Method and system for controlling an electronic device
Granted: November 18, 2008
Patent Number:
7453355
A method and system for controlling an electronic device is described. The method includes programming a device controller with a location and/or time to define a geo-temporal zone according to the location and/or a window of time, and to select a device function that zone. A device state, which includes the current time and the device position, is then monitored. Upon determining that the device state corresponds with the defined geo-temporal zone, the device is controlled to execute…
Optical correction of a laser beam
Granted: October 21, 2008
Patent Number:
7440090
A laser beam transmitter and a method of calibrating such a transmitter result in a beam of laser light that is projected in a desired direction with respect to a transmitter body. The transmitter and a beam target are positioned such that a properly calibrated beam will illuminate a desired point on the target, such as for example the target center. The transmitter is activated and the offset of the point illuminated on the target from the target center measured. A plurality of optical…
Optical system providing several beams from a single source
Granted: October 21, 2008
Patent Number:
7440192
A system to produce orthogonal beams includes a laser diode operating in conjunction with a collimating lens, with or without an aperture, and a simple compact optic. At least one collimated beam is directed toward an optic comprised of components that are bonded together. Beams are reflected from at least one optical components at right angles to produce a plumb beam. Additionally, a beam is reflected from the optic at a right angle, as well as transmitted through the optic, to produce…
GPS receiver with autopilot and integrated lightbar display
Granted: October 7, 2008
Patent Number:
D578028
Ambiguity estimation of GNSS signals for three or more carriers
Granted: October 7, 2008
Patent Number:
7432853
Methods and apparatus are provided for factorized processing of a set of GNSS signal data derived from signals having at least three carriers. A geometry filter is applied to the set of GNSS signal data using a geometry carrier-phase combination to obtain an array of ambiguity estimates for the geometry carrier-phase combination and associated statistical information. A bank of ionosphere filters is applied to the set of GNSS signal data using a geometry-free ionosphere carrier-phase…
Method and system for controlling an electronic device
Granted: August 19, 2008
Patent Number:
7415355
The present invention is a method and system for controlling an electronic device. In one embodiment, a controller is coupled with a position determining component, and a motion detecting component. In one embodiment, the motion detecting component detects motion of the electronic device and generates a signal to the controller indicating the motion. The controller, in response to the signal, causes the position determining component to determine the geographic location of the electronic…
Laser transmitter with thermally induced error compensation and method of transmitter compensation
Granted: August 5, 2008
Patent Number:
7408626
The transmitter for projecting a beam of laser light includes a source of a beam of laser light, and a projection arrangement for directing the beam of laser light at a selected grade. The transmitter further includes a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of said transmitter, and a temperature correction circuit, including a look-up table, responsive to said temperature sensor, for adjusting said projection arrangement in dependence upon offset grade values that are stored…
Position determination system for movable objects or personnel using GPS/TV location technology integrated with inertial navigation system
Granted: July 22, 2008
Patent Number:
7403853
A position determination system for movable objects or personnel comprising at least one portable position sensor built into a wearable item of a member of personnel having an identification number, or embedded into a movable object having an identification number, and Mobile Initialization Station (MIS). The Mobile Initialization Station (MIS)/Portable Initialization Station (PIS) selected from the group consisting of: {(SATPS)/transceiver unit; (GPS)/transceiver unit; and a TVPS…
Portable motion-activated position reporting device
Granted: July 8, 2008
Patent Number:
7398153
The present invention is a portable motion-activated position reporting device. In one embodiment, a controller is coupled with an interrogator component, a position determining component, a wireless communications component, and an initiating component. In one embodiment, the initiating component detects motion of the position reporting device and generates a signal to the controller indicating the motion. The controller, in response to the signal, activates the interrogator component…
Survey rover unit using real-time kinematic technology
Granted: June 17, 2008
Patent Number:
D571236
Method and apparatus for steering a farm implement to a path
Granted: June 3, 2008
Patent Number:
7383114
An apparatus and method using GPS for dynamically adjusting side-to-side positioning of a farm implement along a geographical path. The apparatus includes a global positioning system (GPS) antenna disposed on the farm implement, a GPS receiver coupled to the GPS antenna for determining a location of the GPS antenna, and a dual guidance computer for comparing the location to stored geographical coordinates of a desired path for providing a guide signal for offsetting the lateral position…
First responder positioning apparatus
Granted: May 27, 2008
Patent Number:
7379015
A positioning system for tracking the location of a first responder emergency worker. The system includes mobile enabler units and a personnel badge having a ranging transponder. Two enabler units can use two-way ranging signals, a prescribed turn around time and differential altitude for automatically tracking the location of the badge.
Strobe light and laser beam detection for laser receiver having a comparison of variation in energy levels among photodetectors
Granted: May 13, 2008
Patent Number:
7372011
A device and method detect a moving, relatively thin beam of laser light, and distinguishing between illumination of photodetectors by the beam, and illumination of the photodetectors by an omnidirectional pulse of light. A plurality of photodetector arrays are arranged in a generally vertical row, with each array having a generally vertical row of photodetector elements. Weighting circuits associated with the arrays provide first and second reference signals for each array related to…
GPS receiver having a prescribed time-of-entry into an operation mode
Granted: April 29, 2008
Patent Number:
7365681
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…
Motor mount assembly for controlling a mobile machine
Granted: April 22, 2008
Patent Number:
7360623
Embodiments of the present invention recite a motor assembly comprising a lower motor mount and an upper motor mount. The lower motor mount is mechanically coupled with a steering column of a mobile machine. The upper motor mount is coupled with the lower motor mount and with a drive motor. The upper motor mount maintains pressure when in a first position such that a drive wheel coupled with the drive motor stays in contact with a steering wheel of a vehicle of a mobile machine. When the…
Method and apparatus for acquisition and tracking of GPS satellites at low signal to noise levels
Granted: April 22, 2008
Patent Number:
7362795
A method of acquisition a signal having a low signal to noise ratio (SNR). The method comprises the steps of: (A) detecting a non-zero power in the signal having the low SNR during a power detect process; (B) receiving the signal having the low SNR by using a signal receiver having an antenna; (C) accumulating a plurality of digital samples of the signal within a predetermined period of time; and (D) employing an algorithm to correct defects in reception of the signal having the low SNR…
Method and system for controlling steering deadband in a mobile machine
Granted: April 22, 2008
Patent Number:
7363132
Embodiments of the present invention recite a method and system for controlling steering dead band in a mobile machine. In one embodiment, a first dead band value for actuating a steering mechanism in a first direction is determined. Then, a second dead band value for actuating the steering mechanism in a second direction is determined. The first dead band value and the second dead band value are then stored as discrete values.
Method and system for determining the path of a mobile machine
Granted: April 22, 2008
Patent Number:
7363154
Embodiments of the present invention recite a method and system for determining the path of a mobile machine. In one embodiment, a control component accesses a first path which comprises at least one curved portion. The control component then determines a second path which is substantially parallel with the first path and which comprises a second curved portion that corresponds to the at least one curved portion of the first path. The control component then amends said second path…
Battery consumption optimization for mobile users
Granted: April 15, 2008
Patent Number:
7359713
Systems and methods are disclosed to provide power management for a mobile communication device having a location determination function. The frequency of the location determination function may be adjusted based on whether the mobile communication device is moving and may be further adjusted based on battery voltage or expected battery life.
GPS receiver using stored navigation data bits for a fast determination of GPS clock time
Granted: March 25, 2008
Patent Number:
7348921
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…
