GNSS Signal Processing with Synthesized Base Station Data
Granted: June 21, 2012
Application Number:
20120154215
Methods and apparatus are described for determining position of a rover antenna, comprising: obtaining rover GNSS data derived from code observations and carrier phase observations of GNSS signals of multiple satellites over multiple epochs, obtaining precise satellite data for the satellites, determining a virtual base station location, generating epochs of synthesized base station data using at least the precise satellite data and the virtual base station location, and applying a…
SYSTEM FOR POSITIONING A TOOL IN A WORK SPACE
Granted: May 31, 2012
Application Number:
20120136475
A system for assisting in the use by an operator of the operating element of a tool at desired locations at a worksite, includes a stationary control and a position sensor secured to the tool. The stationary control is located at the worksite, and has data stored therein specifying one or more desired locations for operation of the operating element of the tool at the worksite. A position sensor is mounted on the tool. The position sensor determines the position of the operating element…
STATIONING AN UNLEVELED OPTICAL TOTAL STATION
Granted: May 24, 2012
Application Number:
20120127455
A method of stationing an unleveled optical total station includes placing the unleveled optical total station at a first station. At the first station, positions of at least three non-collinear measurement points in an instrument coordinate system are determined using the unleveled optical total station. The method also includes obtaining positions of the at least three non-collinear measurement points in a local coordinate system. A transformation is computed between the instrument…
GNSS ATMOSPHERIC ESTIMATION WITH AMBIGUITY FIXING
Granted: May 17, 2012
Application Number:
20120119944
Methods and apparatus are presented for estimating environmental parameters from GNSS signals in real time. Some embodiments estimate a float solution using a federated ionospheric filter. Some embodiments fix ambiguities for improved estimates.
PLANTER ASSEMBLY WITH SELECTIVELY ACTUATED OUTPUT
Granted: May 10, 2012
Application Number:
20120111248
An actuating system for a planting device. The actuating system has an electric motor that provides an actuating force for a seed shaft. A pneumatic acting member is connected to a source of compressed air through a valve and positioned to engage the electric motor to actuate the electric motor. The source of compressed air and electric motor can thus be connected to a controller that operates the source of compressed air and the electric motor in order to provide selective actuation to…
LAYOUT METHOD
Granted: May 3, 2012
Application Number:
20120105870
A method of directing a beam of laser light at a target point on a wall or other generally vertical surface defined by the intersection of a reference line with the wall or surface includes the steps of: a.) defining the reference line, b.) calculating the three dimensional location of a point on the line, c.) directing a beam of laser light from an automated total station toward said point on the line, d.) measuring the three dimensional location of the reference point on the vertical…
Wide-area agricultural monitoring and prediction
Granted: April 26, 2012
Application Number:
20120101784
Ground-based measurements of agricultural metrics such as NDVI are used to calibrate wide-area aerial measurements of the same metrics. Calibrated wide-area data may then be used as an input to a field prescription processor.
GNSS ATMOSPHERIC ESTIMATION WITH FEDERATED IONOSPHERIC FILTER
Granted: April 19, 2012
Application Number:
20120092213
Methods and apparatus are presented for estimating environmental parameters from GNSS signals in real time. Some embodiments estimate a float solution using a federated ionospheric filter. Some embodiments fix ambiguities for improved estimates.
Tracking Carbon Output in Agricultural Applications
Granted: April 12, 2012
Application Number:
20120089304
Novel tools and techniques to enhance and/or facilitate the collection, tracking, and/or verification of greenhouse gas emissions and/or savings, particularly (but not exclusively) in agricultural applications. Some tools, for example, can assist in the verification of carbon credits that may result from conservation tilling activities. Other embodiments can track greenhouse gas emissions that result from agricultural activities, including without limitation the application of…
Cordless inertial vehicle navigation
Granted: March 1, 2012
Application Number:
20120053834
Inertial navigation systems for wheeled vehicles with constrained motion degrees of freedom are described.
Smart-phone bracket for car and truck navigation
Granted: March 1, 2012
Application Number:
20120048014
Inertial navigation systems for wheeled vehicles with constrained motion degrees of freedom are described. Various parts of the navigation systems may be implemented in a smart-phone.
GNSS Signal Processing Methods and Apparatus
Granted: February 2, 2012
Application Number:
20120026038
Methods and apparatus are provided for processing a set of GNSS signal data derived from observations of GNSS signals of multiple transmitters over multiple epochs, the GNSS signals having a first signal and a second signal in a first band which can be tracked as a single wide-band signal and each of which can be tracked separately, comprising: obtaining carrier-phase observations of the first signal, obtaining carrier-phase observations of the second signal, obtaining code observations…
METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DETERMINING ANGLES AND LOCATIONS OF POINTS
Granted: January 19, 2012
Application Number:
20120013736
An apparatus for determining an azimuth of a target point is provided. The apparatus includes a support structure and an imaging device coupled to the support structure and configured to provide image data. The apparatus also includes a position measuring device coupled to the support structure and configured to determine position information and a processor in electrical communication with the imaging device and the position measuring device. The processor is configured to receive the…
GNSS Surveying Methods and Apparatus
Granted: November 24, 2011
Application Number:
20110285587
Methods and apparatus are presented for improved productivity in determining static position of an antenna of a GNSS rover, such as in stop-and-go surveying. Computer-implemented methods and apparatus provide for determining a static position of an antenna of a GNSS rover from observations of GNSS signals collected at the antenna over multiple epochs and from correction data for at least one of the epochs. In some forms this comprises: acquiring first-epoch rover observations of GNSS…
GNSS Signal Processing Methods and Apparatus with Ionospheric Filters
Granted: November 17, 2011
Application Number:
20110279314
Methods and apparatus are provided for processing a set of GNSS signal data derived from signals of a first set of satellites having at least three carriers and signals of a second set of satellites having two carriers. A geometry filter uses a geometry filter combination to obtain an array of geometry-filter ambiguity estimates for the geometry filter combination and associated statistical information. Ionosphere filters use a two-frequency ionospheric combination to obtain an array of…
Agricultural Spreader Control
Granted: November 17, 2011
Application Number:
20110278381
A spreader control system digitally filters noisy load cell measurements and inaccurate flow rate measurements to form an optimal estimate of material weight in a spreader bin. This estimate may be combined with spreader swath width and vehicle speed to determine application rate. When actuators for parameters such as apron speed or gate size are available, spreading rates may be controlled with active feedback.
GNSS Signal Processing Methods and Apparatus with Geometric Filter
Granted: November 3, 2011
Application Number:
20110267228
Methods and apparatus are provided for processing a set of GNSS signal data derived from signals of a first set of satellites having at least three carriers and signals of a second set of satellites having two carriers. A geometry filter uses a geometry filter combination to obtain an array of geometry-filter ambiguity estimates for the geometry filter combination and associated statistical information. Ionosphere filters use a two-frequency ionospheric combination to obtain an array of…
GNSS Signal Processing Methods and Apparatus with Ambiguity Convergence Indication
Granted: November 3, 2011
Application Number:
20110267226
Methods and apparatus are provided for estimating parameters, i.e. ambiguities, derived from GNSS signals. Observations of a GNSS signal from each of a plurality of GNSS satellites are obtained (2120). The observations are fed to a filter having a state vector comprising a float ambiguity for each received frequency of the GNSS signals (2140). The filter estimates a float value for each float ambiguity of the state vector and co-variance values associated with the state vector. Integer…
GNSS Signal Processing Methods and Apparatus With Candidate Set Selection
Granted: October 27, 2011
Application Number:
20110260914
Methods and apparatus are provided for estimating parameters, i.e. ambiguities, derived from GNSS signals. Observations of GNSS signals are obtained from each of a plurality of GNSS satellites (120). The observations are fed to a filter having a state vector at least comprising a float ambiguity for each received frequency of the GNSS signals (140). The filter estimates float value for each float ambiguity of the state vector. Integer values are assigned to at least a subgroup of the…
High Efficiency Backup-Power Circuits for Switch-Mode Power Supplies
Granted: October 27, 2011
Application Number:
20110260539
Disclosed are novel interconnections of a coupling circuit and an energy storage device which enables the storage device to provide back-up power for a switching power supply without requiring the device to store or output high voltage, and which enables full utilization of the energy stored in the device. In exemplary embodiments, the combination of the coupling circuit and the energy storage device may be coupled between the input and output of the switching power supply (e.g., between…
