Seismic survey system
Granted: May 1, 2001
Patent Number:
6226601
A wireless seismic survey system is structured as a hierarchy of cell network layers, each higher level cell network layer covering a bigger area than a lower level cell network layer and receiving data from the lower level cell network layer. This hierarchical structure functions to concentrate collected data to a level that can be communicated to a central collection point, either through wireless, cable or other media. By defining cells to cover predetermined areas, transmission…
GPS receiver using coarse orbital parameters for achieving a fast time to first fix
Granted: May 1, 2001
Patent Number:
6225945
A GPS receiver having a fast time to first fix by comparing measured range rates for GPS satellites to GPS satellite velocities that are calculated from coarse GPS satellite orbital parameters. The coarse GPS satellite parameters are GPS almanac parameters or GPS ephemeris parameters that are older than the GPS-specified curve fit interval. The GPS receiver includes a satellite velocity calculator and a satellite line-of-sight calculator using the coarse GPS satellite orbital parameters…
Position determining system including pole-mounted communication system
Granted: April 24, 2001
Patent Number:
D440890
Position determining system and radio receiver
Granted: April 17, 2001
Patent Number:
D440504
Geo-referencing radio position determination systems using co-located antennas
Granted: April 17, 2001
Patent Number:
6218984
The present invention is a method and apparatus for establishing a common datum georeferenced position of the phase centers of the antennas used by a system. The system includes a GPS receiver and an auxiliary transmitter. An auxiliary antenna of the auxiliary transmitter is co-located with a GPS antenna of the GPS receiver. The auxiliary antenna is at a known spatial relationship with the GPS antenna. An auxiliary position of the auxiliary antenna is determined based on the known…
Differential global positioning system using almanac data for a fast time to first fix
Granted: April 3, 2001
Patent Number:
6211817
A DGPS system using GPS almanac data for determining the locations-in-space and the DGPS corrections for GPS satellites for providing a differentially corrected location of a remote GPS user receiver. A GPS reference receiver determines almanac-based DGPS corrections from the differences between ranges that are measured to GPS satellites and ranges that are calculated to the GPS almanac-based locations-in-space of the GPS satellites from the known location of the GPS reference receiver.…
Method and apparatus for automated different GPS processing
Granted: April 3, 2001
Patent Number:
6212475
GPS position information is collected and stored in a computer system. The GPS position information includes time-stamps that indicates when the GPS position information was collected. The computer system uses the time stamps to generate an error correction file name for an error correction file that can be used to correct the GPS position information. Using the generated error correction file name, the computer system connects to a file server that stores differential GPS error…
Method for navigation of moving platform by using satellite data supplemented by satellite-calibrated baro data
Granted: March 20, 2001
Patent Number:
6205377
The method of supplementing the satellite data by the satellite-calibrated baro data when the receiver autonomous integrity monitoring function (RAIM) is unavailable and when the horizontal protection level (HPL) does not satisfy the horizontal alert limit (HAL) requirement is disclosed. The baro data is calibrated with satellite data if maximum weighted vertical dilution of precision with one satellite removed at one time (max {SubWVDOP}) is less than a predetermined threshold…
Automatic cellular phone tracking
Granted: March 6, 2001
Patent Number:
6198930
A system for tracking the location of, and for providing cellular telephone handoff for, a mobile cellphone user as the cellphone user moves from one cellzone to another. A boundary curve B12 between a first cellzone and an adjacent second cellzone is defined in an electronic map by an equation hB12(x,y,z)−K12=0 for points with spatial location coordinates (x,y,z) lying on the curve B12, where K12 is a selected constant. First and second quasi-boundary curves QB1 and QB2,…
Method and apparatus for precise time synchronization
Granted: March 6, 2001
Patent Number:
6199170
An improved time transfer mechanism and method are disclosed. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a computer implemented method for transferring time, includes generating a first time stamp at a processor; triggering a time transfer event; generating a second time stamp at the processor; and receiving a reference time stamp at the processor. Triggering the time transfer event can further include sending a request for a time stamp signal to a device that is dedicated to time…
Methods and apparatus for precision agriculture operations utilizing real time kinematic global positioning system systems
Granted: March 6, 2001
Patent Number:
6199000
Real time kinematic (RTK) global positioning system (GPS) technology is integrated with precision farming methodologies to provide highly accurate seeding, cultivating, planting and/or harvesting operations. RTK GPS systems are used to control fully or semi-autonomous vehicles in these operations and may allow for precision planting of seeds (e.g., from a seeder equipped with an RTK GPS receiver and related equipment) and/or precision weed removal (e.g., using a vehicle fitted with weed…
Override for guidance control system
Granted: March 6, 2001
Patent Number:
6198992
A method and apparatus which overrides a guidance control system so as to disengage the automatic steering control feature when an emergency condition is determined to exist. A sensor is coupled to the steering system which detects movement of the steering wheel. When movement of the steering wheel is sufficiently abrupt, the logic of the override system generates an override signal. The override signal is communicated to the guidance control system so as to return control of the vehicle…
Monitor and remote control via long baseline RTK
Granted: March 6, 2001
Patent Number:
6198989
A method and a system for remote control of a rover over a long base line is disclosed. The system includes a primary base station (PBS), a secondary base station (SBS), a rover, a primary long line data link between PBS and SBS, and a secondary two-way data link between the SBS and the rover. The primary data link and the secondary data link comprise a long baseline feedback loop that is used to transmit the control data to the rover, to adjust the control data, and to transmit back…
Laser-based three dimensional tracking system
Granted: March 6, 2001
Patent Number:
6198528
A three dimensional laser tracking and control system is disclosed. The system includes a laser beacon generating a three dimensional rotating and scanning laser beam that covers a three-dimensional area. Each mobile unit has identification number (ID) and is equipped with a intelligent reflector (IR). Each mobile unit uses its intelligent reflector (IR) to communicate to the signal system its ID and the time of illumination by the laser beam. The signal system calculates the three…
Method and apparatus for automatic and autonomous assignment of PRN codes to a multiplicity of pseudolites
Granted: March 6, 2001
Patent Number:
6198432
A pseudolite for transmitting a global positioning system (GPS) signal having identification information for a GPS satellite that is currently out-of-view. The pseudolite mimics a global positioning system (GPS) signal by using a C/A pseudorandom (PRN) identification code for a GPS satellite that is allocated in the GPS system but is unreceivable in the local vicinity and location-determination information including ephemeris data corresponding to the geographical location of the…
Method and apparatus for accurately positioning a tool on a mobile machine using on-board positioning system and off-board adjustable laser reference
Granted: February 20, 2001
Patent Number:
6189626
A method and apparatus for accurately positioning a tool on a mobile machine are provided. The machine operates within a work area about which one or more stationary laser-based subsystems are positioned. The machine includes an on-board subsystem, which comprises a processor, a satellite positioning system (SPS) receiver, a stored digital terrain model (DTM), and a photosensor for detecting a laser beam. The laser beam provides a reference level that is used to adjust the position of…
Two-channel fast-sequencing high-dynamics GPS navigation receiver
Granted: February 20, 2001
Patent Number:
6191730
A GPS navigation receiver channel tracks satellites' Doppler frequencies sequentially during the twenty milliseconds that the signal is coherent in each bit time of the navigation data modulation. It measures frequency by differencing the angles of signal-vector sums weighted by parabolic humps, exploiting the commutativity of linear processing operations to raise the signal-to-noise ratio before the nonlinear operation phase of detection.
GPS receiver having a fast time to first fix
Granted: February 20, 2001
Patent Number:
6191731
A global positioning system (GPS) receiver having a fast time to first fix using the velocity of a GPS satellite and an approximate time. The GPS receiver includes a GPS antenna for receiving a GPS signal, radio frequency circuitry for downconverting and sampling the GPS signal, a reference timer for providing a reference clocking signal, a digital signal processor for receiving the sampled GPS signal, and a microprocessor for executing program codes in a memory. The digital signal…
Interpolation using digital means for range findings in a total station
Granted: February 6, 2001
Patent Number:
6182372
A distance interpolator incorporated into a total station and a method for digitally interpolating a distance measurement from the total station to a target, such that the distance interpolator measures the distance from the total station to the target using primarily digital electronics and statistical analysis. In one embodiment, the total station transmits an energy pulse from the electronic distance measuring portion of the total station, with the energy pulse directed at the target.…
Clandestine location reporting for missing vehicles
Granted: February 6, 2001
Patent Number:
6184801
Apparatus and method for a location determination and reporting (LDR) system for clandestinely or surreptitiously determining and reporting a missing vehicle present location. The vehicle may be stationary or moving and may be anywhere within reach of a cellular central station to which the location is reported. The vehicle is equipped with a location determination (LD) unit (preferably hidden on the vehicle) that receives LD signals and determines the LD unit present location, a…
