System and Method for Extending GPS to Divers and Underwater Vehicles
First Claim
1. An underwater navigation system comprising:
- a location reference unit including;
a transceiver configured to communicate with one or more sub-surface beacon units and to transmit location information to said sub-surface beacon units; and
control circuits configured to determine a location of the location reference unit and to transmit location information to one or more beacon units; and
a plurality of sub-surface beacon units adapted to sink to the sea floor when deployed, each said beacon unit including;
control circuits configured to determine the location of the beacon unit based on location information received from the location reference unit and/or other beacon unit; and
a transceiver configured to receive said location information from said location reference unit and/or other beacon unit and to transmit location information to a guided unit to provide navigation assistance to the guided unit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A navigation system extends satellite navigation to divers, underwater vehicles, and surface vessels. The navigation system comprises a location reference unit and a plurality of sub-surface beacon units. The location reference unit includes a receiver to receive navigation signals from earth-orbiting satellites and/or an inertial navigation system. The location reference unit further includes control circuits to communicate with to sub-surface beacon units and to transmit location information to said sub-surface beacon units, and a transceiver to transmit location information to the sub-surface beacon units. The beacon units include control circuits to determine the location of the beacon unit based on location information received from the location reference unit, and a transceiver to receive location information from the location reference unit and to transmit location information to a guided unit to provide navigation assistance to the guided unit.
122 Citations
24 Claims
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1. An underwater navigation system comprising:
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a location reference unit including; a transceiver configured to communicate with one or more sub-surface beacon units and to transmit location information to said sub-surface beacon units; and control circuits configured to determine a location of the location reference unit and to transmit location information to one or more beacon units; and a plurality of sub-surface beacon units adapted to sink to the sea floor when deployed, each said beacon unit including; control circuits configured to determine the location of the beacon unit based on location information received from the location reference unit and/or other beacon unit; and a transceiver configured to receive said location information from said location reference unit and/or other beacon unit and to transmit location information to a guided unit to provide navigation assistance to the guided unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification