WO2018200950A1 - Appareil de surveillance et procédé associé - Google Patents

Appareil de surveillance et procédé associé Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2018200950A1
WO2018200950A1 PCT/US2018/029788 US2018029788W WO2018200950A1 WO 2018200950 A1 WO2018200950 A1 WO 2018200950A1 US 2018029788 W US2018029788 W US 2018029788W WO 2018200950 A1 WO2018200950 A1 WO 2018200950A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
signal
operational
operational device
monitoring
time
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2018/029788
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Ji-De Huang
Tung-Yu Chen
Chun-Kuang Chen
Original Assignee
Gooee Limited
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from TW106114265A external-priority patent/TWI682189B/zh
Priority claimed from US15/672,704 external-priority patent/US20180048554A1/en
Application filed by Gooee Limited filed Critical Gooee Limited
Priority to EP18791677.0A priority Critical patent/EP3616099A1/fr
Publication of WO2018200950A1 publication Critical patent/WO2018200950A1/fr

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F11/00—Error detection; Error correction; Monitoring
    • G06F11/30—Monitoring
    • G06F11/3003—Monitoring arrangements specially adapted to the computing system or computing system component being monitored
    • G06F11/3006—Monitoring arrangements specially adapted to the computing system or computing system component being monitored where the computing system is distributed, e.g. networked systems, clusters, multiprocessor systems
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F11/00—Error detection; Error correction; Monitoring
    • G06F11/30—Monitoring
    • G06F11/3055—Monitoring arrangements for monitoring the status of the computing system or of the computing system component, e.g. monitoring if the computing system is on, off, available, not available
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F11/00—Error detection; Error correction; Monitoring
    • G06F11/30—Monitoring
    • G06F11/3058—Monitoring arrangements for monitoring environmental properties or parameters of the computing system or of the computing system component, e.g. monitoring of power, currents, temperature, humidity, position, vibrations
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F2201/00—Indexing scheme relating to error detection, to error correction, and to monitoring
    • G06F2201/835—Timestamp
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F2201/00—Indexing scheme relating to error detection, to error correction, and to monitoring
    • G06F2201/86—Event-based monitoring

Definitions

  • the Internet of things is a concept of interconnection among physical devices, vehicles, buildings, and other items. IoT is expected to offer advanced connectivity of devices, systems, and services that goes beyond machine-to-machine (M2M) communications and covers a variety of protocols, domains, and applications. The interconnection of these devices is expected to in nearly all fields, while also enabling advanced applications like a smart grid, and expanding to areas such as smart cities.
  • M2M machine-to-machine
  • the technology of Mesh Network is wildly used in IOT application. However, this technology has drawbacks of limited node number, communication range, and data rate.
  • FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a mesh network system in accordance with some embodiments.
  • FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a time synchronization between two monitoring devices in accordance with some embodiments.
  • FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of transmitting an instruction signal in the mesh network system in accordance with some embodiments.
  • FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of transmitting an instruction signal in the mesh network system in accordance with some embodiments.
  • FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a monitoring device in accordance with some embodiments.
  • FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating two monitoring devices in accordance with some embodiments.
  • FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a monitoring method in accordance with some embodiment.
  • FIG. 8A is a schematic view illustrating a coordinate sensing device according to one embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 8B is a schematic view illustrating the use of a coordinate sensing device of the present invention to output a coordinate of an object according to one embodiment.
  • FIG. 8C is a schematic view illustrating the use of a coordinate sensing device of the present invention to output a coordinate of an object according to another embodiment.
  • FIG. 8D is a schematic view illustrating the use of a coordinate sensing device of the present invention to output a coordinate of an object according to another embodiment.
  • FIG. 8E is a schematic view illustrating the use of a coordinate sensing device of the present invention to output a coordinate of an object according to another embodiment.
  • FIG. 8F is a top view illustrating the use of a coordinate sensing device of the present invention to scan an object according to another embodiment.
  • FIG. 8G is an oscillogram of a receiving signal generated by a present receiver according to one embodiment.
  • FIG. 8H is a top view illustrating the use of a coordinate sensing device of the present invention to scan an object according to another embodiment.
  • FIG. 81 is an oscillogram of a receiving signal generated by a present receiver according to another embodiment.
  • FIG. 8J is a top view illustrating the use of a coordinate sensing device of the present invention to output a three-dimensional coordinate of an object according to one embodiment.
  • FIG. 8K is a top view illustrating the use of a coordinate sensing device of the present invention to scan an object according to another embodiment.
  • FIG. 9A is a schematic view illustrating a coordinate sensing device according to one embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 9B is a schematic view illustrating the use of a coordinate sensing device of the present invention to output a coordinate of an object according to one embodiment.
  • FIG. 9C is a schematic view illustrating the use of a coordinate sensing device of the present invention to output a coordinate of an object according to another embodiment.
  • FIG. 9D is a schematic view illustrating the use of a coordinate sensing device of the present invention to output a coordinate of an object according to another embodiment.
  • FIG. 9E is schematic view illustrating the use of a coordinate sensing device of the present invention to output a coordinate of an object according to another embodiment.
  • FIG. 9F is a top view illustrating the use of a coordinate sensing device of the present invention to scan an object according to another embodiment.
  • FIG. 9G is an oscillogram of a receiving signal generated by a present receiver according to one embodiment.
  • FIG. 9H is a top view illustrating the use of a coordinate sensing device of the present invention to scan an object according to another embodiment.
  • FIG. 91 is an oscillogram of a receiving signal generated by a present receiver according to another embodiment.
  • FIG. 9J is a top view illustrating the use of a coordinate sensing device of the present invention to scan two objects according to one embodiment.
  • FIG. 9K is a top view illustrating the use of a coordinate sensing device of the present invention to scan an object according to another embodiment.
  • FIG. 10 is a chart illustrating the relationship between linear distance and interval time.
  • FIG. 11 illustrating an embodiment of a coordinate sensing device.
  • FIG. 12 illustrating a flow chart of a method for calculating a coordinate of an object according one embodiment.
  • FIG. 13 is a schematic view illustrating the use of a coordinate sensing device of the present invention to output a 3D coordinate of an object according to another embodiment.
  • FIG. 14 is a top view illustrating the use of a coordinate sensing device of the present invention to scan an object according to another embodiment.
  • FIG. 15 illustrating a flow chart of a method for calculating a coordinate of an object according one embodiment.
  • FIG. 16 illustrating a flow chart of a method for calculating a coordinate of an object according one embodiment.
  • first and second features are formed in direct contact
  • additional features may be formed between the first and second features, such that the first and second features may not be in direct contact
  • present disclosure may repeat reference numerals and/or letters in the various examples. This repetition is for the purpose of simplicity and clarity and does not in itself dictate a relationship between the various embodiments and/or configurations discussed.
  • spatially relative terms such as “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper”, “lower”, “left”, “right” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures.
  • the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures.
  • the apparatus may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein may likewise be interpreted accordingly. It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected to” or “coupled to” another element, it may be directly connected to or coupled to the other element, or intervening elements may be present.
  • FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a mesh network system 100 in accordance with some embodiments.
  • the mesh network system 100 comprises a plurality of operational devices 102a ⁇ 102p and a plurality of monitoring devices 102, 104, 106, and 108.
  • the operational devices 102a ⁇ 102p are distributed on a large-scale field.
  • Each of the operational devices 102a ⁇ 102p is configured to perform a predetermined function.
  • the predetermined function may be an illumination control of a lighting device.
  • the operational devices 102a ⁇ 102p are illustrated as a plurality of nodes respectively as shown in FIG. 1.
  • the operations of the operational devices 102a ⁇ 102p are controlled by a controller (not shown).
  • the controller may be wirelessly connected or wire-coupled to the operational devices 102a ⁇ 102p.
  • the controller may transmit instruct! on(s) to one or more of the operational devices 102a ⁇ 102p for controlling their predetermined functions via a Gateway (not shown).
  • the Gateway may be wirelessly connected or wire-coupled to the operational devices 102a ⁇ 102p.
  • each of the operational devices 102a ⁇ 102p is further arranged to relay data or instruction for the network. Therefore, all the operational devices 102a ⁇ 102p are arranged to corporately distribute data in the network. Ideally, the operational devices 102p are all directly or indirectly connected with each other.
  • the operation device may pass the instruction to the next operation device(s).
  • the next operation device may pass the instruction to the another operation device(s) when the next operation device is functional work.
  • the instruction may be distributed to all of the operational devices 102a ⁇ 102p.
  • the connection between two operational devices may be established by using any existing wireless communication technique, e.g. Zigbee.
  • the operational devices 102a ⁇ 102p may fail to perform their predetermined functions due to, for example, their limited lifetime.
  • the failed operational devices may not easily be founded manually among the huge number of operational devices.
  • a plurality of monitoring devices e.g. the monitoring devices 102, 104, 106, and 108, are developed to automatically monitor the operational devices 102a ⁇ 102p respectively.
  • the mesh network system 100 may be applied to monitor a lighting system of a large-scale field, such as a lighting system in a shopping mall or a multi-story building.
  • the monitoring device 102 is arranged to monitor the operation of the operational devices 102a ⁇ 102d.
  • the monitoring device 104 is arranged to monitor the operation of the operational devices 102e ⁇ 102h.
  • the monitoring device 106 is arranged to monitor the operation of the operational devices 102i ⁇ 1021.
  • the monitoring device 108 is arranged to monitor the operation of the operational devices 102m ⁇ 102p. It is noted that the number of monitoring devices and the number of operational devices monitored by each monitoring device are just examples, which are not the limitation of the present invention. According to the present embodiments, at least two monitoring devices are used to monitor a plurality monitoring devices in a field.
  • a monitoring device may be capable of monitoring a predetermined or limited number of operational devices. The number of the monitoring devices may be adjusted depending on the number of the operational devices.
  • the monitoring devices 102, 104, 106, and 108 are further arranged to wirelessly transmit the monitored results corresponding to the operational devices 102a ⁇ 102p to an external or remote processing system 110.
  • the remote processing system 110 may be a cloud computing system or a cloud server.
  • the remote processing system 1 10 at least comprises a processing device for analyzing or processing the monitored results received from the monitoring devices 102, 104, 106, and 108.
  • cloud computing is a type of Internet-based computing that provides shared computer processing resources and data to computers and other devices on demand. It is a model for enabling ubiquitous, on-demand access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources (e.g., computer networks, servers, storage, applications and services), which can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort.
  • the connection between a monitoring device (e.g. the monitoring device 102) and the corresponding operational devices (e.g. the operational devices 102a ⁇ 102d) is implemented by a connecting device for conveying the corresponding acknowledgement signals respectively.
  • the connecting device may comprise a plurality of connecting wires or lines connected between the monitoring device and the corresponding operational devices respectively.
  • the connecting wires between the monitoring device 102 and the operational devices 102a ⁇ 102d are illustrated as 112a ⁇ 112d respectively.
  • the connecting device may be implemented by an Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter (UART).
  • UART Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter
  • the UART may be a microchip with programming that controls the interface of a monitoring device (e.g. the monitoring device 102) to its attached operational devices (e.g. the operational devices 102a ⁇ 102d).
  • the connecting device may be implemented by an Inter-Integrated Circuit (I2C).
  • I2C Inter-Integrated Circuit
  • the I2C is used for attaching the operational devices (e.g. the operational devices 102a ⁇ 102d) to the corresponding monitoring device (e.g. the monitoring device 102) in short-distance, intra-board communication.
  • the I2C may be a multi-master, multi-slave, packet switched, single-ended, serial computer bus.
  • the connecting device may be implemented by a Serial Peripheral Interface bus (SPI).
  • SPI Serial Peripheral Interface bus
  • the SPI is a synchronous serial communication interface specification used for short distance communication, primarily in embedded systems.
  • An SPI device communicate in full duplex mode using a master- slave architecture with a single master (e.g. the monitoring device 102) and multiple slave devices (e.g. the operational devices 102a ⁇ 102d). Multiple slave devices are supported through selection with individual slave select (SS) lines.
  • SPI Serial Peripheral Interface bus
  • FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the time synchronization between two monitoring devices in the field of the mesh network system 100 in accordance with some embodiments.
  • the monitoring device 102 and the monitoring device 104 are used to illustrate the operation of time synchronization of the present embodiment. It is noted that the time synchronization can be expanded to the synchronization among the monitoring devices 102, 104, 106, and 108.
  • a beacon is wirelessly transmitted to the monitoring devices 102 and 104.
  • the beacon may be sent from a cloud computing system or a cloud server.
  • the cloud computing system may be the remote processing system 110.
  • the monitoring device 102 and the monitoring device 104 may exchange the timing information of the received beacons to perform the time synchronization between their operating clock signals respectively.
  • a packet is wirelessly transmitted to the monitoring device 104 from the monitoring device 102.
  • a timestamp may be attached to an end of the packet. The timestamp indicates or includes the receiving time of the beacon received by the monitoring device 102.
  • the curve 202 indicates the time domain of transmitting the packet by the monitoring device 102.
  • the curve 204 indicates the time domain of receiving the packet by the monitoring device 104.
  • the monitoring device 102 transmits the packet 202 at time ta, and transmits the corresponding timestamp 206 at time tb.
  • the monitoring device 104 receives the packet 204 at time tc, and receives the corresponding timestamp 208 at time td.
  • the monitoring device 104 is arranged to read or decipher the timestamp 206 to obtain the receiving time of the beacon received by the monitoring device 102.
  • the monitoring device 104 may calculate the offset between the beacon receiving time of the monitoring device 102 and the beacon receiving time of the monitoring device 104.
  • the offset corresponds to the phase shift between the operating clock signal of the monitoring device 102 and the operating clock signal of the monitoring device 104. Accordingly, the monitoring device 102 and the monitoring device 104 may synchronize their operating clock signals respectively based on the offset or the phase shift. Although a propagation time Ts, e.g. the time difference between tb and td, exists between the packet 202 and the packet 204, the propagation time Ts may be ignored if the transmission range is relatively small.
  • Ts e.g. the time difference between tb and td
  • the time synchronization between the monitoring devices 102 and 104 is based on the offset between the beacon receiving time, and the time synchronization between the monitoring devices 102 and 104 is not based on the sending time of the beacon sent from the remote processing system 110. Therefore, the technique of RBS removes the uncertainty of the sender by removing the sender, i.e. the remote processing system 110, from the critical path. By removing the sender, the only uncertainty is the propagation and receiving times of the monitoring devices 102 and 104. Therefore, the monitoring devices 102 and 104 may obtain relatively precise clock synchronization.
  • FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of transmitting an instruction signal Si in the mesh network system 100 in accordance with some embodiments.
  • the instruction signal Si is arranged to control an operational device to perform its predetermined function. For example, if the operational device is a lighting device, the instruction signal Si is used to turn-on, turn-off, or adjusting illumination of the lighting device.
  • the operation of the monitoring devices 102, 104, 106, and 108 is described by transmitting the instruction signal Si from the operational device 102a to the operational device 102n by an order of the operational device 102a, the operational device 102b, the operational device 102c, the operational device 102g, the operational device 102k, the operational device 102o, and the operational device 102n.
  • this is not a limitation of the present embodiment.
  • the instruction signal Si is transmitted by the operational device 102a to the operational device 102b, and the monitoring device 102 records the transmitting time tl .
  • the instruction signal Si is received by the operational device 102b, and the monitoring device 102 records the receiving time t2.
  • the instruction signal Si is transmitted by the operational device 102b to the operational device 102c, and the monitoring device 102 records the transmitting time t3.
  • the monitoring device 102 transmits a first detecting event or packet Sdl including the information of times tl, t2, and t3 to the remote processing system 110.
  • the instruction signal Si is received by the operational device 102c, and the monitoring device 104 records the receiving time t4.
  • the instruction signal Si is transmitted by the operational device 102c to the operational device 102g, and the monitoring device 104 records the transmitting time tS.
  • the instruction signal Si is received by the operational device 102g, and the monitoring device 104 records the receiving time t6.
  • the instruction signal Si is transmitted by the operational device 102g to the operational device 102k, and the monitoring device 104 records the transmitting time t7.
  • the monitoring device 104 transmits a second detecting event Sd2 including the information of times t4, t5, t6, and t7 to the remote processing system 110.
  • the instruction signal Si is received by the operational device 102k, and the monitoring device 106 records the receiving time t8.
  • the instruction signal Si is transmitted by the operational device 102k to the operational device 102o, and the monitoring device 106 records the transmitting time t9.
  • the instruction signal Si is received by the operational device 102o, and the monitoring device 106 records the receiving time tlO.
  • the instruction signal Si is transmitted by the operational device 102o to the operational device 102n, and the monitoring device 106 records the transmitting time ti l.
  • the monitoring device 106 transmits a third detecting event Sd3 including the information of times t8, t9, tlO, and ti l to the remote processing system 110.
  • the instruction signal Si is received by the operational device 102n, and the monitoring device 108 records the receiving time tl2.
  • the monitoring device 108 transmits a fourth detecting event Sd4 including the information of time tl2 to the remote processing system 110.
  • the remote processing system 110 when the remote processing system 110 receives the first detecting event Sdl, the remote processing system 110 is arranged to process or analyze the first detecting event Sdl in order to determine if the predetermined functions of the operational device 102a and the operational device 102b work.
  • the remote processing system 110 founds that the first detecting event Sdl includes the information of times tl, t2, and t3, it means that the instruction signal Si is successfully transmitted to the operational device 102c by an order of the operational device 102a, the operational device 102b, and the operational device 102c. Then, the remote processing system 110 determines that the operational device 102a and the operational device 102b are functional -work.
  • the remote processing system 110 determines that the operational device 102a is functional - work and the operational device 102b is functional -fail. In other words, when the operational device 102b is functional -fail, the operational device 102b merely receives the instruction signal Si at time t2, and the operational device 102b does not transmit the instruction signal Si to the operational device 102c at time t3.
  • the remote processing system 110 uses the similar method to determine the functional of the following operational devices 102c, 102g, 102k, 102o, and 102n based on the received detecting events Sd2, Sd3, and Sd4. Thus, the detailed description is omitted for brevity.
  • the operation of the operational devices 102a-102p in the large- scale field may be effectively monitored by the monitoring devices 102, 104, 106, and 108 respectively.
  • FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of transmitting an instruction signal Si' in the mesh network system 100 in accordance with some embodiments.
  • the operation of the monitoring devices 102, 104, 106, and 108 is described by transmitting the instruction signal Si 1 from the operational device 102a to the operational device 102n by an order of the operational device 102a, the operational device 102b, the operational device 102f, the operational device 102c, the operational device 102g, the operational device 102k, the operational device 102o, and the operational device 102n.
  • this is not a limitation of the present embodiment.
  • the instruction signal Si* is transmitted by the operational device 102a to the operational device 102b, and the monitoring device 102 records the transmitting time tl'.
  • the operational device 102b does not receive the instruction signal Si' because the operational device 102b is functional -fail.
  • the operational device 102a re-transmits the instruction signal Si 1 to another operational device (i.e. 102f), which is also monitored by the monitoring device 102, and the monitoring device 102 records the transmitting time t2'.
  • the instruction signal Si 1 is received by the operational device 102f, and the monitoring device 102 records the receiving time t3'.
  • the instruction signal Si' is transmitted by the operational device 102f to the operational device 102c, and the monitoring device 102 records the transmitting time t4'.
  • the monitoring device 102 transmits a first detecting event or packet Sdl' including the information of times tl 1 , t2', t3', t4' to the remote processing system 110.
  • the remote processing system 110 When the remote processing system 110 receives the first detecting event Sdl', the remote processing system 110 is arranged to process or analyze the first detecting event Sdl' in order to determine the operation of the operational device 102a, the operational device 102b, and the operational device 102f.
  • the remote processing system 110 founds that the first detecting event Sdl' includes the information of times tl', t2', t3', and t4', it means that the instruction signal Si' is successfully transmitted to the operational device 102c by an order of the operational device 102a, the operational device 102b, the operational device 102a, the operational device 102f, and the operational device 102c. Accordingly, the remote processing system 110 determines that the operational device 102a and the operational device 102f are functional -work, and the operational device 102b is functional -fail.
  • the instruction signal Si is then transmitted to the operational device 102n from the operational device 102c by an order of the operational device 102c, the operational device 102g, the operational device 102k, the operational device 102o, and the operational device 102n.
  • the monitoring devices 104, 106, and 108 transmit the corresponding second detecting event Sd2', third detecting event Sd3', and fourth detecting event Sd4' to the remote processing system 110.
  • the remote processing system 110 is arranged to determine the operation of the operational devices 102c, 102g, 102k, 102o, and 102n based on the second detecting event Sd2', third detecting event Sd3', and fourth detecting event Sd4' respectively. As the operation is similar to the operation of FIG. 3, the detailed description is omitted for brevity.
  • FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the operation of one monitoring device (e.g. the monitoring device 102) in accordance with some embodiments.
  • the operational device 102b is also shown in FIG. 5.
  • the monitoring device 102 is arranged to monitor the operation of the operational device 102b.
  • the monitoring device 102 comprises a power supply unit 502, a networking unit 504, a time synchronization unit 506, a signal measuring and analyzing unit 508, and a connecting device 510.
  • the operational device 102b comprises a General Purpose Input/Output (GPIO) pin 102b_l .
  • GPIO General Purpose Input/Output
  • the power supply unit 502 is arranged to supply power to the operational device 102b, the networking unit 504, the time synchronization unit 506, and the signal measuring and analyzing unit 508.
  • the power supply unit 502 may comprises a converter for converting AC (Alternative Current) or DC (Direct Current) signal into the voltage levels required by the operational device 102b, the networking unit 504, the time synchronization unit 506, and the signal measuring and analyzing unit 508 respectively.
  • the voltage level may be 5V or 3.3V.
  • the time synchronization unit 506 is arranged to generate a clock signal Sckl.
  • the clock signal Sckl is synchronized with the clock signals of other monitoring devices (not shown in FIG. 5) via the technique of RBS.
  • the time error between the clock signal Sckl and the other clock signals can be reduced to a relatively small range.
  • the time error between the clock signal Sckl and the other clock signals is small, the information in the timestamp of the packet generated or received by the monitoring device 102 is relatively accurate.
  • the time error may be smaller than lus, e.g. 50ns.
  • the clock signal Sckl of the time synchronization unit S06 is set to be the reference clock or reference time. Then, the other clock signals of the other monitoring devices synchronize with the clock signal Sckl by using the technique of RBS.
  • the time synchronization unit 506 may synchronize with the time synchronization units of other monitoring devices via the technique of GPS. For example, when the mesh network system 100 is applied in a wide environment, the time synchronization unit 506 performs synchronization with the other time synchronization units through GPS.
  • the time synchronization unit 506 may transmit an impulse signal Sip to the signal measuring and analyzing unit 508.
  • the time synchronization unit 506 may transmit the impulse signal Sip to the signal measuring and analyzing unit 508 in every 10 ms.
  • the signal measuring and analyzing unit 508 is arranged to reset or start a counting time upon the receiving of the impulse signal Sip.
  • the time synchronization unit 506 and the signal measuring and analyzing unit 508 are arranged to have a crystal oscillator (or a counter) respectively.
  • the signal measuring and analyzing unit 508 is arranged to use its crystal oscillator or the counter to count the time difference between two contiguous impulse signals Sip received from the time synchronization unit 506.
  • the time difference between two contiguous impulse signals Sip received from the time synchronization unit 506 is 10 ms, thus the signal measuring and analyzing unit 508 can use the time space of 10 ms to modify or correct the counting time.
  • the error of the counting time of the signal measuring and analyzing unit S08 can be less than 1 us.
  • the connecting device 510 is coupled between the signal measuring and analyzing unit 508 and the operational device 102b.
  • the connecting device 510 may be a Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) bus, an Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter (UART), or an Inter-Integrated Circuit (I2C) coupled to the GPIO pin 102b_l of the operational device 102b.
  • SPI Serial Peripheral Interface
  • UART Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter
  • I2C Inter-Integrated Circuit
  • the signal measuring and analyzing unit 508 is arranged for analyzing an acknowledgement signal Ski on the connecting device 510 received from the operational device 102b to obtain the time at which the operational device 102b transmitting the instruction signal Si. Every time the operational device 102b performs an operation of wireless communicating, the operational device 102b transmits a copy (i.e.
  • the operational device 102b When the state of the operational device 102b is changed, e.g., from the normal operation mode to the sleep mode, the operational device 102b also transmits the state (i.e. the acknowledgement signal Ski) to the signal measuring and analyzing unit 508 via the connecting device 510.
  • the signal measuring and analyzing unit 508 Every time the operational device 102b receives packet and the state of GPIO pin 102b_l is changed, the signal measuring and analyzing unit 508 records the packet and the state. The signal measuring and analyzing unit 508 also records the corresponding occur time of the packet and the state. According to some embodiments, when the state of the GPIO pin 102b_l is changed from a first level to a second level different from the first level, the operational device 102b may record the instant timestamp and the instant level for generating an event, i.e. the acknowledgement signal Ski. The acknowledgement signal Ski is transmitted to the networking unit 504 via the connecting device 510. The networking unit 504 buffers the acknowledgement signal Ski and transmits the acknowledgement signal Ski to the signal measuring and analyzing unit 518.
  • the operational device 102b when the operational device 102b receives a packet, the operational device 102b changes the state of the GPIO pin 102b_l to a high voltage level from a low voltage level, and records the instant timestamp of receiving the packet. Then, the operational device 102b generates an event packet including the information of the instant timestamp and the high voltage level, and transmits the event packet to the networking unit 504 via the connecting device 510. When the operational device 102b transmits the event packet to the networking unit 504, the state of the GPIO pin 102b_l remains the high voltage level. When transmission of the event packet is end, the operational device 102b changes the state of the GPIO pin 102b_l to the low voltage level from the high voltage level. Accordingly, the signal measuring and analyzing unit 508 may obtain the receiving time and the transmission time (or packet length) of the packet received by the operational device 102b according to the changing state of the GPIO pin 102b_l .
  • the signal measuring and analyzing unit 508 may use to update the firmware of the operational device 102b.
  • the signal measuring and analyzing unit 508 may also use to reset or turn-off the operational device 102b.
  • the signal measuring and analyzing unit 508 may receive an instruction from Internet via the networking unit 504 to update the firmware of the operational device 102b.
  • the signal measuring and analyzing unit 508 may update the firmware of the operational device 102b by using the bootstrap loader (BLS) function of the operational device 102b.
  • BLS bootstrap loader
  • the networking unit 504 may receive the packet event, and transmit the packet event (i.e. Sdl) to a predetermined server.
  • the predetermined server is arranged to save or record or analysis the packet event.
  • the predetermined server may transmit an instruction to the networking unit 504 for controlling the signal measuring and analyzing unit 508 update the firmware of the operational device 102b.
  • the signal measuring and analyzing unit 508 may reset or to turn-off the operational device 102b according to the instruction received from the predetermined server.
  • the networking unit 504 is arranged to wirelessly transmit the first detecting event Sdl to a processing device, i.e. the remote processing system 110.
  • the networking unit 504 further receives data from the signal measuring and analyzing unit 508 via the SPI and the UART, wherein the SPI is arranged to receive the instant data (e.g. the state transmitted from the signal measuring and analyzing unit 508 in every 10 ms), and the UART is arranged to receive the detecting data in relatively high speed and large volume.
  • the data received by the networking unit 504 is stored in a memory (not shown) of the networking unit 504.
  • the networking unit 504 transmits the received data to the cloud system, i.e. the remote processing system 110.
  • the remote processing system 110 is arranged to update the firmware of the signal measuring and analyzing unit 508 and the operational device 102b through the networking unit 504.
  • the remote processing system 110 is also arranged to update the firmware of the networking unit 504.
  • the remote processing system 110 wirelessly couples to all operational devices.
  • the remote processing system 110 updates the firmware of the monitoring device 102 and the operational device 102b for testing the monitoring device 102 and the operational device 102b under different conditions.
  • the remote processing system 110 uses the bootloader designed inside the networking unit 504 to update the firmware of the signal measuring and analyzing unit 508 and the operational device 102b.
  • the remote processing system 110 may simulate the operation of the mesh network system 100 according to different number of operational devices and monitoring devices and/or different version of firmware.
  • the remote processing system 110 may be a cloud management platform for managing the operational devices 102a ⁇ 102p and the monitoring devices 102, 104, 106, and 108.
  • the remote processing system 110 is arranged to manage the registration, setting, firmware updating, information acquiring (e.g. address, id, setting of operational devices), resetting the operational devices, and setting of the pins connected to the operational devices.
  • the remote processing system 110 is arranged to acquire the occurrence time of the events and the contents of the transmitted and received packets, and to analysis the transmission paths of the packets in the mesh network system 100.
  • the remote processing system 110 is arranged to evaluate the maximum loading of the mesh network system 100, the maximum tolerable number of the operational devices, and the frequency of defection of an operational device.
  • the remote processing system 110 is also arranged to determine the message storm or the abnormal operation (e.g. insufficient of memory, packet loss, or reboot unexpectedly) in the operational devices, the average processing time of a packet in an operational device, and the packet size.
  • FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the operation of two monitoring devices (e.g. the monitoring devices 102 and 104) in accordance with some embodiments.
  • the operational device 102b and the operational device 102c are also shown in FIG. 6.
  • the monitoring device 102 and the monitoring device 104 are arranged to monitor the operation of the operational device 102b and the operational device 102c respectively.
  • the monitoring device 104 comprises a power supply unit 512, a networking unit 514, a time synchronization unit 516, a signal measuring and analyzing unit 518, and a connecting device 520.
  • the operational device 102c also comprises a GPIO pin 102c_l .
  • the power supply unit 512 is arranged to supply power to the operational device 102c, the networking unit 514, the time synchronization unit 516, and the signal measuring and analyzing unit 518.
  • the networking unit 514 is arranged to wirelessly transmit the second detecting event Sd2 to the remote processing system 110.
  • the time synchronization unit 516 is arranged to generate the clock signal Sck2.
  • the signal measuring and analyzing unit 518 is coupled to the operational device 102c for analyzing an acknowledgement signal Sk2 received from the operational device 102c to obtain the time t4 at which the operational device 102c receiving the instruction signal Si.
  • the connecting device 520 is coupled between the signal measuring and analyzing unit 518 and the operational device 102c.
  • the signal measuring and analyzing unit 518 further uses the second clock signal Sck2 to lock or phase-lock the acknowledgement signal Sk2 in order to receive the acknowledgement signal Sk2.
  • Sck2 the second clock signal
  • Sk2 the acknowledgement signal
  • the packet 202 and the corresponding timestamp 206 are transmitted by the networking unit S04 of the monitoring device 102 at time ta and time tb respectively.
  • the packet 204 and the corresponding timestamp 208 are received by the networking unit 514 of the monitoring device 104 at time tc and time td respectively.
  • the signal measuring and analyzing unit 518 is arranged to read the information of the timestamp 208 to calculate the offset between the beacon receiving time of the monitoring device 102 and the beacon receiving time of the monitoring device 104.
  • the offset may be transmitted to the monitoring device 102 from the monitoring device 104.
  • the time synchronization unit 506 and the time synchronization unit 516 adjust the phases of the clock signal Sckl and the clock signal Sck2, respectively, based on the offset. Accordingly, the clock signal Sckl may synchronize with the clock signal Sck2.
  • the instruction signal Si is transmitted from the operational device 102b to the operational device 102c.
  • the acknowledgement signal Ski is transmitted to the signal measuring and analyzing unit 508 via the connecting device 510.
  • the signal measuring and analyzing unit 508 is arranged to analyze the acknowledgement signal Ski to obtain the time t3 at which the operational device 102b transmitting the instruction signal Si occurs.
  • the networking unit 504 of the monitoring device 102 is further arranged to transmit the first detecting event Sdl including the information of times tl, t2, and t3 to the remote processing system 110.
  • the acknowledgement signal Sk2 is transmitted to the signal measuring and analyzing unit 518 via the connecting device 520.
  • the signal measuring and analyzing unit 518 is arranged to analyze the acknowledgement signal Sk2 to obtain the time t4 at which the operational device 102c receiving the instruction signal Si occurs.
  • the networking unit 514 of the monitoring device 104 is further arranged to transmit the second detecting event Sd2 including the information of times t4, t5, t6, and t7 to the remote processing system 1 10.
  • the clock signal Sckl may synchronize with the clock signal Sck2 based on the offset between the beacon receiving time of the monitoring device 102 and the beacon receiving time of the monitoring device 104.
  • the monitoring device 102 and the monitoring device 104 may effectively monitor the operation of the operational device 102b and the operational device 102c respectively.
  • FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a monitoring method 700 in accordance with some embodiment.
  • operation 702 arranging the operational device 102d to perform the predetermined function and accordingly transmitting the instruction signal Si.
  • operation 704 receiving the first acknowledgement signal Ski from the operational device 102b, wherein the first acknowledgement signal Ski indicates the operational device 102b transmitting the instruction signal Si occurs.
  • operation 706 analyzing the first acknowledgement signal Ski to obtain the time t3 at which the operational device 102b transmitting the instruction signal Si occurs.
  • generating the first detecting event Sdl based on the time t3.
  • operation 710 arranging the operational device 102c to receive the instruction signal Si and accordingly performing the predetermined function.
  • operation 712 receiving the second acknowledgement signal Sk2 from the operational device 102c, wherein the second acknowledgement signal Sk2 indicates the operational device 102c receiving the instruction signal Si occurs.
  • operation 714 analyzing the second acknowledgement signal Sk2 to obtain the time t4 at which the second operational device receiving the instruction signal Si occurs.
  • operation 716 generating the second detecting event Sd2 based on time t4.
  • operation 718 using the first detecting event Sdl and the second detecting event Sd2 to determine if the first operational device 102b and the second operational device 102c functional work.
  • the number of the operational devices may be expanded to a relatively huge number in a large-scale field because the operation of the operational devices may be automatically monitored by a plurality of monitoring devices, wherein the monitoring devices are time-synchronized with each other.
  • the monitoring devices may precisely track the instruction signal transmitted in the operational devices, and accordingly determine the operation of the operational devices.
  • FIG. 8A is a schematic view showing a coordinate sensing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • the coordinate sensing device CI includes a transmitter Cl l, a receiver C12 and a controller CI 3.
  • the transmitter Cl l is configured to generate a first light signal CS1, a second light signal CS2 and a third light signal CS3.
  • the receiver C12 is configured to sense the first light signal CS1, the second light signal CS2 and the third light signal CS3 for generating a receiving signal CSr.
  • the receiver C12 uses a photodiode to sense the first light signal CS1, the second light signal CS2 and the third light signal CS3, and convert the first light signal CS1, the second light signal CS2 and the third light signal CS3 into an electrical signal, for example, the receiving signal CSr.
  • the controller C 13 is configured to output a coordinate of the receiver C12 according to the receiving signal CSr.
  • the transmitter Cl l further includes a wireless transmission module CI 11, and the receiver C12 also further comprises a wireless transmission module C121.
  • the wireless transmission module CI 11 of the transmitter Cl l is configured to transmit a wireless signal CSn to the wireless transmission module C121 of the receiver CI 2.
  • the wireless signal CSn can be a pulse signal.
  • the wireless transmission modules CI 11, C121 can be implemented using the radiofrequency (RF) technology, Bluetooth technology, ZigBee technology, Wi-Fi technology, or other wireless transmission module(s).
  • the controller C13 is coupled with the transmitter Cl l and the receiver C12. In one embodiment, the controller C13 is integrated within the transmitter Cl l , and the controller C13 and the receiver C12 are communicated through a wireless signal. In another embodiment, the controller C13 is integrated within the receiver CI 2, and the controller C13 and the transmitter Cl l are communicated through a wireless signal.
  • the controller C13 can be arranged as a separate component, as long as it can be coupled with the transmitter Cl l and the receiver C12 through a wired or wireless connection, and the present invention is not limited thereto. Therefore, the transmitter Cl l, the receiver C12 and controller C13 can be coupled to one another via a wired or wireless connection. Similarly, the connection among the transmitter Cl l, receiver C12, and controller C13 can be implemented by the radiofrequency (RF) technology, Bluetooth technology, ZigBee technology, Wi-Fi technology, or other wireless transmission module(s).
  • RF radiofrequency
  • the controller C13 may include a core control assembly of the coordinate sensing device CI ; for example, it may include at least one central processing unit (CPU, e.g., a microprocessor) and a memory, or include other control hardware(s), software(s), or firmware(s). Accordingly, it is feasible to use the controller C13 to compute the three-dimensional coordinate or position between the object CT in a horizontal plane CP and the transmitter Cl l.
  • CPU central processing unit
  • a microprocessor e.g., a microprocessor
  • FIG. 8B is a schematic view illustrating the use of a coordinate sensing device CI to output a coordinate of an object CT according to one embodiment of the present invention.
  • the object CT locates in a locale, in which the locale can be an indoor warehouse space, a marketplace space, an office space, or other kinds of indoor space.
  • the object CT can be a personnel or an article.
  • the receiver C12 of the coordinate sensing device CI of the present invention can be installed on the object CT.
  • the collection of the object CT and the receiver C12 is labeled as CT/C12.
  • the receiver C12 can be disposed in a mobile device (such as, in a mobile phone or tablet) carried by the personnel. Moreover, the receiver C12 can be disposed in a coordinate sensing device worn by the personnel (such as, a smart bracelet or ring worn by the personnel). Additionally, when the object CT is an article, the receiver C12 can be disposed on the article. [00094]
  • the transmitter Cl l of the coordinate sensing device CI is disposed above the horizontal plane CP; that is, a horizontal level of the transmitter Cl l is higher than the horizontal level of the horizontal plane CP.
  • the transmitter Cl l can be installed on a ceiling, lighting fixture, smoke detector, air conditioner outlet, or other apparatuses in the locale.
  • the controller C13 can compute the three- dimensional coordinate of the object CT in the locale.
  • the coordinate sensing device CI can compute the coordinate of the object CT at any height Ch between the horizontal plane CP and the transmitter Cl l .
  • the coordinate is the three-dimensional coordinate in the locale.
  • the transmitter Cl l emits a first light signal CS1, a second light signal CS2 and a third light signal CS3 toward the horizontal plane CP, in which the first light signal CS1, the second light signal CS2 and the third light signal CS3 have a predetermined projection direction.
  • the first light signal CS1, the second light signal CS2 and the third light signal CS3 respectively have a first predetermined projection direction, a second predetermined projection direction and a third predetermined projection direction, wherein the first predetermined projection direction, the second predetermined projection direction and the third predetermined projection direction are different projection directions from each other.
  • the surface of the horizontal plane CP will present a first straight ray pattern (straight ray pattern) CL1, a second straight ray pattern CL2 and a third straight rat pattern CL3, respectively.
  • first straight ray pattern CL1, the second straight ray pattern CL2 and the third straight ray pattern CL3 can be an invisible pattern or visible pattern on the surface of the horizontal plane CP.
  • the transmitter Cl l can be a laser transmitter, which may emit three laser beams in different directions; the laser beams can be infrared (IR) laser beams, or the laser beams can be laser walls, while the first light signal CS 1, the second light signal CS2 and the third light signal CS3 can be a first laser wall, a second laser wall and a third laser wall, respectively.
  • the laser wall is a plane formed by beams.
  • the first straight ray pattern CL1, the second straight ray pattern CL2 and the third straight ray pattern CL3 are substantially three parallel straight ray patterns, wherein the second straight ray pattern CL2 is disposed between the first straight ray pattern CL1 and the third straight ray pattern CL3.
  • the respective distances between the first straight ray pattern CL1, the second straight ray pattern CL2 and the third straight ray pattern CL3 are three predetermined distances.
  • a bottom surface CI 12 of the transmitter CI 1 has a first transmitting terminal COl and a second transmitting terminal C02, wherein the first transmitting terminal COl is configured to output the first light signal CS1 and the third light signal CS3, the second transmitting terminal C02 is configured to output the second light signal CS2, and the distance between the first transmitting terminal COl and the second transmitting terminal C02 is a predetermined distance.
  • the bottom surface CI 12 faces the horizontal plane CP, and the bottom surface CI 12 is parallel to the horizontal plane CP.
  • the first light signal CS1 and the third light signal CS3 also may have the same projection direction.
  • the first light signal CS1 is substantially parallel to the third light signal CS3 as shown in FIG. 8C which is a schematic view illustrating a coordinate of the object CT computed by the coordinate sensing device CI a of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 8C
  • the transmitter CI la may emit three infrared laser beams CSla, CSlb and CSlc, wherein the first infrared laser beam CSla is substantially parallel to the third infrared laser beam CSlc, and the second infrared laser beam CSlb is not parallel to the infrared laser beams CSla, CSlb.
  • FIG. 8D is a schematic view illustrating the use of a coordinate sensing device CI of the present invention to output a coordinate of an object CT according to another embodiment.
  • the embodiment shown in FIG. 8D is the same as the embodiment shown in FIG. 8B.
  • the transmitter Cl l emits the first light signal CS1, the second light signal CS2 and the third light signal CS3 toward the horizontal plane CP.
  • the first light signal CS1, the second light signal CS2 and the third light signal CS3 form a first laser wall CS11, a second laser wall CS22 and a third laser wall CS33 between the transmitter Cl l and the horizontal plane CP, respectively.
  • the first laser wall CS11, the second laser wall S12 and the third laser wall S13 are three triangle planes shown in FIG. 8D, respectively.
  • the first light signal CS1 and the third light signal CS3 are output from the first transmitting terminal COl
  • the second light signal CS2 is output from the second transmitting terminal C02.
  • three parallel straight ray patterns are formed on the horizontal plane CP (that is the first straight ray pattern CL1, the second straight ray pattern CL2 and the third straight ray pattern CL3).
  • a point on the horizontal plane CP that is right below the transmitter Cl l is defined as a rotation center CO.
  • FIG. 8E is schematic view illustrating the use of a coordinate sensing device C I of the present invention to output a coordinate of an object CT according to another embodiment.
  • the transmitter Cl l controls the first light signal CS1, the second light signal CS2 and the third light signal CS3 such that the first straight ray pattern CL1, the second straight ray pattern CL2 and the third straight ray pattern CL3 rotate about the rotation center CO.
  • the rotation direction is clockwise; however, the present invention is not limited thereto. In another embodiment, the rotation direction can also be counterclockwise.
  • the transmitter Cl l controls the first light signal CS1, the second light signal CS2 and the third light signal CS3 through a control unit (not shown in the drawings) such that the first straight ray pattern CL1, the second straight ray pattern CL2 and the third straight ray pattern CL3 rotate about the rotation center CO simultaneously, and therefore, the first laser wall CS11, the second laser wall CS22 and the third laser wall CS33 sequentially scan over (or pass through) the receiver C12 on the object CT.
  • the rotation center CO of the present invention is not limited to the one on the horizontal plane CP right below the transmitter Cl l .
  • the transmitter Cl l itself also rotates in a different direction such that the rotation center CO on the horizontal plane CP also rotates simultaneously.
  • the first laser light wall CS11, the second laser light wall CS22, and the third laser light wall CS33 in FIG. 8D sequentially scan (or pass) the receiver C12 on the object CT.
  • the rotation center CO of the present invention is not limited to the horizontal plane CP directly below the transmitter Cl l .
  • the transmitter Cl l itself also rotates in different directions, so that the rotation center CO also rotates on the horizontal plane CP at the same time.
  • the transmitter Cl l itself does not rotate, and only the first straight ray pattern CL1, the second straight ray pattern CL2 and the third straight ray pattern CL3 rotate about the rotation center CO simultaneously.
  • the first laser wall CS11, the second laser wall CS22 and the third laser wall CS33 scan over the receiver C12 on the object CT at different time points.
  • the receiver C12 on the object CT senses the light from the first laser wall CS11, and accordingly, the receiver C12 outputs a first signal at a first time point.
  • the receiver C12 on the object CT senses the light from the second laser wall CS22, and accordingly, the receiver C12 outputs a second signal at a second time point.
  • the receiver C12 on the object CT senses the light from the third laser wall CS22, and accordingly, the receiver C12 outputs a third signal at a third time point.
  • the first signal, the second signal and the third signal are a first pulse signal, a second pulse signal and a third pulse signal, respectively.
  • FIG. 8F is a top view illustrating the use of a coordinate sensing device CI of the present invention to scan an object CT according to another embodiment.
  • FIG. 8F only shows the first straight ray pattern CL1 and the third straight ray pattern CL3, and their first laser wall CS11 and the third laser wall CS33, respectively.
  • the rotation center CO is superimposed on the first transmitting terminal COl, and is indicated as CO/COl.
  • the height Ch of the object CT is between the horizontal plane CP and the transmitting terminal COl .
  • FIG. 8G is an oscillogram of a receiving signal CSr generated by a receiver C12 according to one embodiment of the present invention.
  • the receiving signals Sr at the time points Ctl, Ct3, Ct4, Ct6 are four pulse signals CSpl, CSp2, CSp3, CSp4, respectively.
  • the pulse signals CSpl, CSp2 are corresponding to the positions CA, CB of the first laser wall CS11 and the third laser wall CS33, respectively, and the pulse signals CSp3, CSp4 are corresponding to the positions CC, CD of the third laser wall CS33 and the first laser wall CS11, respectively.
  • the time difference between the respective central time points Ctl, Ct4 of the pulse signals CSpl, CSp3 or the time difference between the respective central time points Ct3, Ct6 of the pulse signals CSp2, CSp4 is half the scan period (CTP/2).
  • the angular velocity ⁇ at which the first straight ray pattern CL1 and the third straight ray pattern CL3 rotate on the horizontal plane CP can be calculated from formula (1):
  • the angular velocity ⁇ at which the first straight ray pattern CL1 and the third straight ray pattern CL3 rotate on the horizontal plane CP is a predetermined angular velocity. It should be noted that the angular velocity of the first laser wall CS11 and the third laser wall CS33 at the height Ch is the same as the angular velocity ⁇ of the first straight ray pattern CL1 and the third straight ray pattern CL3 on the horizontal plane CP.
  • the coordinate sensing device CI, la can further comprise a filter (not shown in the drawings) disposed on the receiver C12, and the filter is configured to allow only the passage of the first light signal CS1, the second light signal CS2 and the third light signal CS3.
  • the filter it is possible to filter out the light other than the first light signal CS1, the second light signal CS2 and the third light signal CS3, thereby improving the detection accuracy of the receiver CI 2.
  • FIG. 8H is a top view illustrating the use of a coordinate sensing device CI to scan an object CT according to another embodiment of the present invention.
  • the first straight ray pattern CL1 the second straight ray pattern CL2 and the third straight ray pattern CL3 continue to rotate about the rotation center CO on the horizontal plane CP
  • the first laser wall CS11, the second laser wall CS22 and the third laser wall CS33 sequentially scan over the receiver C12 on the object CT.
  • the receiver C12 can sense light from the first laser wall CS11, the second laser wall CS22 and the third laser wall CS33 for multiple times at different time points. Therefore, the receiving signal CSr generated by the receiver C12 has multiple sets of pulse signals.
  • the transmitter CI 1 first uses the wireless transmission module CI 11 depicted in FIG. 8A to transmit a wireless signal CSn to the wireless transmission module C121 of the receiver C12.
  • the receiver C12 receives the wireless signal CSn
  • the receiver C12 generates a reference time CtO.
  • the reference time CtO is configured to synchronize the transmitter Cl l and the receiver C12, and therefore, the wireless signal CSn can be viewed as a synchronizing signal.
  • the transmitter Cl l transmits the wireless signal CSn to the receiver C12 when the first straight ray pattern CL1 or the third straight ray pattern CL3 has a predetermined angle or a reference angle (such as, 0 degree), such that the receiver C12 generates a reference time (i.e., CtO).
  • the transmitter Cl l transmits the wireless signal CSn to the receiver C12, such that the receiver C12 generates a reference time (i.e., CtO). In this way, the transmitter Cl l and the receiver CI 2 are synchronized.
  • the 81 is an oscillogram of a receiving signal CSr generated by a receiver C12 according to another embodiment of the present invention.
  • the receiving signals Sr, at the time points Ctl, Ct2, Ct3, are three pulse signals CSpl, CSp2, CSp3, respectively; the pulse signals CSpl, CSp2, CSp3 correspond to the positions of the object CT scanned by the first laser wall CS11, the second laser wall CS22 and the third laser wall CS33, respectively.
  • the receiver C12 receives the wireless signal CSn from the transmitter Cl l at the reference time CtO. Further, the receiving signal CSr generated by the receiver C12 is received and stored by the controller C13.
  • a microprocessor within the controller C13 can record the time points of the rising and falling edges of three consecutive pulse signals (CS1, CS2 and CS3) so that it can further compute the central time points of the two pulse signals, thereby obtaining a more accurate time difference.
  • a mean value of the first time Ctl and the third time Ct3 can be calculated; the mean value is (Ctl+Ct3)/2.
  • a time difference between the mean value and the reference time CtO is (Ctl+Ct3)/2— CtO; i.e. the time required for the first laser wall CS11 or the third laser wall CS33 to rotate from the reference angle to the receiver C12 of the object CT.
  • a rotation angle ⁇ can be calculated by multiplying the time difference between the mean value (i.e., (Ctl+Ct3)/2) and the reference time CtO by the angular velocity ⁇ , referring to the following formula (2):
  • the rotation angle ⁇ is the angle of the first laser wall CS11 or the third laser wall CS33 rotating from a reference point to the object CT.
  • the controller C13 uses the above-mentioned rotation angle ⁇ to compute the three-dimensional coordinate of the object CT at the height Ch.
  • FIG. 8 J is a top view illustrating the use of the coordinate sensing device C I of the present invention to compute the three-dimensional coordinate according to one embodiment.
  • the vertical height of the object CT (or the receiver CI 2) from the horizontal plane CP is h.
  • the second laser wall CS22 is formed between the first laser wall CS11 and the third laser wall CS33.
  • a normal line CN perpendicular to the horizontal plane CP and passing through the rotation center CO is aligned with the first transmitting terminal COl of the bottom surface CI 12 of the transmitter CI 1, i.e. the normal line CN passing through the first transmitting terminal COl .
  • the first laser light wall CS11 intersects the horizontal line C301 at the point Ca
  • the second laser wall CS22 intersects the horizontal line C301 at the point Cb
  • the third laser wall CS33 intersects the horizontal line C301 at the point Cc
  • the normal line CN intersects the horizontal line C301 at the point Cd.
  • the straight line distance between the point Cd and the point Cc is Cd a
  • the straight line distance between the point Cb and the point Cd is Cdt
  • the straight line distance between the point Ca and the point Cd is Cd c . It should be noted that these straight line distances Cda, Cd b , Cdc will change along with the variation of the height Ch of the object CT.
  • FIG. 8K is a top view illustrating the use the coordinate sensing device CI to scan an object CT according to one embodiment of the present invention.
  • the first point position CP1 and the normal line CN form a first straight line C302
  • the second point position CP2 and the normal line CN form a second straight line C304
  • the third point position CP3 and the normal line CN form a third straight line C306, and there is a fourth straight line C308 in the middle between the first laser wall CS1 1 and the third laser wall CS33.
  • the fourth straight line C308 is parallel to the first laser wall CS11 or the third laser wall CS33.
  • the first straight line C302 and the third straight line C306 have an included angle CO therebetween
  • the first straight line C302 and the fourth straight line C308 have an included angle Cot therebetween
  • the fourth straight line C308 and the second straight line C304 have an included angle Cp therebetween
  • the second straight line C304 and the third straight line C306 have an included angle Cy therebetween.
  • the included angle CO is equal to the sum of the included angles Ca, CP and Cy.
  • the included angle Ca is substantially a half of the included angle CO.
  • the above-mentioned included angle Ca would equal to the product of the predetermined angular velocity ⁇ multiplying the mean value of the first time interval CT d1 and the second time interval CT d2 , referring to the following formula (3):
  • the first straight line distance Cd a is equal to the third straight line distance Cd c , referring to the following formula (4):
  • the controller C13 can compute the values of the straight line distance Cr and the height Ch in light of the following formulas (1 1) and (12):
  • the angular velocity ⁇ , the first time interval CT ⁇ n and the second time interval CT d2 can be obtained from measurement and computation.
  • the height CHt i.e., the distance between the transmitter Cl l and the horizontal plane CP
  • the included angle C ⁇ , the included angle Cq> and the predetermined distance CRd are known parameters. Therefore the height Ch of the object CT and the distance Cr can be computed by the controller C13 according to the above formulas (1 1) and (12), and are combined with the rotation angle ⁇ obtained from the above formula (2), thereby obtaining the three-dimensional coordinate (x,y,z) of the object CT in the locale, illustrated in the following formula:
  • x represents an x-coordinate distance of the object CT at the height Ch
  • y represents a y-coordinate distance of the object CT at the height Ch
  • z represents a height of the object CT spaced from the horizontal plane CP
  • ⁇ represents the rotation angle
  • the three-dimensional coordinate (x,y,z) of the object CT in the locale can be computed by the microprocessor in the controller C13 according to the angular velocity ⁇ at which the first light signal CS 1, the second light signal CS2 and the third light signal CS3 rotate (or the angular velocity ⁇ at which the first laser wall CS11, the second laser wall CS22 and the third laser wall CS33 rotate), the distance between the transmitter Cl l and the horizontal plane CP(i.e., CHt), the first time interval the second time interval CT d2 and the reference time CtO.
  • FIG. 9A is a schematic view illustrating a coordinate sensing device Bl according to one embodiment of the present invention.
  • the coordinate sensing device Bl comprises a transmitter Bl l, a receiver B12, and a controller B13.
  • the transmitter Bl l is configured to generate a first light signal BS1 and a second light signal BS2.
  • the receiver B12 is configured to sense the first light signal BS1 and the second light signal BS2, so as to generate a receiving signal BSr.
  • the receiver B12 uses a photodiode to detect the first light signal BS1 and the second light signal BS2, and convert the first light signal BS1 and the second light signal BS2 into an electric signal, such as the receiving signal BSr.
  • the controller B13 is configured to output a coordinate of the receiver B12 according to the receiving signal BSr.
  • the transmitter Bl l further comprises a wireless transmission module Bi l l
  • the receiver B 12 also further comprises a wireless transmission module B121.
  • the wireless transmission module Bi l l of the transmitter Bl l is configured to transmit a wireless signal BSn to the wireless transmission module B121 of the receiver B12.
  • the wireless signal BSn can be a pulse signal.
  • the wireless transmission modules Bi l l, B121 can be implemented using the radiofrequency (RF) technology, Bluetooth technology, ZigBee technology, Wi-Fi technology, or other wireless transmission module(s).
  • the controller B13 is coupled with the transmitter Bl l and the receiver B12.
  • the controller B13 is integrated within the transmitter Bl l, whereas the controller B13 and the receiver B12 are communicated through a wireless signal.
  • the controller B13 is integrated within the receiver B12, whereas the controller B13 and the transmitter Bl l are communicated through a wireless signal. It is also feasible to arrange the controller B13 as a separate member, as long as it can be coupled with the transmitter Bl l and the receiver B12 through a wired or wireless connection, and the present invention is not limited thereto. Therefore, the transmitter Bl l, the receiver B12 and controller B13 can be coupled to one another via a wired or wireless connection.
  • the connection among the transmitter B l l, receiver B12, and controller B13 can be implemented by the radiofrequency (RF) technology, Bluetooth technology, ZigBee technology, Wi-Fi technology, or other wireless transmission module(s).
  • RF radiofrequency
  • the controller B13 may comprise a core control assembly of the coordinate sensing device Bl; for example, it may comprise at least one central processing unit (CPU, e.g., a microprocessor) and a memory, or comprises other control hardware(s), software(s), or firmware(s). Accordingly, it is feasible to use the controller B13 to compute the two-dimensional or three-dimensional position of the object BT in a horizontal plane BP.
  • CPU central processing unit
  • a microprocessor e.g., a microprocessor
  • FIG. 9B is a schematic view illustrating the use of a coordinate sensing device Bl of the present invention to output a coordinate of an object BT according to one embodiment.
  • the object BT locates in a locale, in which the locale can be an indoor warehouse space, a marketplace space, an office space, or other kinds of indoor space.
  • the object BT can be a personnel or an article.
  • the receiver B12 of the present coordinate sensing device Bl can be installed on the object BT.
  • the collection of the object BT and the receiver B12 is labeled as BT/B12.
  • the receiver B12 can be disposed in a mobile device (such as, in a mobile phone or tablet) carried by the personnel . Moreover, the receiver B12 can be disposed in a coordinate sensing device worn by the personnel (such as, a smart bracelet or ring worn by the personnel). Additionally, when the object BT is an article, the receiver B12 can be disposed on the article.
  • the object BT and the receiver B12 can move freely in a horizontal plane BP of the locale; for example, the horizontal plane BP can be the ground of the locale.
  • the object BT and the receiver B12 locate at a horizontal level that is substantially the same as the horizontal level of the horizontal plane BP. In other words, the object BT and the receiver B12 is in contact with a surface of the horizontal plane BP.
  • the present invention is not limited thereto.
  • the object BT and the receiver B12 are higher than the horizontal plane BP; nonetheless, this would not affect the operation of the present coordinate sensing device Bl, and the present coordinate sensing device Bl can still output the coordinate of the object BT in the horizontal plane BP.
  • the transmitter Bl l of the coordinate sensing device Bl is disposed above the horizontal plane BP; that is, a horizontal level of the transmitter Bl l is higher than the horizontal level of the horizontal plane BP.
  • the transmitter Bl l can be installed on a ceiling, lighting fixture, smoke detector, air conditioner outlet, or other apparatuses in the locale.
  • the coordinate sensing device Bl can output any coordinate of the object BT in the horizontal plane BP in relative to the transmitter Bl l.
  • the coordinate can be a two-dimensional coordinate or three-dimensional coordinate in the locale.
  • the present embodiment is primarily directed to the operation of a coordinate sensing device Bl that outputs the two-dimensional coordinate of the object BT in the horizontal plane BP; that is, the respective distances in the x-axis and y-axis of the horizontal plane BP.
  • the transmitter Bl l emits a first light signal BS1 and a second light signal BS2 toward the horizontal plane BP, in which the first light signal BS1 and the second light signal BS2 have a pre-determined projection direction.
  • the first light signal BS1 and the second light signal BS2 have the same projection direction.
  • the first light signal BS1 is substantially parallel to the second light signal BS2.
  • first straight ray pattern BL1 and a second straight ray pattern BL2 can be an invisible pattern or visible pattern on the surface of the horizontal plane BP.
  • the transmitter Bl l can be a laser transmitter, which may emit two parallel laser beams; the laser beam can be an infrared (IR) laser beam, or the laser beam can be a laser wall, while the first light signal BS1 and the second light signal BS2 can be a first laser wall and a second laser wall, respectively.
  • the laser wall is a plane formed by beams.
  • the first straight ray pattern BL1 and the second straight ray pattern BL2 respectively formed by the first light signal BS1 and the second light signal BS2 in the horizontal plane BP are also two straight ray patterns that are parallel to each other, in which the distance or spacing between the first straight ray pattern BL1 and the second straight ray pattern BL2 has a fixed value, which is the so-called "pre-determined spacing".
  • the first light signal BS1 and the second light signal BS2 may have different projection directions; for example, the respective projection directions of the first light signal BS1 and the second light signal BS2 form a pre-determined included angle, as illustrated in FIG. 9C, which is a schematic view illustrating the use of the coordinate sensing device Bla of the present invention to output a coordinate of an object BT according to another embodiment.
  • the transmitter Bl la can emit two non-parallel infrared laser beams BSla, BSlb, wherein a pre-determined included angle ⁇ is formed between the respective laser walls of the infrared laser beams BSla, BSlb.
  • the infrared laser beams BSla, BSlb can also form two parallel patterns (i.e., the first straight ray pattern BL1 and the second straight ray pattern BL2) in the horizontal plane BP.
  • the present invention is not limited to any particular aspect of the lights emitted by the transmitter Bl la.
  • the pre-determined included angle ⁇ between the infrared laser beams BSla, BSlb and distance between the transmitter Bl la and horizontal plane BP i.e., the height in the z-axis
  • the object BT and the receiver B12 locate above the horizontal plane BP; that is, the horizontal level of the object BT and the receiver B12 is higher than the horizontal level of the horizontal plane BP, then, as long as the pre-determined included angle ⁇ between the infrared laser beams BSla, BSlb and the distance between the transmitter Bl l and the receiver B12 (i.e., the object BT) are known, it is also feasible to compute the spacing between the first straight ray pattern BL1 and the second straight ray pattern BL2 at the horizontal level of the receiver B12.
  • FIG. 9D is a schematic view illustrating the use of a coordinate sensing device Bl of the present invention to output a coordinate of an object BT according to another embodiment.
  • the transmitter Bl l emits two parallel laser walls toward the horizontal plane BP, i.e., the first light signal BS1 and the second light signal BS2.
  • two parallel straight ray patterns that is the first straight ray pattern BL1 and the second straight ray pattern BL2
  • a point in the horizontal plane BP that is right below the transmitter Bl 1 is defined as a rotation center BO.
  • FIG. 9E is schematic view illustrating the use of a coordinate sensing device Bl of the present invention to output a coordinate of an object BT according to another embodiment.
  • the transmitter Bl l controls the first light signal BS1 and the second light signal BS2 such that the first straight ray pattern BL1 and the second straight ray pattern BL2 rotate about the rotation center BO.
  • the rotation direction is clockwise; however, the present invention is not limited thereto. In another embodiment, the rotation direction can also be counterclockwise.
  • the transmitter B 11 controls the first light signal BS1 and the second light signal BS2 through a control unit (not shown in the drawings) such that the first straight ray pattern BL1 and the second straight ray pattern BL2 rotate about the rotation center BO simultaneously, and therefore, the lights forming the first straight ray pattern BL1 and the second straight ray pattern BL2 sequentially scan over (or pass through) the receiver B12 on the object BT.
  • the rotation center BO of the present invention is not limited to the one on the horizontal plane BP right below the transmitter Bl 1.
  • the transmitter Bl 1 itself also rotates in a different direction such that the rotation center BO on the horizontal plane BP also rotates simultaneously.
  • the transmitter Bl l itself does not rotate, and there are only the first straight ray pattern BL1 and the second straight ray pattern BL2 that rotate about the rotation center BO simultaneously.
  • the first straight ray pattern BL1 and the second straight ray pattern BL2 rotate about the rotation center BO
  • the first straight ray pattern BL1 and the second straight ray pattern BL2 scan over the receiver B12 on the object BT at different time points.
  • the receiver B12 on the object BT senses the light from the first straight ray pattern BL1, and accordingly, the receiver B12 outputs a first signal at a first time point.
  • the receiver B12 on the object BT senses the light from the second straight ray pattern BL2, and accordingly, the receiver B12 outputs a second signal at a second time point.
  • the first signal and the second signal are respectively a first pulse signal and a second pulse signal.
  • FIG. 9F is a top view illustrating the use of a coordinate sensing device Bl of the present invention to scan an object BT according to another embodiment.
  • the first straight ray pattern BL1 and the second straight ray pattern BL2 rotate around the rotation center BO in the horizontal plane BP by 360 degrees
  • the four positions BA, BB, BC, BD on the first straight ray pattern BL1 and the second straight ray pattern BL2 sequentially scan over the receiver B12 on the object BT.
  • the receiver B12 outputs four pulse signals at four corresponding time points, respectively, as illustrated in FIG. 9G.
  • FIG. 9G is an oscillogram of a receiving signal BSr generated by a present receiver B12 according to one embodiment.
  • the receiving signals BSr at the time points Btl, Bt2, Bt3, Bt4 are four pulse signals BSpl, BSp2, BSp3, BSp4, respectively.
  • the pulse signals BSpl and BSp2 correspond to the position BA of the first straight ray pattern BL1 and the position BB of the second straight ray pattern BL2, respectively; while the pulse signals BSp3 and BSp4 correspond to the position BC of the first straight ray pattern BL1 and the position BD of the second straight ray pattern BL2, respectively.
  • the time difference between the respective central time points Btl , Bt3 of the pulse signals BSpl, BSp3 or the time difference between the respective central time points Bt2, Bt4 of the pulse signals BSp2, BSp4 is half the scan period (BTP/2).
  • the angular velocity ⁇ at which the first straight ray pattern BL1 and the second straight ray pattern BL2 rotate in the horizontal plane BP can be calculated from equation (14):
  • the angular velocity ⁇ at which the first straight ray pattern BL1 and the second straight ray pattern BL2 rotate in the horizontal plane BP is a predetermined angular velocity.
  • the coordinate sensing device Bl, Bla can further comprise a filter (not shown in the drawings) disposed on the receiver B12, the filter is configured to allow only the passage of the first straight ray pattern BL1 and the second straight ray pattern BL2.
  • the filter it is possible to filter out the light other than the first straight ray pattern BL1 and the second straight ray pattern BL2, thereby improving the detection accuracy of the receiver B12.
  • FIG. 9H is a top view illustrating the use of a coordinate sensing device Bl of the present invention to scan an object BT according to another embodiment.
  • the first straight ray pattern BL1 and the second straight ray pattern BL2 continue to rotate in the horizontal plane BP about the rotation center BO
  • the first straight ray pattern BL1 and the second straight ray pattern BL2 sequentially scan over the receiver B12 on the object BT.
  • the receiver B12 can sense the first straight ray pattern BL1 and the second straight ray pattern BL2 for multiple times at different time points. Therefore, the receiving signals BSr generated by the receiver B12 will have multiple sets of pulse signals.
  • the transmitter Bl l when the first straight ray pattern BL1 and the second straight ray pattern BL2 scan over the object BT, the transmitter Bl l first uses the wireless transmission module Bi l l depicted in FIG. 9A to transmit a wireless signal BSn to the wireless transmission module B121 of the receiver B 12.
  • the receiver B12 receives the wireless signal BSn
  • the receiver B12 When the receiver B12 receives the wireless signal BSn, the receiver B12 generates a reference time BtO.
  • the reference time BtO is configured to synchronize the transmitter Bl l and the receiver B12, and therefore, the wireless signal BSn can be viewed as a synchronizing signal.
  • the transmitter Bl l transmits the wireless signal BSn to the receiver B12 when the first straight ray pattern BL1 or the second straight ray pattern BL2 has a pre-determined angle or a reference angle (such as, 0 degree), such that the receiver B12 generates a reference time (i.e., BtO).
  • the transmitter Bl l transmits the wireless signal BSn to the receiver B12, such that the receiver B12 generates a reference time (i.e., BtO). In this way, the transmitter Bl l and the receiver B12 are synchronized.
  • the 91 is an oscillogram of a receiving signal BSr generated by a present receiver B12 according to another embodiment.
  • the receiving signals BSr, at the time points Btl, Bt2, are two pulse signals BSpl, BSp2, respectively; the pulse signals BSpl, BSp2 correspond to the position BA of the first straight ray pattern BL1 and the position BB of the second straight ray pattern BL2, respectively.
  • the two pulse signals respectively correspond to the position BC of the first straight ray pattern BL1 and the position BD of second straight ray pattern BL2 are omitted.
  • the receiver B12 receives the wireless signal BSn from the transmitter Bl l at the reference time BtO.
  • the receiving signal BSr generated by the receiver B12 is received and stored by the controller B13.
  • the microprocessor within the controller B13 can record the time point of the rising or falling edge of two consecutive pulse signals BS1, BS2, so that it can further compute the central time points of the pulse signals BS1, BS2, thereby obtaining a more accurate time difference.
  • a mean value of the first time Btl and the second time Bt2 can be calculated; the mean value is (Btl+Bt2)/2.
  • a time difference between the mean value and the reference time BtO is (Btl+Bt2)/2— BtO; this is the time required for the first straight ray pattern BL1 or second straight ray pattern BL2 to rotate from the reference angle to the receiver B12 of the object BT.
  • a rotation angle ⁇ can be calculated by multiplying the time difference between the mean value (i.e., (Btl+Bt2)/2) and the reference time BtO by the angular velocity ⁇ , see the following equation (15):
  • the controller B13 uses the above-mentioned rotation angle ⁇ to compute the two-dimensional coordinate.
  • FIG. 9 J is a top view illustrating the use of the present coordinate sensing device B l to scan two objects BT1, BT2 according to one embodiment.
  • both the two objects BT1, BT2 have a receiver B12 disposed thereon.
  • each of the objects BT1, BT2 forms a different scan angle ⁇ 1, ⁇ 2 with the rotation center BO; that is, ⁇ 1 is different from ⁇ 2.
  • the closer the distance between the object BT1 and the rotation center BO the greater the scan angle ⁇ 1, and therefore, the greater the time difference between the first time Btl and the second time Bt2.
  • FIG. 9K is a top view illustrating the use of the present coordinate sensing device Bl to scan an object BT according to one embodiment.
  • the second straight ray pattern BL2 there is a second point position BP2 that is spaced from the rotation center BO by the same distance BS.
  • first point position BP1 and the rotation center BO form a first straight line
  • second point position BP2 and the rotation center BO form a second straight line
  • first straight line and the second straight line have an included angle ⁇ therebetween. Since the first straight ray pattern BL1 and the second straight ray pattern BL2 have the pre-determined angular velocity ⁇ when they rotate about the rotation center BO, the above-mentioned included angle ⁇ would equal to the product of the pre-determined angular velocity ⁇ and the time difference Bt, see the following equation (16):
  • the controller B13 may compute the angle ⁇ and the distance BS between the rotation center BO and the receiver B12 (i.e., the object BT). Next, the controller B13 may obtain the coordinate (x,y) representing the position of the object BT in the two-dimensional plane of the locale according to following equation (18):
  • x is an x-coordinate distance of the object BT (or receiver B12) in the horizontal plane BP
  • y is a y-coordinate distance of the object BT in the horizontal plane BP.
  • the microprocessor of the controller B13 may compute two sets of coordinate position (x,y) of the object BT in the horizontal plane BP according to the angular velocity ⁇ at which the first straight ray pattern BL1 and the second straight ray pattern BL2 rotate, the spacing BS between the first straight ray pattern BL1 and the second straight ray pattern BL2, the time difference Bt between the first time Btl and the second time Bt2, and the reference time BtO. Therefore, the present invention embodiment may accurately determine the precise location of the object BT in a specific locale.
  • the transmitter Bl l is generally disposed above the person (i.e. the object to be measured BT), so the light emitted by the transmitter does not directly reach the eyes of the person, and therefore it does not cause eye damage.
  • the distance S between the first straight ray pattern BL1 and the second straight ray pattern BL2 changes with the mounting height of the light emitting device Bl l.
  • the value of the distance S can be calculated as long as the relative height between the transmitter B l l and the horizontal plane BP (or the test object BT) can be confirmed in advance.
  • the distance S of the coordinate sensing device Bla is also a predetermined pitch.
  • multiple transmitters Bl l can be installed in multiple lamps in the warehouse, and a larger range of positioning accuracy can be obtained with a lower angular velocity ⁇ . If applied to personnel in more hypermarket spaces, the problem of ghosting needs to be improved with a high angular velocity ⁇ to avoid eye discomfort.
  • a plurality of transmitters Bl l may be respectively mounted on a plurality of lamps, smoke detectors, air conditioning vents, or other devices on the ceiling to detect how many people and their locations or objects are in the field.
  • the location of a shopping cart for example, can be provided to the store for statistics or reference when the product is sold.
  • FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the relationship between the linear distance Br and the interval time Bt in this embodiment.
  • the curve 402 represents the relationship between the linear distance Br between the rotation center BO and the object to be measured BT and the time Bt between the first time Btl and the second time Bt2.
  • the distance S between the first straight ray pattern BL1 and the second first straight ray pattern BL2 is 1 cm
  • the angular velocity of the first first straight ray pattern BL1 and the second 1 first straight ray pattern BL2 is 120 rotations per second.
  • different time interval Bt can be obtained for different distances Br, and the measurable distance Br is about 520 cm.
  • the distance Br between the rotation center BO and the object BT is about 260 cm. If the test object BT is closer to the rotation center BO, the positioning accuracy of the test object BT is higher. [000165]
  • the object BT and the horizontal plane BP of the above embodiment are at substantially the same level. However, in some cases, the test object BT may be higher than the horizontal height of the horizontal plane BP. If the horizontal height of the test object BT is higher than the horizontal height of the horizontal plane BP, the above operation method can be applied to calculate the horizontal height of the test object BT as long as the horizontal plane BP is changed to the horizontal height of the test object BT. For the sake of simplicity, the details of its operation flow will not be described here.
  • the coordinate sensing device of the invention can be further extended to calculate the three-dimensional coordinates (x, y, z) of the Bl, in which x represents a horizontal horizontal distance of the object BT to be measured, y represents an ordinate distance of the object BT at the level, and z represents the horizontal height of the object BT to be measured.
  • the coordinate distance x and ordinate distance y of the three-dimensional coordinates (x, y, z) can be computed by using the above method, and the horizontal height z can be calculated by another height sensor, as shown in Figure 11.
  • Fig. 1 1 illustrates another embodiment of the coordinate sensing device Bib based on the present invention.
  • the coordinate sensing device Bib in addition to all the components and technical contents of the coordinate sensing device Bl, the coordinate sensing device Bib includes a first pressure sensor B14 and a second pressure sensor B15.
  • the first pressure sensor B14 is installed on the to be measured object BT, and can sense a first pressure Al .
  • the first gas pressure sensor B14 is set directly against the transmitter Bl l to sense the atmospheric pressure of the altitude, by which the height information of the first pressure sensor B 14 position is obtained.
  • the first pressure sensor B14 is a barometric altimeter, which can be obtained by sensing atmospheric pressure.
  • the first pressure sensor B14 can be set independently.
  • the first pressure sensor B14 can be installed adjacent to the transmitter Bl l, and can be mounted independently in the ceiling lamps, or posts, or near the smoke detectors, or the air conditioner outlet, or other equipment.
  • the second pressure sensor BIS is mounted on the to be measured object BT and is adjacent to the receiver B12.
  • a second air pressure A2 can be sensed by the second pressure sensor B15. Since the second pressure sensor BIS is disposed on the to be measured object BT, the atmospheric pressure sensed by the second pressure sensor B15 is the atmospheric pressure at the height of the to be measured object BT. The height information of the to be measured object is obtained.
  • the controller B13 is further coupled to the first air pressure sensor B14 and the second air pressure sensor BIS, respectively, and the controller B13 can further obtain the to be measured object in the field according to the first air pressure Al and the second air pressure A2.
  • the height information makes the coordinate sensing device Bib of this embodiment a three-dimensional positioning device.
  • the controller B13, the first air pressure sensor B14 and the second air pressure sensor B15 may be wired or wirelessly coupled.
  • the wireless mode is radio frequency technology (RF), Bluetooth technology, ZigBee technology, Wi-Fi technology, or other wireless transmission modules.
  • the controller B13 may also be integrated with the second air pressure sensor BIS into a same component and disposed on the to be measured object BT.
  • a mobile device carried by a person may include a controller B13 and a second air pressure sensor BIS at the same time.
  • the height information of the first pressure sensor B14 can be obtained through the first air pressure Al, and the height information of the second air pressure sensor B15 (ie, the test object BT) can be obtained through the second air pressure A2.
  • the controller B13 can obtain a height difference between the first air pressure sensor B14 and the second air pressure sensor BIS according to the first air pressure Al and the second air pressure A2.
  • the accuracy of this height difference may be less than 20 centimeters, or in some special cases it may even be accurate to less than 5 centimeters.
  • the height difference between the installation position of the first air pressure sensor B14 and the horizontal plane BP is known, the height of the test object BT above the horizontal plane BP (the direction perpendicular to the horizontal plane BP) can be measured. Further, the height difference between the first air pressure sensor B14 and the horizontal plane BP is subtracted from the height difference between the first air pressure sensor B14 and the second air pressure sensor B15 to obtain the height of the test object BT above the plane BP. Together with the two-dimensional position and the height above the plane BP of the above-mentioned object BT, the three-dimensional position coordinates of the object BT can be obtained.
  • FIG. 12 is a flow chart of a method B600 for measuring coordinate.
  • the sequence of steps shown in FIG. 12 is not limited to the B600 of this embodiment method, the order of which can be arbitrarily adjusted or inserted into other necessary steps.
  • the method B600 includes the following steps:
  • Step B602 generating a first light signal and a second light signal, wherein the first light signal and the second light signal are projected on a horizontal plane respectively to present a first straight ray pattern and a second straight ray pattern, wherein the first straight ray pattern and the second straight ray pattern have a predetermined spacing.
  • Step B604 rotating the first straight ray pattern and the second straight ray pattern around a point on the horizontal plane.
  • Step B606 transmitting a signal to the object to generate a reference time.
  • Step B608 recording a first time and a second time when the first straight ray pattern and the second straight ray pattern scan the object respectively.
  • Step B610 deriving the predetermined spacing between the first straight ray pattern and the second straight ray pattern.
  • Step B612 deriving a predetermined angular velocity of the straight ray light pattern and the second straight ray pattern on the horizontal plane.
  • Step B614 deriving a linear distance between the rotating center and the object according to the predetermined angular velocity, the first time, the second time and the predetermined spacing.
  • Step B616 deriving a rotational angle of the first straight ray pattern and the second straight ray pattern according to the predetermined angular velocity, the first time, the second time and the reference time.
  • Step B618 deriving a two-dimensional coordinate of the object according to the linear distance and the rotation angle.
  • FIG. 13 is a side view of another embodiment of calculating a three-dimensional coordinates of the object T using the coordinate sensing device CI of the present invention.
  • the embodiment shown in FIG. 13 is similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 8C, and therefore the reference numerals in FIG. 13 are similar to those in FIG. 8C.
  • other components are similar to those of FIG. 8 J. Therefore, for the sake of simplicity, the element numbers of FIG. 13 are similar to those of FIG. 8J.
  • the element numbers of FIG. 13 are similar to those of FIG. 8J.
  • FIG. 13 please refer to both FIG. 8K and FIG. 13.
  • the transmitter 1 1 a projects the first optical signal Sla, the second optical signal Sib, and the third optical signal Sic from the first transmitting terminal 01, the second transmitting terminal 02, and the third transmitting terminal 03, respectively.
  • the optical signal Sla is substantially parallel to the third optical signal Sic
  • the second optical signal Sib is non -parallel to the first optical signal Sla and the third optical signal Sic.
  • the laser light wall SI la of the first optical signal Sla and the laser light wall Sl lc of the third optical signal Sic respectively.
  • Sl lc is perpendicular to the bottom surface 112a of the transmitter 11a respectively.
  • the first light signal Sla, the second light signal Sib and the third light signal Sic are respectively emitted to the horizontal plane P with their predetermined projection directions, three parallel linear light patterns appear on the horizontal plane P, ie, the first straight ray pattern LI .
  • the distance (a straight line distance or the shortest distance) between the first transmitting terminal 02 and the third emitting terminal 03 is a predetermined distance S. Since the laser light walls SI la, Sl lc of the first optical signal Sla and the third optical signal Sic are respectively emitted from the bottom surface 112a to the horizontal plane P, the distance between the first straight optical pattern LI and the third straight optical pattern L3 on the horizontal plane P is also S.
  • a center point between the first transmitting terminal 02 and the third transmitting terminal 03 is X. During operation, the transmitter 11a rotates around the center point X so that the first straight ray pattern LI, the second straight ray pattern L2, and the third straight ray pattern L3 rotate around the rotation center O.
  • a normal line N perpendicular to the rotation center O is aligned with the center point X of the bottom surface 112a.
  • a predetermined distance (straight line distance or shortest distance) Rd is between the second emitting terminal 02 and the center point X, and a predetermined angle ⁇ is formed between the second laser emitting wall SI lb and the bottom surface 112a.
  • the first laser light wall SI la intersects with the horizontal line 401 at point a
  • the second laser light wall SI lb intersects with the horizontal line 401 at point b
  • Normal N intersects horizontal line 401 at point d.
  • the line distance between point d and point c is d a
  • the straight line distance between point b and point d is dt >
  • the straight line distance between point a and point d is d c .
  • the straight distances d a , dt>, and d c will change as the height h of the test object T changes.
  • FIG. 14 is a top view of an embodiment of scanning the object to be tested T using the coordinate sensing device l a of FIG. 13. Please note that for the sake of simplicity, some of the elements in FIG. 14 are numbered similar to those in FIG. 8K.
  • a distance between the normal line N of the rotation center O and the receiver 12 of the object to be measured T is r.
  • the position of SI la rotating through the object T is a first point PI .
  • a same distance r is also measured from point P2 on the position of the second laser light wall to the normal line N of the rotation center O, and a same distance r is also measured from a position P3 on the third laser light wall S l lc to the rotation center O of the normal N.
  • the first point PI and the normal line N of the rotation center O form a first straight line 502.
  • the second P2 and the normal line N form a second straight line 504, and the third point P3 and the normal line N form a third straight line 506.
  • a fourth straight line 508 is located midway between the first laser light wall SI 1 and the third laser light wall S33.
  • the fourth straight line 508 is parallel to the first laser light wall S I la or the third laser light wall Sl lc.
  • the first straight line 502 and the third straight line 506 form an included angle ⁇ .
  • the first straight line 502 and the fourth straight line 508 form an included angle a.
  • the fourth straight line 508 and the second straight line 504 form an included angle ⁇
  • the second straight line 504 and the third straight line 506 form an angle ⁇ .
  • the included angle ⁇ is equal to the sum of the included angles ⁇ , ⁇ , ⁇ .
  • the included angle a is substantially half of the included angle ⁇ . Since the f first straight ray pattern LI and the second first straight ray pattern L2 have a predetermined angular velocity ⁇ when rotated with the rotation center O, the above-mentioned included angle a will be equal to the predetermined angular velocity ⁇ times an average of the first time interval T,u and the second time interval Td2. The value is as shown in equation (19):
  • the first straight line distance da is equal to the third straight line distance dc, as shown in equation (20):
  • the predetermined distance S is a known parameter
  • the first straight line distance d a and the third straight line distance d c are also known parameters.
  • the controller 13 can calculate the values of the straight line distance r and the height h according to the following two sets of equations (27) and (28) as follows:
  • the controller 13 can solve the height h and the distance r of the device T from the simultaneous equations (27) and (28) as shown in the following equations (29) and (30).
  • x represents an abscissa distance of the object T at the height h
  • y represents an ordinate distance of the object T at the height h
  • z represents the height of the object T from the horizontal plane P
  • ⁇ represents the rotation angle
  • the microprocessor in the controller 13 can use the angular velocity ⁇ of the first optical signal SI a, the second optical signal Sib and the third optical signal Sic (or the angular velocity ⁇ of the first laser light wall SI la, the second laser light wall SI lb and the third laser light wall SI lc), the distance between the transmitter 11a and the horizontal plane P (ie, Ht), the first time interval T d i, the second time interval T d2 , and reference to time to to calculate the three- dimensional position coordinates (x, y, z) of the object T. Therefore, the embodiment of the present invention can accurately obtain the exact position of the object T in a specific field.
  • the transmitters 11 and 11a are generally disposed above the person (object T to be measured), and therefore the light emitted from the transmitters 11 and 11a does not directly reach the personnel and causes damage to the human eye.
  • the rotational speeds of the three light beams emitted from the transmitters 11 , 11a are changed (ie, the angular velocity ⁇ is changed)
  • the resolution of the coordinate sensing devices 1, la can be changed.
  • the coordinate sensing device 1 can accurately calculate the coordinate position of the object T even if the distance of the object T is relatively long.
  • angular ⁇ of the three rays is too low, for example, lower than a predetermined value, there will be ghosting of the laser stripes, which will affect the visual experience of people.
  • a plurality of transmitters 11 and 1 1a can be respectively installed in a plurality of lamps in a warehouse, and a larger range of positioning accuracy can be obtained at a lower angular velocity ⁇ .
  • a plurality of transmitters 11 and 11 a may be respectively mounted on a plurality of lamps, smoke detectors, air conditioning outlets, or other devices on the ceiling to detect how many people and their locations are in the field. In some cases, the type of object can be detected too.
  • the data can be provided to the store for statistics or reference when the product is sold.
  • FIG. 15 is a flowchart of an embodiment of a method C600 for computing a coordinate of an object according to the present invention.
  • the sequence of steps shown in FIG. 15 is not limited by the method C600 of the present embodiment. The sequence may be adjusted or inserted as necessary according to actual requirements.
  • Method C600 includes the following steps.
  • step C602 generating a first optical signal, a second optical signal, and a third optical signal, wherein the first optical signal, the second optical signal, and the third optical signal are projected on a horizontal plane and respectively appears as a first straight line pattern, a second straight light pattern and a third straight light pattern.
  • the first light signal, the second light signal and the third light signal respectively have a first projection direction, a second projection direction and a The third projection direction is projected at the horizontal plane.
  • step C604 rotating the first straight light pattern, the second straight light pattern, and the third straight light pattern about a rotation center on the horizontal plane.
  • step C606 sending a wireless signal to the object under measured to generate a reference time.
  • step C608 calculating a first time, a second time, and a third time when the first laser light wall, the second laser light wall, and the third laser light wall scan the object to be measured.
  • step C610 calculating an angular velocity of the first straight light pattern, the second straight light pattern, and the third straight light pattern on the horizontal plane.
  • step C612 calculating a rotation angle according to the angular velocity, the first time, the third time, and the reference time.
  • step C614 calculating the object according to the first time, the second time, the third time, the angular velocity, a first height, a predetermined distance, a first predetermined included angle, and a second predetermined included angle to get a second height.
  • the first height is the height of a transmitter
  • the predetermined distance is a distance between a first transmitting terminal of the first optical signal and the third optical signal and a second transmitting terminal for emitting the second optical signal.
  • the first predetermined included angle is the angle between the first optical signal and the third optical signal
  • the second predetermined included angle is an angle between the second optical signal and a bottom surface.
  • step C616 calculating the three-dimensional coordinates of the object according to the straight line distance and the rotation angle.
  • FIG. 16 is a flowchart of an embodiment of a method C700 for computing a coordinate of an object according to the present invention.
  • the sequence of steps shown in FIG. 16 is not limited by the method C700 of the present embodiment. The sequence may be adjusted or inserted as necessary according to actual requirements.
  • Method C700 includes the following steps.
  • step C702 generating a first optical signal, a second optical signal, and a third optical signal, wherein the first optical signal, the second optical signal, and the third optical signal are projected on a horizontal plane to respectively appear as a first straight light pattern, a second straight light pattern and a third straight light pattern.
  • the first light signal, the second light signal and the third light signal respectively have a first projection direction, a second projection direction and a third projection direction and projected on the horizontal plane.
  • step C704 rotating the first straight light pattern, the second straight light pattern, and the third straight light pattern about a rotation center on the horizontal plane.
  • step C706 sending a wireless signal to the object to be measured to generate a reference time.
  • step C708 calculating a first time, a second time, and a third time when the first laser light wall, the second laser light wall, and the third laser light wall scan the object.
  • step C710 calculating an angular velocity of the first straight light pattern, the second straight light pattern, and the third straight light pattern on the horizontal plane.
  • step C712 calculating a rotation angle according to the angular velocity, the first time, the third time, and the reference time.
  • step C714 calculating the object according to the first time, the second time, the third time, the angular velocity, a first height, a first predetermined distance, a second predetermined distance, and a predetermined included angle to get a second height.
  • the first height is the height of a transmitter
  • the first predetermined distance is a distance between a first emitting terminal for emitting the first optical signal and a third transmitting terminal for emitting the third optical signal.
  • the second predetermined distance is a distance between a second transmitting terminal for emitting the second optical signal and a center point of the optical signal.
  • the predetermined included angle is an angle between the second optical signal and a bottom surface.
  • step C716 calculating the three-dimensional coordinates of the object according to the straight line distance and the rotation angle.
  • the coordinate sensing device of the present invention can be utilized in a positioning system.
  • the coordinate sensing device transmits three straight light patterns emitted by a transmitter and rotates a rotation center to simultaneously scan an object.
  • the transmitter further sends a synchronization signal to a receiver on the object to generate a reference time.
  • the receiver outputs a first signal when detecting the first optical signal at a first time, outputs a second signal when detecting the second optical signal at a second time, and detects the second optical signal at a third time.
  • a third signal is output when the third light signal is detected.
  • the coordinate sensing device calculates the first time, the second time, the third time, a reference time, the angular velocity when the three lights rotate, the distance between the transmitting ends, and other known information.
  • a monitoring apparatus includes: a first operational device arranged to perform a first predetermined function and accordingly transmit a first instruction signal; a second operational device arranged to receive a second instruction signal and accordingly perform a second predetermined function; a first monitoring device coupled to the first operational device for generating a first detecting event according to an operation of the first operational device; and a second monitoring device coupled to the second operational device for generating a second detecting event according to the operation of the second operational device.
  • the first monitoring device is wirelessly coupled to the second monitoring device, and the first detecting event and the second detecting event are used to determine if the first operational device and the second operational device perform the first predetermined function and the second predetermined function respectively.
  • a monitoring method includes: arranging a first operational device to perform a first predetermined function and accordingly transmitting a first instruction signal; arranging a second operational device to receive a second instruction signal and accordingly performing a second predetermined function; generating a first detecting event according to an operation of the first operational device; generating a second detecting event according to the operation of the second operational device; and using the first detecting event and the second detecting event to determine if the first operational device and the second operational device perform the first predetermined function and the second predetermined function respectively.

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  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computing Systems (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
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  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
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Abstract

L'invention concerne un appareil de surveillance qui comprend : un premier dispositif opérationnel agencé pour effectuer une première fonction prédéterminée et transmettre en conséquence un premier signal d'instruction ; un second dispositif opérationnel agencé pour recevoir un second signal d'instruction et exécuter en conséquence une seconde fonction prédéterminée ; un premier dispositif de surveillance couplé au premier dispositif opérationnel pour générer un premier événement de détection en fonction d'une opération du premier dispositif opérationnel ; et un second dispositif de surveillance couplé au second dispositif opérationnel pour générer un second événement de détection en fonction du fonctionnement du second dispositif opérationnel. Le premier dispositif de surveillance est couplé sans fil au second dispositif de surveillance, et le premier événement de détection et le second événement de détection sont utilisés pour déterminer si le premier dispositif opérationnel et le second dispositif opérationnel réalisent respectivement la première fonction prédéterminée et la seconde fonction prédéterminée.
PCT/US2018/029788 2017-04-28 2018-04-27 Appareil de surveillance et procédé associé WO2018200950A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP18791677.0A EP3616099A1 (fr) 2017-04-28 2018-04-27 Appareil de surveillance et procédé associé

Applications Claiming Priority (6)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
TW106114265A TWI682189B (zh) 2016-08-12 2017-04-28 座標感測裝置及感測方法
TW106114265 2017-04-28
US201762512834P 2017-05-31 2017-05-31
US62/512,834 2017-05-31
US15/672,704 US20180048554A1 (en) 2016-08-12 2017-08-09 Monitoring apparatus and related method
US15/672,704 2017-08-09

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Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
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CN112738287A (zh) * 2020-12-23 2021-04-30 波达通信设备（广州）有限公司 室外机以太网ip重置系统、方法及计算机存储介质

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US20150166197A1 (en) * 2013-12-17 2015-06-18 Goodrich Lighting Systems Gmbh Aircraft light unit and aircraft having such aircraft light unit
US20160006591A1 (en) * 2013-03-15 2016-01-07 Reactive Technologies Limited Method, apparatus and computer program for transmitting and/or receiving signals
US20160381596A1 (en) * 2015-06-25 2016-12-29 The Board Of Trustees Of The University Of Alabama Intelligent multi-beam medium access control in ku-band for mission-oriented mobile mesh networks

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US20160006591A1 (en) * 2013-03-15 2016-01-07 Reactive Technologies Limited Method, apparatus and computer program for transmitting and/or receiving signals
US20150166197A1 (en) * 2013-12-17 2015-06-18 Goodrich Lighting Systems Gmbh Aircraft light unit and aircraft having such aircraft light unit
US20160381596A1 (en) * 2015-06-25 2016-12-29 The Board Of Trustees Of The University Of Alabama Intelligent multi-beam medium access control in ku-band for mission-oriented mobile mesh networks

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN112738287A (zh) * 2020-12-23 2021-04-30 波达通信设备（广州）有限公司 室外机以太网ip重置系统、方法及计算机存储介质

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