METHOD FOR DETERMINING THE POSITION OF AN OBJECT, DEVICE FOR DETERMINING THE POSITION OF AN OBJECT, AND SYSTEM

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for determining a position of an object, which comprises at least one non-linear component, in particular one semiconductor component, which, when irradiated with high-frequency transmitted signals from at least two different positions, produces and emits object signals having twice and/or three times the frequency of the respective transmitted signals.

Claims

1.-19. (canceled)

20. A method for determining a position of an object, which comprises at least one non-linear component, in particular one semiconductor component, which, when irradiated with high-frequency transmitted signals from at least two different positions, produces and emits object signals having twice and/or three times the frequency of the respective transmitted signals.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the method comprises the following steps: determining the angle of incidence having a maximum backscatter power of each transmitted signal, and determining a position of the object by triangulation on the basis of the angle of incidence having the maximum backscatter power of each transmitted signal and on the basis of the positions from which the transmitted signals were emitted.

22. The method according to claim 20, wherein the method comprises the following steps: irradiating the object with at least two transmitted signals emitted from different positions by means of at least one transmitting device; receiving the object signals emitted by the non-linear components having twice and/or three times the frequency of the transmitted signals by means of at least one receiving device; determining a backscatter power of the object signals taking into account an angle of incidence of the transmitted signals.

23. The method according to claim 21, wherein the backscatter power of the object signals is integrated with angular resolution over the entire frequency range of the object signals to detect the angle of incidence having the maximum backscatter power.

24. The method according to claim 21, wherein on the basis of a shape of the antenna lobes, in particular an opening angle of the main lobes, of the transmitting and/or receiving devices, and on the basis of the angle of incidence having the maximum backscatter power a position of maximum distance and a position of minimum distance are determined.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein the position of the object is determined from the position of maximum distance and the position of minimum distance.

26. The method according to claim 22, wherein the angle of incidence of each transmitted signal is set by mechanically and/or electronically pivoting the antenna lobes of the transmitting devices.

27. The method according to claim 20, wherein each transmitted signal is emitted from one single transmitting device, and is received by one single receiving device, the transmitting device in a first position emitting transmitted signals and the receiving device receiving object signals and subsequently, preferably by moving under its own power or by transport, re-emitting transmitted signals and receiving object signals in further positions.

28. The method according to claim 20, wherein each transmitted signal is emitted from a different transmitting device, which are arranged in each case in different positions, and the respective object signal is received in each case by a receiving device assigned to the respective transmitting devices.

29. A device for determining a position of an object, which comprises at least one non-linear component, in particular one semiconductor component, which, when irradiated with high-frequency transmitted signals from at least two different positions, produces and emits object signals having twice and/or three times the frequency of the respective transmitted signals.

30. The device according to claim 29, wherein the device has a circuit device which is configured to measure the angle of incidence having the maximum backscatter power of each transmitted signal, and to determine a position of the object by triangulation on the basis of the angle of incidence having the maximum backscatter power of each transmitted signal and on the basis of the positions.

31. The device according to claim 29, wherein the device further comprises: at least one transmitting device to produce at least two transmitted signals emitted from different positions; at least one receiving device for receiving object signals, the frequency of which corresponds to two and/or three times the frequency of the respective transmitted signals; wherein the at least one transmitting device and the at least one receiving are operationally connected to the circuit device, which is configured to determine the backscatter power of the object signals taking into account an angle of incidence of the transmitted signals.

32. The device according to claim 30, wherein the circuit device is configured to integrate the backscatter power of the object signals with angular resolution over the entire frequency range of the object signals.

33. The device according to claim 30, wherein the circuit device is configured on the basis of a shape of the antenna lobes, in particular an opening angle of the main lobes, of the transmitting and/or receiving devices, and on the basis of the angle of incidence having the maximum backscatter power to determine a position of maximum distance and a position of minimum distance.

34. The device according to claim 30, wherein the circuit device is configured to determine the position of the object from the position of maximum distance and the position of minimum distance.

35. The device according to claim 31, wherein the angle of incidence of each transmitted signal can be set by mechanically and/or electronically pivoting the antenna lobes of the transmitting devices.

36. The device according to claim 30, wherein the device comprises one single transmitting device for the emission of each transmitted signal, and one single receiving device for receiving each received signal, the device being configured to emit transmitted signals, preferably by moving under its own power or by transport, by means of the transmitting device in a first position and to receive object signals by means of the receiving device, and subsequently to re-transmit transmitted signals by means of the transmitting device and to receive object signals in further positions.

37. The device according to claim 31, wherein the device comprises at least two transmitting devices to emit transmitted signals in different positions are arranged, and wherein a receiving device is assigned to each transmitting device to receive the respective object signal.

38. The device, in particular vehicle, trailer, or container, comprising a device according to claim 30.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0045] The invention is to be explained below by way of example based on embodiments with reference to the drawings.

[0046] In the drawings:

[0047] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a device according to the invention in accordance with one embodiment;

[0048] FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a transmitting and receiving device;

[0049] FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of the device according to the invention in accordance with the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

[0050] FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of a device according to the invention in accordance with a further embodiment;

[0051] FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of the device according to the invention in accordance with the embodiment shown in FIG. 4;

[0052] FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of a device according to the invention in accordance with one embodiment; and

[0053] FIG. 7 is a schematic representation of the device according to the invention in accordance with the embodiment shown in FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0054] FIG. 1 shows a device 1 according to the invention for determining a position of an object 2. The object 2 comprises at least one non-linear component 3. The non-linear component 3 preferably has a semiconductor component. When irradiated with high-frequency transmitted signals 41, 42, 4n by means of the device, object signals 51, 52, 5n having twice and/or three times the frequency of the respective transmitted signal 41, 42, 4n are produced and re-emitted.

[0055] As shown in FIG. 1, the device 1 comprises at least two transmitting devices 61, 62, 6n to produce at least two transmitted signals 41, 42, 4n emitted from different positions P1, P2, Pn. According to FIG. 1, a plurality of transmitting devices 61, 62, 6n are formed for this purpose, which are arranged in different positions P1, P2, Pn.

[0056] Furthermore, the device 1 comprises a plurality of receiving devices 121, 122, 12n for receiving object signals 51, 52, 5n, the frequency of which corresponds to two and/or three times the frequency of the respective transmitted signals 41, 42, 4n.

[0057] It can also be provided that the transmitting devices 61, 62, 6n and the receiving devices 121, 122, 12n are combined in each case to a transmitting and receiving device 61, 121; 62, 122; 6n, 12n.

[0058] The device thus has at least two transmitting devices 61, 62, 6n for emitting transmitted signals 41, 42, 4n, which are each arranged in different positions P1, P2, Pn. Each transmitting device P1, P2, Pn is assigned a receiving device 121, 122, 123 for receiving the respective object signal 51, 52, 5n, i.e. they are positioned identically or substantially identically.

[0059] In addition, the device 1 comprises a circuit device 10 to which the transmitting devices 61, 62, 6n and the receiving devices 121, 122, 12n are operationally connected. The circuit device 10 is configured to determine the backscatter power of the object signals 51, 52, 5n received by the receiving devices taking into account the angle of incidence α1, α2, αn of the transmitted signals 41, 42, 4n.

[0060] The angle of incidence α1, α2, αn of each transmitted signal 41, 42, 4n can be set by mechanically and/or electronically pivoting the antenna lobes 71, 72, 7n of the transmitting devices 61, 62, 6n. The circuit device 10 is also configured to determine the angle of incidence having the maximum backscatter power α1max, α2max, αnmax of each transmitted signal 41, 42, 4n. For this purpose, the circuit device 10 is configured to integrate the backscatter power of the object signals 51, 52, 5n with angular resolution over the entire frequency range of the object signals 51, 52, 5n. These backscatter powers are detected and compared for each angle of incidence of a transmitting device 61, 62, 6n. The angle of incidence α1, α2, αn for which the greatest backscatter power is detected is the angle of incidence having the maximum backscatter power α1max, α2max, αnmax of each transmitted signal 41, 42, 4n.

[0061] Furthermore, the circuit device 10 is configured to determine a position Pobj of the object 2 by triangulation on the basis of the angle of incidence having the maximum backscatter power α1max, α2max, αnmax of each transmitted signal and on the basis of the positions P1, P2, P3. A more detailed description of the position determination by means of the circuit device 10 by triangulation is given below with reference to FIG. 3.

[0062] FIG. 2 shows a transmitting device 61, 62, 6n or receiving device 121, 122, 12n according to the present invention. FIG. 2 shows the transmission characteristics of the transmitting device 61, 62, 6n and the receiving device 121, 122, 12n. FIG. 2 shows the shape of the main lobe of the respective antenna lobes 71, 72, 7n and the opening angles β1, β2, β3 of the main lobe marked accordingly.

[0063] FIG. 3 schematically shows the device according to FIG. 1. Two transmitting devices 61, 62, 6n and two receiving devices 121, 122, 123 are shown in this case by way of example for purposes of illustration. Each transmitted signal 41, 42, 4n is emitted from a different transmitting device 61, 62, 6n, which are arranged in each case in different positions P1, P2, Pn, and the respective object signal 51, 52, 5n is received in each case by a receiving device 121, 122, 12n assigned to the respective transmitting devices 61, 62, 6n.

[0064] As shown in FIG. 3, the entire pivoting range of the antenna lobes 71, 72, 7n is shown, through which range the respective angle of incidence α1, α2, αn can pass when pivoting.

[0065] The method for determining a position of the object is described below on the basis of its method steps according to FIG. 3. As can be seen in FIG. 3, irradiating the object 2 with at least two transmitted signals 41, 42, 4n emitted from different positions P1, P2, Pn by means of the transmitting devices 61, 62, 6n takes place. Subsequently, the object signals 51, 52, 5n emitted by the non-linear components 3 having twice and/or three times the frequency of the transmitted signals 41, 42, 4n are received by means of at least one receiving device 121, 122, 12n. Thereafter, the backscatter power of the object signals 51, 52, 5n is determined taking into account the angle of incidence α1, α2, αn of the transmitted signals 41, 42, 4n. For this purpose, the backscatter power of the object signals 51, 52, 5n is integrated with angular resolution over the entire frequency range of the object signals 51, 52, 5n to detect the maximum backscatter power. This process is repeated until a predefined pivoting range or the entire pivoting range has been passed through. For this purpose, the angle of incidence α1, α2, αn of each transmitted signal 41, 42, 4n can be set by mechanically and/or electronically pivoting the antenna lobes 71, 72, 7n of the transmitting devices 61, 62, 6n and runs through the pivoting range. The corresponding backscatter powers are stored with angular resolution. Then, the angle of incidence having the maximum backscatter power α1max, α2max, αnmax of each transmitted signal 41, 42, 4n is determined. Finally, the position Pobj of the object 2 is determined by triangulation on the basis of the angle of incidence having the maximum backscatter power α1max, α2max, αnmax of each transmitted signal 41, 42, 4n and on the basis of the positions P1, P2, Pn from which the transmitted signals 41, 42, 4n were emitted. The positions P1, P2, Pn from which the transmitted signals 41, 42, 4n were emitted are stored in the circuit device 10 for this purpose.

[0066] As can be seen in FIG. 3, for each angle of incidence having the maximum backscatter power α1max, α2max, αnmax, there is therefore a specific measurement tolerance, which is defined by the shape of the antenna lobes 71, 72, 7n, in particular the opening angles β1, β2, βn of the main lobes. This measurement tolerance is taken into account accordingly in the method shown in FIG. 3. For two transmitting devices 61, 62, 6n, this results in two angles of incidence having the maximum backscatter power α1max, α2max, αnmax. Two angular ranges are assigned as a tolerance to these angles of incidence having the maximum backscatter power α1max, α2max, αnmax. In the case of FIG. 3, these are the opening angles β1, β2, βn of the main lobes. In FIG. 3, these are highlighted by dotted lines. As can be seen from FIG. 3, these intersect and intersection points result which define the region in which the object 2 is located. These intersection points define a position of maximum distance Pobj,max and a position of minimum distance Pobj,min. A position Pobj of the object 2 is then detected from these positions, for example by averaging.

[0067] The device 1 is designed to implement the method described above accordingly. The circuit device 10 is configured, on the basis of this shape of the antenna lobes 71, 72, 7N, of the transmitting and/or receiving devices 61, 62, 6n; 121, 122, 12n, and on the basis of the angle of incidence having the maximum backscatter power α1max, α2max, αnmax to determine the position of maximum distance Pobj,max and the position of minimum distance Pobj,min. The opening angles β1, β2, β3 of the main lobes are used in particular. Furthermore, the circuit device 10 is configured to determine the position Pobj of the object 2 from the position of maximum distance Pobj,max and the position of minimum distance Pobj,min. In one embodiment, the transmitting and/or receiving device can be arranged on a system, in particular a vehicle, a trailer, or a container, and can be transported into different positions.

[0068] FIG. 4 shows a device according to the invention in accordance with a further embodiment which substantially corresponds to the embodiment according to FIG. 1, the differences to the embodiment according to FIG. 1 being explained below. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the transmitting devices 61, 62, 6n and the receiving devices 121, 122, 12n are combined in an array 8. In this case, the individual antennas of the array 8 or subarrays from a plurality of antennas form the transmitting devices 61, 62, 6n and the receiving devices 121, 122, 123. The different positions P1, P2, Pn of the transmitting devices 61, 62, 6n which are designed to emit the transmitted signals 41, 42, 4n and of the receiving devices 121, 122, 12n which are designed to receive the respective object signal are correspondingly predetermined and known on the basis of the predetermined positions of the individual antennas or the subarrays in the array 8.

[0069] FIG. 5 shows the device 1 according to the embodiment described in FIG. 4. The implementation of the method substantially corresponds to the implementation described in FIG. 3.

[0070] FIG. 6 shows a device 1 according to the invention in accordance with a further embodiment. The embodiment corresponds substantially to the embodiment according to FIG. 1, the differences of the embodiment according to FIG. 6 embodiment being explained below.

[0071] The device 1 shown in FIG. 6 has only one single transmitting device 61. This one transmitting device 61 is used for the emission of each transmitted signal 41, 42, 4n. Furthermore, the device has only one single receiving device 121 for receiving each received signal. The device 1 is configured so that the transmitting device 61 and the receiving device 121 emits transmitted signals 41, 42, 4n and receives object signals 51, 52, 5n in a first position P1. It is then provided that the device 1 in a further position P2, Pn re-emits transmitted signals 41, 42, 4n and receives object signals 51, 52, 5n.

[0072] FIG. 7 shows the device 1 according to the embodiment described in FIG. 6. The implementation of the method substantially corresponds to the implementation described in FIG. 3, with the difference that only one single transmitting device 61 is provided, which is repositioned before the transmitted signals are repeatedly emitted. Every transmitted signal 41, 42, 4n is emitted from one single transmitting device 61 and is received by one single receiving device 121. The transmitting device 61 and the receiving device 121 emit a transmitted signal 41, 42, 4n in the first position P1 and receive the object signals 51, 52, 5n. Thereafter, signals are re-emitted and received in further positions P2, Pn.

[0073] If reference was made above to transmitting devices and receiving devices, these can also be designed accordingly as transmitting and receiving devices.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0074] 1 Device

[0075] 2 Object

[0076] 3 Non-linear component

[0077] 51, 52, 5n Transmitted signals

[0078] 51, 52, 5n Object signals

[0079] 61, 62, 6n Transmitting devices

[0080] 71, 72, 7n Antenna lobe

[0081] 8 Array

[0082] 10 Circuit device

[0083] 121, 122, 123 Receiving devices

[0084] P1, P2, Pn Positions

[0085] Pobj Position of the object

[0086] α1, α2, αn Angle of incidence

[0087] α1max, α2max, αnmax Angle of incidence having maximum backscatter power

[0088] β1, β2, βn Opening angle