Geographic locator system

• US 5,275,568 A
• Filed: 07/16/1992
• Issued: 01/04/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dave Pfuetze
• Original Assignee: Dave Pfuetze
• Inventors: Pfuetze, Dave
• Primary Examiner(s): Mancene, Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): Smith, Jeffrey A.
• Application Number:
  US07/913,621
• Time in Patent Office: 537 Days
• Field of Search: 434/153, 434/150, 434/146, 434/141, 434/135, 283/34, 283/35
• US Class Current: 434/153
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 23/04 for geometry, trigonometry, projection or perspective for surveying G09B25/06
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/10 Map spot or coordinate position indicators; Map reading aids optical projection apparatus per se G03B

Abstract

A system for locating geographic points on maps, charts and, the like uses a rectangular grid with sides tangent to the corresponding geographical extremities of the area (city, county, state, nation, etc.) represented on the chart. Two decimal scales extend from the zero ordinate of the grid, with unit ordinates at their opposite ends. Thus, a location along either scale and therefore a line of position across the enclosed geographical area represented, may be defined by a decimal number between zero and one and the intersection of the lines of position representing a point on the represented area may be defined by a two decimal array. Tables of the decimal arrays for specific points may be provided, and the system is extendible to different maps and/or insets of dissimilar scale, so long as the, decimal scales are consistently used between each map. The system may be further extended to provide point location within three dimensional volumes by using a three decimal array. The advantages of the system are numerous, including ease of visualization and ease of reading maps and charts of all types in general; ease of teaching geography and related subjects; and wide spread applicability to other areas.

Claims

1. A system providing for the determination of geographic points on maps, charts and other representations of geographic areas, with the geographic areas defined by borders having extremities therealong, said system comprising:

a rectangular grid formed or orthogonal first, second, third and fourth boundaries about a representations of a geographical area,

said first, second, third and fourth boundaries each tangent to a corresponding point on an extremity of the border of the represented geographical area,

said first, second, third and fourth boundaries having intersections further defining first, second, third and fourth corners of said rectangulars grid,

said rectangular grid further including a zero ordinate at one of said corners and unit ordinates at each of said corners orthogonal to said zero ordinate with said boundaries between said zero ordinate and said unit ordinates providing orthogonal decimal boundary scales between the ranges of zero and one, with said decimal boundary scales thereby serving to divide the geographical area fractionally, whereby

locations of points on said geographical area representation are provided by means of said decimal boundary scales of said rectangular grid with each said decimal boundary scale providing a series of decimal fractional numbers representing perpendicular lines of location across the geographical area representation and the intersections of the perpendicular lines of location establishing said locations of said points and any one of said points is represented by an array of two decimal fractions; and

,

wherein at least two geographical representations of dissimilar scale are provided with said system providing like ordinates for like points within each representation.

2. The system of claim 1 including:

at least one grid line extending perpendicularly from each of said decimal boundary scales and across said rectangular grid.

3. The system of claim 1 including;

a table listing and series of decimal fractional numbers for corresponding specific points with each of said decimal fractional numbers of said table arranged in a double decimal array for each of the corresponding specific points.

4. The system of claim 1 including:

a table listing said series of decimal fractional numbers for corresponding specific points with each of said decimal fractional numbers of said table arranged in a double decimal array for each of the corresponding specific points.

5. A system providing for the determination of points within a three dimensional rectangular volume, said system comprising;

a grid bounded by first through twelfth edges of a rectangular volume and defining edges and corners of the volume,

said grid further including a zero ordinate at one of said corners and unit ordinates at each of said corners orthogonal to said zero ordinate with said edges between said zero ordinate and said unit ordinate providing first, second and third orthogonal decimal boundary scales between the ranges of zero and one and corresponding to the three dimensions of the three dimensional rectangular volume, whereby

locations of points within a representation of a rectangular volume are provided by means of said decimal boundary scales of said grid with each said decimal boundary scale providing a series of decimal fractional numbers representing perpendicular planes of location across the rectangular volume representation and the intersections of the perpendicular planes of location establishing said locations of said points; and

,

wherein at least two volumes having dissimilar scales are provided with said system providing like ordinates for like points within each volume.

6. The system of claim 5 including:

at least one grid plane extending perpendicularly from each of said decimal boundary scales and across said grid.

7. The system of claim 5 including;

a table listing said series of decimal fractional numbers for corresponding specific locations with each of said decimal fractional numbers of said table arranged in a triple decimal array for each of the corresponding specific locations.

8. The system of claim 5 including:

a table listing said series of decimal fractional numbers or corresponding specific points with each of said decimal fractional numbers of said table arranged in a triple decimal array for each of the corresponding specific points.

9. A method for determining geographic points on maps, charts and other representations of geographic areas, with the geographic areas defined by borders having extremities therealong, said method comprising:

providing a rectangular grid formed of orthogonal first, second, third and fourth boundaries about a representation of a geographical area with said first, second, third and fourth boundaries each tangent to a corresponding point on an extremity of the border of the represented geographical area and said first, second, third and fourth corners of said rectangular grid,

further providing a zero ordinate at one of said corners and unit ordinates at each of said corners orthogonal to said zero ordinate with said boundaries between said zero ordinate and said unit ordinates providing first and second orthogonal decimal boundary scales between the ranges of zero and one,

determining first and second decimal fractional numbers respectively corresponding to positions along said first and second decimal boundary scales

plotting first and second lines of location respectively from said positions along said first and second decimal boundary scales respectively corresponding to said first and second decimal fractional numbers,

locating the point established by the intersection of said first and second lines of location, and,

providing at least two geographical representations of dissimilar scale, and providing like ordinates for like points within each representation.

10. The method of claim 9 further including;

providing at least one grid line extending perpendicularly from each of said decimal fractional boundary scales and across said rectangular grid.

11. The method of claim 9 further including;

providing a table listing a series of said decimal fractional numbers for corresponding specific points with each of said decimal fractional numbers of said table arranged in a double decimal array for each of the corresponding specific points.

12. The method of claim 9 further including;

providing a table listing a series of said decimal fractional numbers for corresponding specific points with each of said decimal fractional numbers of said table arranged in a double decimal array for each of the corresponding specific points.

13. A method providing for the determination of points within a three dimensional rectangular volume, said method comprising;

providing an orthogonal grid bounded by first through twelfth edges of a rectangular volume with said grid defining edges and corners of the rectangular volume,

further providing a zero ordinate at one of said corners and unit ordinates at each of said corners orthogonal to said zero ordinate with said edges between said zero ordinate and said unit ordinates providing first, second and third orthogonal decimal boundary scales between the ranges of zero and one and corresponding to the three dimensions of the three dimensional rectangular volume,

determining first, second and third decimal fractional numbers respectively corresponding to positions along said first, second and third orthogonal decimal boundary scales,

plotting first, second and third planes of location respectively from said positions along said first, second and third orthogonal decimal boundary scales respectively corresponding to said first, second and third decimal fractional numbers,

locating the point established by the intersection of said first, second and third planes of location, and,

providing at least two volumes having dissimilar scales, and providing like ordinates for like points within each volume.

14. The method of claim 13 further including;

providing at least one grid plane extending perpendicularly from each of said first, second and third orthogonal decimal boundary scales and across said first, second and third orthogonal decimal boundary scales.

15. The method of claim 13 further including;

providing a table listing a series of said decimal fractional numbers for corresponding specific points with each of said decimal fraction numbers of said table arranged in a triple decimal array for each of the corresponding specific points.

16. The method of claim 13 further including;

providing a table listing a series of said decimal fractional numbers for corresponding specific points with each of said decimal fractional numbers of said table arranged in a triple decimal array for each of the corresponding specific points.