DOI: https://doi.org/10.15368/theses.2011.123
Available at: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/theses/566
Date of Award
6-2011
Degree Name
MS in Electrical Engineering
Department/Program
Electrical Engineering
Advisor
Tina Smilkstein
Abstract
Falls are a cause of concern for the elderly since it can render a person immobile. A monitoring system can summon immediate aid by the automatic detection of fall events. The application of ultra-wideband (UWB) signals for a monitoring system was chosen due to its unique characteristics such as wide spectrum, immunity to interference, penetrability, and application for the detection of people. Part of this monitoring system is boundary detection with the purpose of isolating the location of fall events and to function as a mask to define an area of interest. A study of various localizing methods using measurements such as power, distance, and angle with ultra-wideband is presented.
A frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) based system is an acceptable solution for boundary detection. A FMCW system measures distance with UWB signals. With the addition of a unique reflector, the system is able to identify the reflector via the return frequency-spectrum fingerprint. With distance and the addition angle measurements, the system can determine the boundary with a sensor located at a single location.