Determining Precise Direction and Distance to a Satellite Radio Beacon

• US 20090040108A1
• Filed: 08/10/2007
• Published: 02/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mobit Telecom Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Daniel A. Katz
• Inventors: Katz, Daniel A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,564,404 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/386
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/51 Relative positioning
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0231 Emergency, distress or locator beacons

Abstract

The present invention discloses a device and method for precisely determining the direction and distance to a satellite radio beacon. In one embodiment, the disclosed device is used for SAR (search and rescue) of people in distress, upon activation of an emergency radio beacon, such as a marine EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon) or an airborne ELT (Emergency Locator Transmitter) or a terrestrial PLB (Personal Location Beacon) or a marine SSAS (Ship Security Alert System) beacon, beacons which are part of the Cospas-Sarsat system.

Claims

1. The present invention discloses a device and method for precisely determining the direction and distance to a satellite radio beacon, comprised of:

a) A first receiver configured to receive radio beacon signals;

b) A second receiver configured to receive navigation signals from a positioning system;

c) A microcontroller;

d) An output device;

whereby said device is configured to scan preset radio channels, detect a signal transmitted by a radio beacon to satellites on one of said channels, decode the message modulated in said signal indicating said radio beacon'"'"'s position, determine self position by means of said navigation receiver, calculate the direction and distance from said device to said radio beacon by means of said microcontroller and indicate said direction and distance on said output device.

2. A device and method according to claim 1, configured to receive signals from a radio beacon which is part of the Cospas-Sarsat system, either one of the following types:

a) An Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) for maritime use;

or

b) An Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) for aviation use;

or

c) A Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) for terrestrial use;

or

d) A Ship Security Alert System (SSAS) beacon.

3. A device and method according to claim 1, wherein said first receiver is configured to receive radio beacon signals at a radio frequency of 406-406.1 MHz.

4. A device and method according to claim 1, wherein said navigation receiver (said second receiver) is configured to receive signals and calculate self position according to at least one of the following positioning systems:

GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, LORAN, OMEGA, ARGOS.

5. A device and method according to claim 1, wherein said radio beacon is attachable to a person onboard a vessel and said device is installable onboard said vessel, and when said person falls overboard and said radio beacon is activated, said device is configured to determine and indicate the direction and distance to said person overboard.

6. A device and method according to claim 1, wherein said output device is either audible or visible or both, selected from the following group:

speaker;

horn;

buzzer;

LCD display;

LED display;

bar graph;

hand;

pointer;

bubble.

7. A device and method according to claim 1, wherein the direction and distance to the radio beacon are indicated in either one or a combination of the following methods:

a) absolute terms, such as degrees or miles;

b) relatively, such as left/right/up/down, or closer, in audible or visual signs.

8. A device and method according to claim 1, wherein said device is integrated with a GPS device for marine or airborne or terrestrial use, and wherein said first receiver is mounted with an internal or an external antenna.

9. A device and method according to claim 1, wherein the distance and direction between said device location and said radio beacon location is determined according to at least one of the following methods:

a) A straight line connecting between said locations.

b) The shortest line on the surface of a sphere (great circle) connecting between said locations, wherein said locations are on the surface of said sphere and its center is the center of the earth planet.

c) The shortest line on the geoid (mean ocean surface of planet earth) connecting between said locations.

d) A non direct line configured to bypass topographic or other known obstacles on the way connecting between said locations.

10. A device and method according to claim 1, wherein said device can be configured to scan only a part of said radio channels, by defining a list of channels to scan or a list of channels to ignore.

11. A device and method according to claim 1, wherein said device can be configured to search for or ignore specific radio beacons, by defining a list of radio beacons to search for or a list of radio beacons to ignore.

12. A device and method according to claim 1, wherein said device comprises a transmitter configured to acknowledge said radio beacon'"'"'s alarm message.