means, wherein the target device includes a transceiver associated with an antenna and with an electronic means capable of detecting the reception of signals originating from the search device, wherein the signals are UWB signals, and wherein the method includes a locating phase including at least one locating sequence, wherein the locating sequence includes the steps of a) emitting two respective locating signals across the two antennae of the search device, wherein he search device emits the two locating signal; b) measuring a time difference between reception of the two locating signals, wherein the target device receives the two locating signals and measures a time difference between reception of the two signals; c) encoding and emitting a return signal containing an indication relating to the time difference, wherein the target device encodes and emits the return signal; d) receiving and decoding the return signal at least across one of the two antennae of the search device, wherein the search device receives and decodes the return signal; e) measuring at least a total time between the emission of one of the two locating signals and reception of the return signal by one of the two antennae of the search device and calculating both travel times, of the two locating signals, between, respectively, the two antennae of the search device and the antenna of the target device on the basis of the total time, the time difference, and a processing time between one or the other reception of the two locating signals by the target device and the emission of the return signal by the target device; f) calculating at least a direction or two possible directions of the object by triangulation, based on the two travel times and the space between the two antennae of the search device; and g) displaying at least the direction or the two possible directions of the object.