A reader includes a first antenna, a second antenna spaced apart from the first antenna, an RFID reader circuit, and a processor. The first antenna and the second antenna are connected to the RFID reader circuit. The first antenna is configured to receive a first signal from an RFID tag. The second antenna is configured to receive a second signal from the RFID tag. The processor controls the RFID reader circuit to determine a first value of a signal parameter associated with the RFID tag based on the first signal and a second value of the signal parameter associated with the RFID tag based on the second signal, receives, from the RFID reader circuit, the first value and the second value, and determines, based on the first value and the second value, whether the RFID tag is located between the first antenna and the second antenna.

The present invention relates to a portable device (1) for providing a user with audio information about spatially distributed objects (50), comprises: a bone conduction generator having an electromechanical transducer to convert electrical signals to mechanical vibrations, an identification receiver (24) configured to receive an identification identifying one of the objects, and a controller (25) connected to the bone conduction generator and to the identification receiver (24), wherein the controller (25) is configured to obtain the identification received by the identification receiver (24) and to provide electrical signals to the bone conduction generator such that the bone conduction generator provides mechanical vibrations to generate sound waves representing the audio information about the one of the objects (59) identified by the obtained identification signal. The present invention also relates to a system for providing a user with audio information about spatially distributed objects (50), comprising at least one portable device as described above, and a plurality of identifiers each configured to be associated to one of the objects (50) and to send an identification signal identifying the one of the objects.

Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology exploits modulated coded impulses over a wide frequency spectrum with very low power over a short distance for digital data transmission. Such UWB systems through their receivers may operate in the presence of interfering signals and should provide for robust communications. Accordingly, an accurate and sharp filter that operates at low power is required and beneficially one that does not require a highly accurate power heavy clock. Further, many UWB applications require location and/or range finding of other elements and it would therefore be beneficial to provide a UWB based range finding and/or location capability removing the requirement to add additional device complexity and, typically significant, power consumption.

High-accuracy locating systems and methods are used for determining successful caregiver rounding, monitoring whether housekeepers have properly cleaned patient beds, or determining whether patients have ambulated sufficient distances during recovery. Patient beds having at least two locating tags are used for establishing patient care zones around the patient beds. Locating anchors and equipment tags are moved around a patient room to determine optimum locating anchor placement within the patient room based on signal quality values. A locating tag on a patient bed switches roles to operate as a locating anchor in response to the patient bed becoming stationary. A locating tag has a digital compass which is used to determine a field of good ranging relative to a front of a caregiver wearing the locating tag.

Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology exploits modulated coded impulses over a wide frequency spectrum with very low power over a short distance for digital data transmission. Such UWB systems through their receivers may operate in the presence of interfering signals and should provide for robust communications. Accordingly, an accurate and sharp filter that operates at low power is required and beneficially one that does not require a highly accurate power heavy clock. Further, many UWB applications require location and/or range finding of other elements and it would therefore be beneficial to provide a UWB based range finding and/or location capability removing the requirement to add additional device complexity and, typically significant, power consumption.

Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology exploits modulated coded impulses over a wide frequency spectrum with very low power over a short distance for digital data transmission. Such UWB systems through their receivers may operate in the presence of interfering signals and should provide for robust communications. Accordingly, an accurate and sharp filter that operates at low power is required and beneficially one that does not require a highly accurate power heavy clock. Further, many UWB applications require location and/or range finding of other elements and it would therefore be beneficial to provide a UWB based range finding and/or location capability removing the requirement to add additional device complexity and, typically significant, power consumption.

A mobile device can wirelessly connect, using transceivers, to a medical item and a wristband worn by a user. The mobile device includes a software application enabling a user to input distance thresholds. The wristband can also include a software application enabling a user to input distance thresholds. Both the mobile device application and the wristband application can monitor signals between the medical item and wristband. In another system, a medical item distance alert system can include a plurality of medical items. In another system, a mobile device is not in communication with the wristband or medical items. The wristband software application can monitor signals between medical items and provide alerts in the absence of another mobile device. Preferably, ultra-wideband (UWB) and Bluetooth transceivers can be implemented to provide accurate distance estimates with low power usage.

A passive smart tag attached for recognition of a part may include an antenna configured to receive electromagnetic wave from a reader; a no power circuit connected to the antenna and configured to amplify driving power generated by an electromagnetic induction phenomenon when the electromagnetic wave is received from the antenna; a radio frequency identification circuit connected to the no power circuit and configured to read tag identification information related to the smart tag stored in a memory according to the driving power to transmit the tag identification information to the reader; and an ultra-wideband circuit connected to the no power circuit and configured to generate an ultra-wideband signal used for recognition of a tag position in a response to the driving power to transmit the ultra-wideband signal to the reader.

The present disclosure relates an evacuation management system, EMS, (40, 52, 60, 00, 200) operative to provide real-time evacuation information for evacuation of a building, triggered by alarm notification (S202). Based on determined (S214) precise real-time positions of personal ultra-wide band, UWB, devices, as determined by UWB real-time localization system, RTLS, a controller determines (S210) evacuation plans being personal UWB device specific in real-time. Based on individual evacuation plans and input from building facilities, real-time guidance information is defined (S208) and sent to each personal UWB device, providing guidance to person carrying said personal UWB device, in what direction to move (S212), to reach a safe area. Based on localization signals the UWB RTLSA then calculates updated positions of the personal UWB devices and sends to the evacuation management system. It is an advantage that trapped or injured people can be found, even in low visibility areas.

The disclosure relates to distance determining apparatus for determining a distance between an anchor and a tag. The apparatus is configured to select a first frame type or a second frame type for a message that is to be transmitted, to optimize an energy of the first frame type for a secure preamble detection, and to optimize an energy of the second frame type for a data transmission.