Compass
First Claim
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1. A compass which comprises a heading marker;
- a signal receiver for receiving signals transmitted from global positioning system (GPS) satellites, the receiver having an antenna that, in use, is fixedly positioned with respect to the heading marker and that permits information representing the direction from which a GPS satellite signal is transmitted to it relative to the heading marker to be generated;
auxiliary processing means for cooperating with the antenna for generating the information representing the direction from which a GPS satellite signal is transmitted to the antenna relative to the heading marker; and
primary processing means for processing signals received from a GPS satellite, extracting particularly the azimuth position information of the satellite and for calculating the direction of the heading marker relative to the direction north by utilizing the information giving the direction from which a satellite signal is transmitted to the antenna of the signal receiver relative to the heading marker and the azimuth position information of the satellite.
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Abstract
A compass comprising a signal receiver having an antenna unit that can be fixedly mounted on an object on which the compass is to be used, the antenna unit permitting information relating to the direction from which a signal is picked-up by it to be calculated. By communicating with satellites within the GPS satellite network and utilizing the information incorporated in signals transmitted by such satellites, together with the direction information referred to above, a processor permits the calculation of the direction of a heading marker relative to the direction north, thus using the above information for compass applications.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A compass which comprises a heading marker;
- a signal receiver for receiving signals transmitted from global positioning system (GPS) satellites, the receiver having an antenna that, in use, is fixedly positioned with respect to the heading marker and that permits information representing the direction from which a GPS satellite signal is transmitted to it relative to the heading marker to be generated;
auxiliary processing means for cooperating with the antenna for generating the information representing the direction from which a GPS satellite signal is transmitted to the antenna relative to the heading marker; and
primary processing means for processing signals received from a GPS satellite, extracting particularly the azimuth position information of the satellite and for calculating the direction of the heading marker relative to the direction north by utilizing the information giving the direction from which a satellite signal is transmitted to the antenna of the signal receiver relative to the heading marker and the azimuth position information of the satellite. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
- a signal receiver for receiving signals transmitted from global positioning system (GPS) satellites, the receiver having an antenna that, in use, is fixedly positioned with respect to the heading marker and that permits information representing the direction from which a GPS satellite signal is transmitted to it relative to the heading marker to be generated;
Specification