Honeywell International Inc.

Symbol Technologies, LLC

Toan X Vu

Hoai Xuan Vu

Tom D Judd

Ron Fang

Bruce Graham

Joseph M Katz

David P Goren

Robert W Levi

A system and method for measuring linear and angular displacement of a moving object, such as an autonomous moving object. In one embodiment, the system comprises at least one optical mouse sensor mounted adjacent to and at a predetermined distance from a surface of the autonomous moving object or a working surface. A processor on the autonomous moving object is operatively coupled to the optical mouse sensor. The optical mouse sensor outputs linear and angular displacement values to the processor during movement of the autonomous moving object to determine a direction and distance traveled by the autonomous moving object.

System and method for linear and angular measurements of a moving object

A magnetic compass comprising a magnetometer for taking readings of a magnetic field and a processing unit that calibrates the magnetic compass is provided. The processing unit is configured to validate a predetermined number of magnetic field samples and calculate calibration coefficients from the validated magnetic field samples. Each validated magnetic field sample is at least a minimum separation angle apart from every other validated magnetic field sample.

Automatic data collection algorithm for 3D magnetic field calibration with reduced memory requirements

A method of providing position estimation with a navigation device comprises periodically recording magnetic field strength of an area substantially surrounding a navigation device as a user of the navigation device traverses a select pathway. The method combines the recorded magnetic field strength with measurements from at least a dead reckoning portion of the navigation device to provide position estimates along the select pathway. The method further corrects each of the position estimates from a starting position on the select pathway, where each of the corrected position estimates have an error value below one or more previous position estimates and any intervening positions between each of the one or more previous position estimates and the starting position, with the error value corresponding to an error threshold based on the previous position estimates.

Position estimation for navigation devices

Systems and methods for determining a directional movement of an object such as a wheeled vehicle. The system includes a magnet having a north pole and a south pole mounted to the object, a single magnetic sensor positioned such that the sensor can individually detect each magnetic pole as the object moves, the sensor configured to produce a first characteristic signal when a north pole is detected and a second characteristic signal when a south pole is detected, and a processing device in signal communication with the sensor, the processing device configured to determine a directional movement of the object based on a configuration of a signal doublet that includes the first and second characteristic signals. The methods include sensing the north and south poles as they pass the magnetic sensor and determining a direction based on an order in which the north and south poles are sensed.

Magnetic odometer with direction indicator systems and method

The invention relates to a device, system, and method for providing a multi-mode navigation device. In a first mode of operation, the navigation device provides position information based on a radio frequency navigation signals. If radio signals become unavailable, the navigation device enters a second mode of operation. In the second mode of operation the navigation device stores the most recent elevation and associates it with a reference elevation, the reference elevation is associated with an entry floor. The difference between a current elevation and the reference elevation is determined and this difference is divided by a floor height to obtain a floor number. The navigation device provides the floor number while reliable global position information is unavailable.

Barometric floor level indicator

A differential ring oscillator is provided with three differential amplifiers and provides three-phase output signals which can be used for synchronous detection of a received multi-phase modulated signal in a multi-phase receiver, wherein the phase of the local oscillator signals may be in other-than-quadrature relation. Two of the phase outputs of the local oscillator can be combined to provide a signal that is in quadrature with the remaining output. The oscillator is preferably controlled in coarse frequency control steps and using a fine voltage control signal responsive to a phase-locked loop to reduce frequency modulation of the oscillator signal arising out of leakage signals.

Multiphase receiver and oscillator

An integrated scanner/radio includes a bar code reader and an RF transceiver integrated on a semiconductor substrate. The bar code reader includes a light source, a scanner for directing light from the light source across a bar code symbol, and a detector for detecting the light reflected from the bar code symbol and creating an electrical signal representative of the detected light. The RF transceiver includes an antenna for transmitting and receiving modulated RF carrier signals.

Integrated bar code reader and RF transceiver

A transceiver having a transmitter section and a receiver section. The transmitter section includes a modulator to superimpose information, i.e., data, onto the amplitude of a suitable carrier signal, such as a microwave frequency carrier signal. The receiver section receives data carried by the carrier frequency signal and, in a heterodyning system, downconverts the received signal to a suitable intermediate frequency signal. The modulator and the downconverter are formed on a single semiconductor body, or chip of silicon. The receiver section is adapted to receive signals over a predetermined overall bandwith having frequencies within a plurality of frequency channels, each one of the channels having a predetermined channel bandwidth; and, a sampler for sampling such received signals at a sampling frequency less twice the predetermined bandwidth. The sampling frequency is selected to convert the carrier frequency of a signal within a selected one of the frequency channels to a frequency within a predetermined intermediate frequency and to convert the carrier frequencies of signals of the un-selected one of the frequency channels to frequencies above other than the predetermined intermediate frequency. The downconverted signals are converted into corresponding digital signals. A demodulator includes a Hilbert-Transform-pair filter section. The receiver includes: a first automatic gain control circuit (AGC) and is responsive to an output of the digital signal processor, for adjusting the gain of the AGC circuit in accordance with the output of the digital signal processor; and, a second AGC circuit fed by the digital signals and the output of the digital signal processor, for adjusting the gain of the magnitude of the digital signals in accordance with the output of the digital signal processor.

Radio frequency transceiver and subassemblies thereof

The receiver for receiving data carried by the carrier frequency signal and, in a heterodyning system, for downconverting the received signal to a suitable intermediate frequency signal. The modulator and the downconverter are formed on a single semiconductor body, or chip of silicon. The receiver section is adapted to receive, over a predetermined overall bandwidth, signals having carrier frequencies within a plurality of frequency channels, each one of the channels having a predetermined channel bandwidth. The downconverted signals are converted into corresponding digital signals. A demodulator includes a pair of filters having Hilbert-Transform relationship with respect to each other. The receiver includes: a first automatic gain control circuit (AGC) which is responsive to an output of the digital signal processor, for adjusting the gain of the AGC circuit in accordance with the output of the digital signal processor; and, a second AGC circuit fed by the digital signals and the output of the digital signal processor, for adjusting the gain of the magnitude of the digital signals in accordance with the output of the digital signal processor.

Radio frequency receiver with automatic gain control

An oscillator is provided having a plurality of cascade coupled inverters Each one of the inverters is a differential amplifier having a p-input and an n-input. The output of each one of the amplifiers is connected to: the n-input of the next succeeding amplifier to provide a closed loop, or ring oscillator; and, the p-input of an amplifier positioned an even number of amplifier stages forward of such next succeeding amplifier. In a preferred embodiment, each amplifier in the ring includes an n channel transistor (nMOS transistor) connected in a totem pole arrangement, to a p channel transistor (pMOS transistor). The gate of the nMOS transistor provides the n-input and gate of the pMOS transistor provides the p-input. The source and drain paths of the pMOS and nMOS transistors are connected together to provide an output for the amplifier. With such arrangement, because the gate of the more slowly responding pMOS transistor is driven before the gate of the nMOS transistor the oscillator is adapted to operate at a higher frequency of oscillation.

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Fountain Valley, CA, United States of America

Toan X Vu