Single-point locating system
First Claim
1. A locating system comprising:
- a source of radiation the position of which in a scanned region is to be determined;
a relay device having means for scanning said region in a prescribed pattern, said pattern being the composite of a first circular path over said region and a plurality of second circular paths, said second circular paths being smaller than and spaced symmetrically along said first circular path, and means for determining the directions of respective straight lines between said source of radiation and one point on at least two of said second circular paths whereby the position of said source of radiation in said scanned region is determined by the intersection of said straight lines.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A locating system employs a single-point device employing unique scanning patterns for generating peak signal data which can be used to calculate the position of a signal source within a scanned region. One preferred embodiment utilizes a satellite in high earth geosynchronous orbit and a simultaneous yaw and roll pattern to scan a substantial portion of the earth'"'"'s surface. The point source being located may be virtually any form of transmitter of radiant energy such as infrared, electromagnetic, light or acoustical energy. The scanning device may also be positioned in a low earth orbit satellite, an aircraft, a missile or a helicopter. The single-point device re-radiates the signal source transmission to a computer command center which correlates single-point device scanning position data with received transmissions to accurately compute the location of the signal source. Beacons placed at precisely known locations may be used to interpret scan data. The computer triangulates peak signals of multiple roll orbits generated during each yaw orbit of the single-point device to determine the precise location of the source. The computer may also search a data base to identify the signal source and provide related information previously stored in the data base. The invention is particularly advantageous for locating stolen vehicles and for finding kidnapped persons. The system may also be used for determining altitude of a signal source that may, for example, be located on an aircraft in flight.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A locating system comprising:
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a source of radiation the position of which in a scanned region is to be determined; a relay device having means for scanning said region in a prescribed pattern, said pattern being the composite of a first circular path over said region and a plurality of second circular paths, said second circular paths being smaller than and spaced symmetrically along said first circular path, and means for determining the directions of respective straight lines between said source of radiation and one point on at least two of said second circular paths whereby the position of said source of radiation in said scanned region is determined by the intersection of said straight lines. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 26, 27)
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17. A system for ascertaining the location of an energy-radiating source within a defined geometrical area on the surface of the earth;
- the system comprising;
an orbiting satellite positioned above said area, said satellite having means for detecting said radiation energy, means for scanning said area in a selected pattern, and means for re-radiating said radiant energy; said selected pattern comprising a composite of a first arcuate path over said area and a plurality of second arcuate paths along said first arcuate path; and an earth-based receiving apparatus having means for receiving said re-radiated radiant energy, means for ascertaining the direction of peak radiation from said source relative to a point on each such second arcuate path at which said scanning means is scanning respectively, when such peak radiation is detected by said detecting means, and means for calculating the intersection of said directions for locating said source. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 28, 29)
- the system comprising;
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25. A system for determining the precise physical location of a receiver within a defined geometrical area on the surface of the earth;
- the system comprising;
an orbiting satellite positioned above said area, said satellite having means for scanning said area in a selected pattern while simultaneously transmitting a signal indicative of its instantaneous scan direction, said selected pattern comprising a composite of a first arcuate path over said area and a plurality of second arcuate paths along said first arcuate path; and a receiver for receiving said signal and means for ascertaining the direction of peak signal strength and correlating said directions with said scan direction relative to a point on each such second arcuate path, respectively, for calculating the intersection of said directions for locating said receiver within said area.
- the system comprising;
Specification