Cordless SPS smart antenna device

• US 5,345,244 A
• Filed: 01/12/1993
• Issued: 09/06/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Inventors: Trimble, Charles, Gildea, David R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Issing, Gregory C.
• Application Number:
  US08/003,135
• Time in Patent Office: 602 Days
• Field of Search: 342/352, 342/357, 342/58, 342/450, 342/457, 342/453, 455/7, 455/11.1, 455/89, 455/20
• US Class Current: 342/357.46
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/36 relating to the receiver frond end
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3275 mounted on a horizontal surface of the vehicle, e.g. on roof, hood, trunk

Abstract

Cordless antenna apparatus for determination of the location of an observer and/or of the time of observation by use of a Satellite Positioning System (SPS), such as the Global Positioning System or the Global Orbiting Navigational Satellite System. In each embodiment, the apparatus includes a Smart Antenna device and a display unit, connected by a wireless link. In a first embodiment, the Smart Antenna device includes: an SPS antenna to receive the SPS signals; an SPS signal frequency downconverter; an SPS signal processor to receive antenna output signals and to determine at least one of the present location of the SPS antenna or the time of observation; a transmitter to receive processor output signals and transmit these signals to the display unit; and a power supply. The display unit in the first embodiment includes: a receiver to receive the signals transmitted by the SPS Smart Antenna device transmitter; a display processor to receive output signals from the receiver and to process these signals for display of location or time information; display means to visibly or audibly display the location or time information; and a second power supply. In a second embodiment, the SPS signal processor is moved to the display unit. The transmitter and receiver may be replaced by two transceivers to allow the display unit to transmit messages, such as requests for information, to the SPS Smart Antenna device.

Claims

1. Apparatus for determination of the location of an observer or the time of observation by use of a Satellite Positioning System (SPS), the apparatus comprising:

an antenna module, having a diameter in any plane parallel to a selected plane no greater than 13 cm and having a height measured perpendicular to the selected plane no greater than 10 cm, the module comprising;

an SPS antenna positioned to receive SPS signals from one or more SPS satellites, where each satellite issues a distinct SPS signal, and to issue an antenna output signal;

a frequency downconverter to receive the antenna output signal and to issue this signal as an output signal at a selected lower frequency;

an SPS signal processor to receive the downconverter output signal, to process this signal to determine at least one of the present location of the SPS antenna or the present time of observation of a satellite by the antenna, and to issue information on the present location or the present time of observation as an output signal;

a transmitter to transmit the output signal from the SPS signal processor to a selected receiver; and

a first power supply, positioned to supply operating power to at least one of the SPS antenna, the downconverter, the SPS signal processor and the transmitter;

a display module, having a diameter in any plane parallel to a second selected plane no greater than 13 cm and having a height measured perpendicular to the second selected plane no greater than 10 cm, the module comprising;

a receiver positioned to receive the SPS signal processor output signal from the transmitter, where the receiver issues any signal it receives from the transmitter as a receiver output signal;

a display processor to receive the receiver output signal, to process this signal for display of information contained in the signal received, and to issue the processed signal as an output signal;

display means for receiving the display processor output signal and visually or audibly displaying at least one of the present location of the SPS antenna and the present time of observation by the antenna; and

a second power supply, positioned to supply operating power to at least one of the receiver, the display processor and the display means; and

a wireless link connecting the transmitter and the receiver,

where the antenna module and the display module are spaced apart by a distance that is no more than approximately 300 meters.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said wireless link operates with a carrier signal frequency in the range 10⁸ Hz-10¹⁵ Hz.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said wireless link operates in the infrared or visible light frequency range.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said wireless link operates in the radio frequency range.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said wireless link operates in the acoustic or audible range of carrier frequencies.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said display includes a digital computer.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said display includes a navigation instrument.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said display displays a map of the local region.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said display also displays said present location of said antenna on said map.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said display includes an instrument for adding, modifying or deleting attributes on said map.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said includes an instrument for visually indicating the SPS-determined location or time of a selected event.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said display includes an instrument for SPS surveying.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said display means displays the coordinates of said present location of said SPS antenna.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said display means includes means for audibly presenting the SPS-determined location or time of a selected event.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said transmitter is a first transceiver, said receiver is a second transceiver, and the second transceiver may transmit signals over said wireless link that are received by the first transceiver.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said Satellite Positioning System is a Global Positioning System (GPS).

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said Satellite Positioning System is a Global Orbiting Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS).

18. Apparatus for determination of the location of an observer or the time of observation by use of a Satellite Positioning System (SPS), the apparatus comprising:

an antenna module, having a diameter in any plane parallel to a selected plane no greater than 13 cm and having a height measured perpendicular to the selected plane no greater than 10 cm, the module comprising;

an SPS antenna positioned to receive SPS signals from one or more SPS satellites, where each satellite issues a distinct SPS signal, and to issue an antenna output signal;

a first frequency translator to receive the antenna output signal and to issue this signal as an output signal at a first selected frequency;

a transmitter to receive the output signal from the first frequency translator and to transmit this signal to a selected receiver; and

a first power supply, positioned to supply operating power to at least one of the SPS antenna, the first frequency converter and the transmitter;

a display module, having a diameter in any plane parallel to a selected plane no greater than 13 cm and having a height measured perpendicular to the selected plane no greater than 10 cm, the module comprising;

a receiver positioned to receive the first frequency translator output signal from the transmitter, where the receiver issues any signal it receives from the transmitter as an output signal;

a second frequency translator to receive the receiver output signal and to issue this signal as an output signal at a second selected frequency;

an SPS signal processor to receive the second frequency converter output signal, to process this signal to determine at least one of the present location of the SPS antenna or the present time of observation of a satellite by the antenna, and to issue information on the present location or the present time of observation as an output signal;

a display processor to receive the SPS signal processor output signal, to process this signal for display of information contained in the signal received, and to issue the processed signal as an output signal;

display means for receiving the display processor output signal and displaying at least one of the coordinates of the present location of the SPS antenna or the present time of observation by the antenna; and

a second power supply, positioned to supply operating power to at least one of the receiver, the second frequency converter, the SPS signal processor, the display processor and the display means; and

a wireless link connecting the transmitter and the receiver,

where the antenna and the display module are spaced apart by a distance that is no more than approximately 300 meters.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said wireless link operates with a carrier signal frequency in the range 10⁸ Hz-10¹⁵ Hz.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said wireless link operates in the infrared or visible light frequency range.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said wireless link operates in the radio frequency range.

22. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said wireless link operates in the acoustic or audible range of carrier frequencies.

23. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said display processor includes a digital computer.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said display is a navigation instrument.

25. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said display displays a map.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said display is an instrument for adding, modifying or deleting attributes on said map.

27. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said is an instrument for marking the SPS location and time of an event.

28. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said is an instrument for SPS surveying.

29. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said display means displays the coordinates of said present location of said SPS antenna.

30. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said display means displays a map that indicates said present location of said SPS antenna.

31. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said display means includes means for audibly presenting the SPS-determined location or time of a selected event.

32. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said Satellite Positioning System is a Global Positioning System (GPS).

33. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said Satellite Positioning System is a Global Orbiting Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS).