Managed traverse system and method to acquire accurate survey data in absence of precise GPS data
Granted: June 2, 2009
Patent Number:
7541974
A method and system obtains precise survey-grade position data of target points in zones where precise GPS data cannot be obtained, due to natural or man-made objects such as foliage and buildings. The system comprises a GPS receiver mounted on a survey pole, with an inertial measurement unit (IMU) and an electronic distance meter (EDM) also mounted on the pole. The system and method obtains GPS data when outside the zone and uses the IMU inside the zone to traverse to a target point,…
GNSS signal processing with partial fixing of ambiguities
Granted: May 26, 2009
Patent Number:
7538721
Three new methods are presented to improve floating solutions and ambiguity resolution for multiple global satellite navigation systems (GNSS), one of which may be an FDMA-based GNSS such as GLONASS: (1) modeling of the hardware-related differential clock error between two (or more) different GNSS, (2) modeling the frequency-dependent biases present in frequency-division multiple access (FDMA) GNSS, and (3) an ambiguity resolution method called Scoreboard Partial Fixing (SPF). The…
Dual platform location-relevant service
Granted: May 19, 2009
Patent Number:
7535416
A location-relevant service system provides location-relevant information to, or performs location-relevant service for, a first mobile unit based on the location of a second mobile unit. In one instance, the first mobile unit is fixed on a vehicle, while the second mobile unit can be provided as a cellular phone. In another instance, the first mobile unit is provided with a display panel, so that authentication can be achieved through providing the display location information to a…
Fast time to first fix by calibration of a real time clock
Granted: May 12, 2009
Patent Number:
7532159
A generic navigation satellite system (GNSS) signal receiver having a fast time to first fix by calibrating a low power always-on real time clock (RTC). The receiver includes an RTC calibrator having a fraction calculator. The RTC calibrator may also include a time expander. Before the receiver is powered off, the fraction calculator uses the fine resolution of GNSS time for determining a time fraction for RTC time. When the receiver is powered back on, the time expander uses an estimate…
Method and system for initiating real-time kinematic network operations
Granted: April 7, 2009
Patent Number:
7515100
Embodiments of the present invention recite methods and systems for expediting the initiating of Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) network operations. In one embodiment, an RTK base station is disposed at a known location. A broadcast position of the RTK base station is then determined. In embodiments of the present invention, the determining of the broadcast position does not require using the geographic coordinates of said known location.
Multi-axis bubble vial device
Granted: March 3, 2009
Patent Number:
7497021
A multi-axis bubble vial device includes a bubble vial having a vial body defining a fluid chamber with a curved upper surface, and a quantity of fluid partially filling the chamber. The fluid defines a bubble in the upper portion of the chamber that moves along the upper surface in dependence upon the orientation of the vial. A centrally positioned light source above the bubble vial directs light into the chamber, and four light sensors, positioned above the bubble vial and arranged…
Fast decimeter-level GNSS positioning
Granted: March 3, 2009
Patent Number:
7498979
Methods and apparatus for processing of data from GNSS receivers are presented. A post-processing engine and a post-processed accuracy predictor are described. The post-processing engine provides high accuracy GNSS (GPS) position determination with short occupation time for GIS applications. The post-processed accuracy predictor calculates during data collection an estimate of the accuracy likely to be achieved after post-processing. This helps to optimize productivity when collecting…
Interchangeable horizontally and vertically laser suitable for use in small spaces
Granted: February 24, 2009
Patent Number:
7493699
A laser transmitter adapted for use in small spaces such as pipes and sewers includes a housing having two exit windows positioned in generally orthogonal planes. The laser transmitter includes a leveling mechanism that is capable of directing a collimated beam through a select one of the two exit windows, in a generally horizontal direction at a specified grade irrespective of whether the laser transmitter is oriented generally horizontally or generally vertically.
Vehicle tracking, communication and fleet management system
Granted: February 10, 2009
Patent Number:
7489993
A vehicle fleet management information system identifies location and direction of movement of each vehicle in a fleet in real-time, and automatically reports such information, as well as status of predetermined events in which the vehicle is engaged, directly to the fleet manager. One aspect relates to automated reporting of status of a ready mix slurry material truck having a mixer drum. A sensor detects the begin pour event by detecting the mixer drum being run in a discharge…
Method and system for delivering virtual reference station data
Granted: January 20, 2009
Patent Number:
7480511
The present invention is a method and system for determining a geographic position. In one embodiment, a data message comprising pseudorange data for a designated location and pseudorange corrections for a designated region surrounding the designated location is created. The data message is sent via a cellular telephone connection to a base station located in the designated region. The data message is then transmitted from the base station to a mobile position determination unit using a…
Method for encrypted and unencrypted cooperative operation
Granted: January 20, 2009
Patent Number:
7480568
A method for standard positioning service (SPS) and precise positioning service (PPS) cooperative operation is disclosed. In one embodiment, a positioning signal is received. A PPS data portion of the positioning signal is acquired with PPS receiver. An SPS data portion of the positioning signal is acquired with an SPS receiver. The PPS receiver and the SPS receiver are then communicatively coupled. The PPS data portion from the PPS receiver is then cross-validated with the SPS data…
Signal receiver for integrating and combining integrations in alternating time segments for signal acquisition at low signal strength
Granted: January 20, 2009
Patent Number:
7480325
A GPS receiver for integrating a GPS signal separately in a series of “A” type and “B” type time segments, the “A” segments alternating with the “B” time segments; combining the squares of the magnitudes of “A” time segment integrations corresponding to code phases for forming “A” type combined magnitudes; combining the squares of the magnitudes of the “B” time segment integrations corresponding to code phases for forming “B” type combined magnitudes; and…
3-D positioning system utilizing self-positioning radio transmitter and stationary laser transmitter
Granted: January 13, 2009
Patent Number:
7477184
A radio and light based 3-D positioning system comprising a stationary self-positioning radio (pseudolite) transceiver, a stationary laser transmitter positioned in a location with known coordinates, and at least one mobile integrated radio receiver (pseudolite)/laser detector (RR_LD). The stationary self-positioning radio (pseudolite) transceiver is configured to receive a first plurality of external radio signals, is configured to determine its position coordinates based on the first…
Method of tracking at least one mobile unit comprising integrated radio/pseudolite transceiver and laser detector by utilizing stationary self-positioning radio transceiver and stationary laser transmitter
Granted: January 13, 2009
Patent Number:
7477185
A method of tracking at least one mobile unit utilizing a radio and light based 3-D positioning system comprising a stationary self-positioning radio (pseudolite) transceiver, a stationary laser transmitter positioned in a location with known coordinates, a wireless link, and a display. The method comprises: (A) determining position coordinates of the stationary self-positioning radio (pseudolite) transceiver; (B) broadcasting at least one internal radio signal by using the…
Vehicle gyro based steering assembly angle and angular rate sensor
Granted: January 13, 2009
Patent Number:
7477973
A method for estimation of relative coordinates between at least two parts of a system. The method generally includes two main steps: measuring a set of relevant coordinates for each part of the system; and processing each measurement result to estimate the relative coordinates between at least two parts of the system. The system includes a main body and at least one sub assembly. A first sensor A is configured to measure a movement rate of a sub assembly. A second sensor B is configured…
Direct digital drive audio system and method
Granted: December 30, 2008
Patent Number:
7472048
A direct digital drive audio system and method system and method are presented. The direct digital drive system and method utilizes a digital signal to directly drive the speakers. In one exemplary implementation, an audio system includes a sample register, an convergence adjustment component, an accumulated error register, a digital driver and a speaker. The sample register is coupled to the convergence adjustment component which is coupled to the accumulated error register and the…
GPS rover station providing a high integrity position with a selected error
Granted: December 23, 2008
Patent Number:
7468693
A positioning system or synthetic phase processor or rover station for providing high integrity positions with graduated accuracies. The positioning system includes one or more real time kinematic (RTK) reference stations for receiving GPS signals at established reference positions and measuring reference phases. The positioning system or the rover station selects a synthetic offset vector and uses the synthetic offset vector for inferring synthetic reference phases to a synthetic…
GNSS receiver using stored navigation data bits
Granted: December 16, 2008
Patent Number:
7466263
A GPS receiver having a fast method for determining GPS clock time. The GPS receiver includes a signal processor for receiving GPS signals from GPS satellites and detecting current GPS data bits carried by the respective GPS signals, a chapter memory for storing a block of expected GPS data bits for the respective GPS satellites, and a GPS time detector for detecting a successful match when a chunk of the expected data bits within a selected search range within the block matches a chunk…
GPS receiver with integrated lightbar and display
Granted: November 25, 2008
Patent Number:
D581297
Method and system for variable data rate transmission in RTK GPS survey system
Granted: November 25, 2008
Patent Number:
7456786
A method and system for variable data rate transmission in a real-time kinematic (RTK) positioning system. An RTK positioning system having a reference station and a rover utilizes wireless communications for data transfer. The data transmission rate between the reference station and the rover is dynamically controlled by a programmable transmission controller. The transmission rate is determined on the basis of specific parameters. Parameters that may be used to determine the data…
