Interchangeable horizontally and vertically laser suitable for use in small spaces
Granted: May 2, 2006
Patent Number:
7039089
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.
Self-leveling laser alignment tool and method thereof which compensates for material stiffness of an included pendulum
Granted: April 25, 2006
Patent Number:
7032318
A self-leveling laser alignment tool and method thereof which provides a laser beam in a substantially truly level or plumb orientation are disclosed. Magnetic attraction is used to compensate for leveling errors of an approximately or partially leveled pendulum platform that is suspended from a flexible support member having a predetermined material stiffness. The material stiffness of the suspension member is compensated by using magnets which pulls the pendulum platform into an…
Receiver circuit with “M” sectors each with “N” channels
Granted: April 18, 2006
Patent Number:
7030361
A laser beam receiver with non-interdigitated photosensors arranged in a repeating pattern of “n” channels of photosensors in each of “m” sectors is disclosed. The photocurrent from both the anode and cathode terminals of the photosensor is used to determine laser beam position. The repeating patterns connect one set of “n” channel amplifier channels with the corresponding set of “m” sector amplifier channels. The position of the laser beam is determined by its position…
Laser receiver using multiple arrays of photodetector elements
Granted: March 28, 2006
Patent Number:
7019278
A device and method for detecting the relative position of reference light includes a plurality of photodetector arrays arranged in a generally vertical row. Each array includes a plurality of photodetector elements arranged in a generally vertical array row. The photodetector elements in the arrays are arranged in a generally vertically oriented, extended row. Each of the photodetector elements provides an electrical output when illuminated with the light. A plurality of weighting…
Subscription GPS information service system
Granted: March 28, 2006
Patent Number:
7020555
A GPS information service system for providing supplemental GPS correction and signal acquisition information to subscribers. A GPS information server broadcasts GPS aiding information encrypted with subscription keys. A remote GPS subscription unit receives the key enablers for the subscription keys in service activation (SAM) messages for the services for which they have subscribed and then uses the subscription keys to decrypt the GPS aiding information. In order to prevent…
Carrying case for a laser alignment tool
Granted: March 14, 2006
Patent Number:
D516811
Optical system providing four beams from a single source
Granted: February 28, 2006
Patent Number:
7006298
A system to produce orthogonal beams includes a laser diode operating in conjunction with a collimating lens, an aperture, and a simple compact optic. Three collimated beams are directed toward an optic comprised of components that are bonded together. Beams are reflected from two optical components at right angles to produce plumb beams. Additionally, a beam is reflected from the optic at a right angle, as well as transmitted through the optic, to produce square and level beams. All…
Extensible GPS receiver system
Granted: February 21, 2006
Patent Number:
7003112
An extensible Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver system is described. The receiver system isolates user application processing from time critical GPS acquisition and tracking processing in order to insure that GPS acquisition and tracking processing is timely performed. Thus user application processing can be developed without concern of conflict with GPS acquisition and tracking processing.
Signal receiver using coherent integration in interleaved time periods for signal acquisition at low signal strength
Granted: January 24, 2006
Patent Number:
6990140
A GPS receiver and method using alternating “A” and “B” integration time segments. The polarities of certain GPS data bits are known beforehand and their expected reception times are known. The GPS signal in 10 millisecond “A” time segments and “B” time segments is depolarized according to the known polarities. The depolarized GPS signal during an “A” time period made up of all the “A” time segments is integrated for providing an “A” time period magnitude for…
Method and system for variable data rate transmission in RTK GPS survey system
Granted: January 10, 2006
Patent Number:
6985104
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…
Method for sending message that indicates position and message transmission device and message transmission server
Granted: November 29, 2005
Patent Number:
6970069
A method and system for sending messages that indicate position. In one embodiment, the message transmission device includes a message transmission unit that is coupled to a position determination system. A server is adapted to receive messages from the message transmission device. In operation, a first message is generated at the message transmission device. The position of the message transmission device is determined and is included in the message. The message is then sent to the…
Method for determining data bit transitions for a low level spread spectrum signal
Granted: November 29, 2005
Patent Number:
6970500
Apparatus and methods for determining the timing of the data bit transitions. “N” assumptions of data bit transitions are used for determining N integrations of an incoming spread signal for data bit time periods where N is the data bit time period divided by the code time period. In a first variation, the N assumptions use N start times separated by code time periods. In a second variation, the N assumptions use N sign inversion times separated by code time periods. In either…
Trencher guidance via GPS
Granted: October 18, 2005
Patent Number:
6954999
A guidance control system is configured to control the positioning and spatial orientation of a digging implement mounted on a frame of an trenching machine for working a subsurface of earth to a desired trench profile. The position of a dynamic cutting edge of the digging implement is monitored and then controlled so that the sensed dynamic cutting edge position is equal substantially to the calculated dynamic cutting edge position. The guidance control system includes sensors, a…
Monitoring of substitution of high quality position measurements with upgraded low quality position measurements
Granted: October 18, 2005
Patent Number:
6957143
A method for monitoring of the substitution at least one high quality position measurement with a set of upgraded low quality position measurements comprising the steps of: (A) selecting a high quality source of position measurements of the object from a group of high quality sources; (B) obtaining at least one high quality position measurement of the object by using the high quality source; (C) saving at least one high quality position measurement of the object; (D) obtaining at least…
Method and apparatus for improved L2 performance in dual frequency semi-codeless GPS receivers
Granted: October 11, 2005
Patent Number:
6954488
This invention relates to improving the signal-to-noise ratio of semi-codeless tracking by presenting a method and apparatus which employs an optimal W-code timing pattern, and/or provides signal-to-noise gain by adding L1 and L2 W-code bit timing estimate signals before combining the L1 W-code estimate signal with the L2 W-code estimate signal.
Position determination system for movable objects or personnel
Granted: September 13, 2005
Patent Number:
6944542
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 a high accuracy position determination device. The high accuracy position determination device is configured to provide a set of high accuracy initialization data including a set of high accuracy absolute positional data…
Method and apparatus for precise positioning of large structures
Granted: August 23, 2005
Patent Number:
6934629
A three dimensional structure is precisely positioned at a desired location. A viral model of the structure of interest is created and stored in a computer memory. Some time later, remote sensors are placed in selected positions on the structure of interest. The sensors are configured so as to provide real time location, attitude and orientation information regarding the structure and may consist of GPS remote units, tilt meters, gyro compasses, and pressure sensor. The position of each…
Method for standard positioning service and precise positioning service cooperative operation
Granted: August 23, 2005
Patent Number:
6934631
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 a 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…
Radio navigation emulating GPS system
Granted: May 31, 2005
Patent Number:
6901331
The present invention provides a radio navigation emulating GPS device. In one embodiment, the radio navigation emulating GPS device receives an identifier associated with a conventional radio navaid. The present radio navigation emulating GPS device then retrieves latitude and longitude information corresponding to the received conventional radio navaid from a database. A satellite based position information system generates position information for the aircraft on which the present…
Signal receiver for integrating and combining integrations in alternating time segments for signal acquisition at low signal strength
Granted: May 24, 2005
Patent Number:
6898234
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…
