Embodiments of the present invention include radio frequency identification location systems and methods. In one embodiment, RF signals are transmitted from one or more RFID readers, and in accordance therewith, backscattered signals are received from a tag to be located. A plurality of measured position parameters are used to determine a location of the tag. In one embodiment, one reader may transmit and three readers may receive signals to determine the position of a tag. In other embodiments, multiple readers may transmit and receive. In another embodiment, one reader may transmit from different positions to locate a tag. Embodiments of the invention may be used to track a moving tag. A reader's position may be determined using GPS, reference tags, or the reader may be positioned in a known location. A map may be provided to a user to display the location or movement of a tag or a corresponding item.

One variation of a method includes: defining a first capacitance gradient of capacitance thresholds spanning a capacitive touch sensor; defining a first pressure gradient of pressure thresholds spanning a pressure sensor; reading a capacitance value from the capacitive touch sensor proximal a first location; detecting presence of a first input at the first location in response to the capacitance value exceeding a capacitance threshold assigned to the first location; reading a pressure value from the pressure sensor proximal the first location; detecting presence of a second input proximal the first location in response to the pressure value exceeding a pressure threshold; in response to detecting the first input and detecting the second input: merging the first input and the second input into a confirmed touch input; and generating a first touch image representing the first location and the pressure value of the confirmed touch input.

An antenna module is described for configuring a mobile device, e.g., a smartphone, to locate an animal wearing a radiofrequency (RF) transmitter, the module having a directional antenna structure, the antenna structure including a plurality of antenna elements configured to generate a directional radiation field; at least one RF receiver connected to the directional antenna structure; and, a controller configured to control the RF transceiver and a mobile device interface for providing communication with the mobile device, the controller being configured to execute the steps of: receiving one or more time series of beacons signals broadcasted by the RF transmitter that is within the directional radiation field of the directional antenna structure; determining distance estimates for beacon signals in the one or more time series, a distance estimate being determined by the antenna module on the basis of a signal strength and/or a signal quality of a detected beacon signal.

An antenna module is described for configuring a mobile device, e.g., a smartphone, to locate an animal wearing a radiofrequency (RF) transmitter, the module having a directional antenna structure, the antenna structure including a plurality of antenna elements configured to generate a directional radiation field; at least one RF receiver connected to the directional antenna structure; and, a controller configured to control the RF transceiver and a mobile device interface for providing communication with the mobile device, the controller being configured to execute the steps of: receiving one or more time series of beacons signals broadcasted by the RF transmitter that is within the directional radiation field of the directional antenna structure; determining distance estimates for beacon signals in the one or more time series, a distance estimate being determined by the antenna module on the basis of a signal strength and/or a signal quality of a detected beacon signal.

A communication apparatus comprises a memory storing instructions which cause to function as: a first communication unit configured to communicate with an external apparatus using a first communication method in which directionality of radio waves is variable; a second communication unit configured to communicate with the external apparatus using a second communication method in which directionality of radio waves is variable; and a control unit configured to control the first communication unit and the second communication unit so as to, after communication using the first communication method has been established, switch communication with the external apparatus to communication using the second communication method, wherein the control unit controls directionality of second radio waves in the second communication method, using information regarding directionality of first radio waves used in the first communication method.

A communication apparatus comprises a memory storing instructions which cause to function as: a first communication unit configured to communicate with an external apparatus using a first communication method in which directionality of radio waves is variable; a second communication unit configured to communicate with the external apparatus using a second communication method in which directionality of radio waves is variable; and a control unit configured to control the first communication unit and the second communication unit so as to, after communication using the first communication method has been established, switch communication with the external apparatus to communication using the second communication method, wherein the control unit controls directionality of second radio waves in the second communication method, using information regarding directionality of first radio waves used in the first communication method.

A wireless energy transmitting apparatus includes: a direction-finding and location device configured to determine a position of an energy receiving apparatus based on beacon information of the energy receiving apparatus; an energy generation device configured to generate energy, convert the energy into high-frequency electromagnetic waves having a frequency higher than a predetermined frequency threshold, and transmit the high-frequency electromagnetic waves to the energy receiving apparatus; and a processor configured to control the energy generation device to transmit the high-frequency electromagnetic waves to the energy receiving apparatus based on the position of the energy receiving apparatus. The position of the energy receiving end is determined based on the direction-finding and location device, and the energy generation device is controlled to convert the energy into high-frequency electromagnetic waves having a frequency higher than a predetermined frequency and transmit the same to the energy receiving end.

A wireless energy transmitting apparatus includes: a direction-finding and location device configured to determine a position of an energy receiving apparatus based on beacon information of the energy receiving apparatus; an energy generation device configured to generate energy, convert the energy into high-frequency electromagnetic waves having a frequency higher than a predetermined frequency threshold, and transmit the high-frequency electromagnetic waves to the energy receiving apparatus; and a processor configured to control the energy generation device to transmit the high-frequency electromagnetic waves to the energy receiving apparatus based on the position of the energy receiving apparatus. The position of the energy receiving end is determined based on the direction-finding and location device, and the energy generation device is controlled to convert the energy into high-frequency electromagnetic waves having a frequency higher than a predetermined frequency and transmit the same to the energy receiving end.

A communication system using vector and scalar potential is disclosed. The system uses field-free potentials signaling for many applications where the absence of shielding effects in sea water, plasma or other dense media due to the fact that the absence of (E,B) fields eliminates the possibility of induced charge and current response in the media being transited.

Methods and systems related to an antenna orientation are disclosed herein. In one specific embodiment, a system comprises a positioning device configured to generate a positioning signal, a control object, and an object antenna configured to receive the positioning signal. The object antenna has a first polarization axis and is located on the control object. The system also comprises a positioning device antenna configured to transmit the positioning signal. The positioning device antenna has a second polarization axis and is located on the positioning device. The first polarization axis and the second polarization axis are offset from parallel by greater than thirty degrees when the positioning device and control object are in a standard operating mode. The first polarization axis and the second polarization axis are offset from perpendicular by greater than thirty degrees when the positioning device and control object are in a standard operating mode.