System and method for monitoring interaction between objects and multiple mobile units
Granted: March 25, 2003
Patent Number:
6539307
A system and method for monitoring interaction between a stationary object and multiple mobile units are described. Positioning data is received from one or more mobile units. Positioning data is processed to retrieve a position of each mobile unit. Finally, one or more warning devices are activated based on a predetermined set of criteria related to the position.
GPS receiver
Granted: March 11, 2003
Patent Number:
D471539
Transducer arrangement for screed control
Granted: March 11, 2003
Patent Number:
6530720
A transducer arrangement and method that generates control signals indicating relative positions of the ends of a hydraulically movable screed head. The generated control signals of the present invention are used by a conventional control circuit controlling the hydraulically movable screed head with laser receivers in a column block situation, which interrupts the reception of a laser beam from a laser transmitter by one of the laser receivers, to provide an estimated absolute position…
Method for control system setup
Granted: March 11, 2003
Patent Number:
6530721
A machine having a tool with hydraulically moveable ends, for example as a screed head, is setup for operation by using an inclinometer or other sensor to determine the orientation of the tool. According to this method, the on grade elevational position of the first end of the tool with respect to the reference is selected, and the first end of the tool is then moved to the desired elevational position while an elevation receiver at the first end detects the reference, such as a beam of…
Integrated position and direction system with map display oriented according to heading or direction
Granted: March 4, 2003
Patent Number:
6529828
An integrated position and direction system is disclosed that includes a digital compass and a satellite positioning system (SATPOS) having a receiver adapted to receive satellite position determining signals. Direction is determined using the digital compass and heading is determined using the SATPOS. The integrated position and direction system is operable to display, on a display device, map information that is oriented according to a current orientation regardless of whether the…
Method and system for providing wide area augmentation systems (WAAS) like corrections using a server and processor on the internet
Granted: March 4, 2003
Patent Number:
6529830
A method and system that provide WAAS like corrections using a server and processor on a network. For one method, satellite measurement data is collected. Satellite position error corrections are computed using the collected satellite measurement data. The computed satellite position error corrections are stored. The stored satellite position error corrections can then be later retrieved and used by a server and processor coupled to the Internet.
Communication system having dedicated time slots for selection signals
Granted: February 11, 2003
Patent Number:
6519245
A communication system having hubs and mobile units where a mobile unit uses selection signals from hubs during dedicated time slots for selecting a particular hub for communication during operational time slots. The hubs communicate on respective channels. The mobile units communicate with a particular hub on the channel associated with that hub. Each hub transmits a selection signal during a time slot that is dedicated for the selection signal from that hub. The mobile units base their…
Fault detection and exclusion in a positioning system receiver
Granted: February 4, 2003
Patent Number:
6515618
A multi-stage process for detecting and excluding faulty measurements in a satellite positioning system receiver are described. Availability of fault detection is evaluated based on satellite geometry and satellite measurement quality. If fault detection is unavailable using only satellite measurements, an additional measurement is used, and fault detection availability is again evaluated. If fault detection is available, detection of a potential fault is performed. If a fault is…
Slow hopping data transmitter
Granted: January 28, 2003
Patent Number:
6512928
A method and apparatus for coupling data from a base station to a rover unit for determining the position of the rover unit. Multiple radio channels are monitored by the base station and a radio channel is assigned that is unoccupied. A RTK message is then transmitted by the base station that includes the assigned radio channel. The rover unit then monitors the assigned radio channel for the next RTK message. The assigned radio channel is periodically updated. Each following RTK message…
Long baseline RTK using a secondary base receiver a non-continuous data link and a wireless internet connectivity
Granted: January 14, 2003
Patent Number:
6507738
The system and method for long baseline RTK survey are disclosed. The system includes a primary base station (PBS), a secondary base station (SBS), a primary data link between the PBS and the SBS, and a secondary data link between the SBS and a rover. The PBS, the SBS, and the rover are equipped with satellite antennas for satellite navigational purposes, and with the wireless Internet data accesses devices (WIDAD). The long baseline vector between the PBS and the rover is established by…
Portable receiver for position measurement
Granted: December 31, 2002
Patent Number:
D467824
Precise parallel swathing guidance via satellite navigation and tilt measurement
Granted: December 31, 2002
Patent Number:
6501422
The satellite navigational system integrated with the tilt measurement system capable of precise measurement of the actual coordinates of the mobile unit that moves along a track with variable tilt is disclosed. Using the integrated satellite/tilt measurement system, a plurality of 3 dimensional lines separated by optimal swathing offset vector can be formed and followed in order to provide field guidance during a precision farming operation across variably inclined terrain.
Antenna housing
Granted: December 17, 2002
Patent Number:
D467242
Receiver having a memory search for fast acquisition of a spread spectrum signal
Granted: December 17, 2002
Patent Number:
6496533
A GPS receiver having a fast time to lock to a GPS signal by storing a time period of an incoming GPS signal in a signal memory and rapidly comparing the signal memory against locations in a replica memory having stored GPS signal replicas. The GPS receiver includes a memory-based search engine for acquiring the GPS signal so that it may be tracked. The memory-based search engine includes a signal memory for storing a millisecond of a digitized GPS signal, a replica memory section for…
Method and apparatus for determining position using a handheld personal computer and a cradle
Granted: December 17, 2002
Patent Number:
6496874
A method and apparatus for determining position using a handheld personal computer. A cradle is disclosed that that is adapted to couple to a handheld personal computer. In one embodiment, the cradle includes projecting members that capture the handheld personal computer and hold it securely in place. The cradle includes a position determining system that is adapted to determine position. Upon coupling the cradle to a handheld personal computer, the cradle is operable to determine…
Post-processing of NMEA data
Granted: December 3, 2002
Patent Number:
6490524
A method and system thereof for processing data in real time or post-processing, such as Global Positioning System (GPS) data that have been formatted in the National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA) format. In the GPS embodiment, uncorrected GPS data indicating an estimated position are computed by a receiver via signals from a first broadcaster (e.g., GPS satellites). Differential GPS (DGPS) data are received by the receiver via a signal from a second broadcaster (e.g., a GPS base…
GPS synchronized data communications link
Granted: November 19, 2002
Patent Number:
6483856
A communication system using GPS-based time for synchronizing communication data packets and symbols. The communication system includes a transmit apparatus for transmitting and a receive apparatus for receiving a communication data signal. The transmit apparatus includes a transmit station GPS receiver for providing GPS-based time, a transmit framer for using the GPS-based time for framing packets of communication data symbols, and a transmit symbol timer for synchronizing the…
Method and apparatus for navigation guidance
Granted: November 12, 2002
Patent Number:
6480148
A position identification system, that employs satellite navigational or similar positioning technology is provided. In one embodiment, the position identification system includes a receiver for receiving position signals from a positioning system; an orientation device that is configured to rotate about at least one axis; a pointing element coupled to the orientation device to provide indication of a direction to a desired position; and a processor that is coupled to the receiver to…
Network of non-cooperative integrated pseudolite/satellite base station transmitters
Granted: October 29, 2002
Patent Number:
6473032
A network of non-cooperative integrated pseudolite (PL)/satellite base station (SBS) transmitters covering an open area. The network comprises a first plurality (K) of integrated pseudolite/satellite base station (PL)1/(SBS) transmitters, located in an open area A, and a second plurality (M) of non-cooperative integrated PL2/SBS transmitters, located in an open area B. K and M are integers. Each PL transmitter is co-located with one SBS. Each SBS provides a satellite timing…
Integrated pseudolite/satellite base station transmitter
Granted: October 29, 2002
Patent Number:
6473033
An integrated split-spectrum pseudolite/satellite base station (SS-PL)/SBS transmitter comprising a satellite base station and a split-spectrum pseudolite (SS-PL) transmitter co-located with the satellite base station. The satellite base station provides a timing synchronization signal. The satellite base station also provides a self-surveying capability for the split-spectrum pseudolite (SS-PL). The split-spectrum pseudolite (SS-PL) generates a split-spectrum sideband signal that…
