Dual positioning location system
First Claim
1. A method for operating a location system having a gyroscope with inner and outer gimbals and having a radio positioning system receiver, said method comprising the steps of:
- obtaining receiver signals from said radio positioning system receiver and gyroscope signals from said gyroscope;
identifying a speed for said location system;
computing a compensation factor in response to said receiver signals, said computing step being performed when said receiver signals define a current heading for said radio positioning system receiver wherein said computing step is performed when said identifying step identifies said speed as being greater than a predetermined minimum speed; and
determining, when receiver signals do not define a current heading, a position in response to said gyroscope signals and in response to said compensation factor.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An automatic vehicle location system (10) includes a radio positioning system receiver (14) which receives GPS radio signals (18) and includes a two-gimbaled gyroscope (22), which is used by a dead-reckoning positioning system. A controller (43) determines position based upon the radio positioning system when the radio signals (18) are available and upon dead-reckoning when the radio signals (18) are not available. The dead-reckoning process is based upon a compensation factor which is established in response to data received from the radio positioning system (14). The compensation factor acts as an adjustment to an inner gimbal angle to compensate for a minor drift away from level by the inner gimbal (32).
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for operating a location system having a gyroscope with inner and outer gimbals and having a radio positioning system receiver, said method comprising the steps of:
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obtaining receiver signals from said radio positioning system receiver and gyroscope signals from said gyroscope; identifying a speed for said location system; computing a compensation factor in response to said receiver signals, said computing step being performed when said receiver signals define a current heading for said radio positioning system receiver wherein said computing step is performed when said identifying step identifies said speed as being greater than a predetermined minimum speed; and determining, when receiver signals do not define a current heading, a position in response to said gyroscope signals and in response to said compensation factor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for operating a location system having a gyroscope with inner and outer gimbals and having a radio positioning system receiver, said method comprising the steps of:
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a) obtaining receiver signals from said receiver and gyroscope signals from said gyroscope; b) determining whether said receiver signals define a current heading for said location system; c) determining a speed for said location system; d) determining whether said location system has been on an approximately straight heading for a predetermined period of time; e) updating a compensation factor in response to said receiver signals if said receiver signals define a current heading for said location system, said speed is greater than a predetermined minimum speed, and said location system has been on an approximately straight heading for said predetermined period of time; and f) determining a position for said location system in response to said gyroscope signals and in response to said compensation factor. - View Dependent Claims (11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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12. A method as claimed 10 additionally comprising the step of refraining from updating said compensation factor when said receiver signals do not define a current heading for said location system, said speed is less than said predetermined minimum speed, or said location system has not been on an approximately straight heading for said predetermined period of time.
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18. A dual positioning location system comprising:
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a gyroscope with inner and outer gimbals, said gyroscope being configured to produce gyroscope signals; a radio positioning system receiver configured to produce receiver signals; means for identifying a speed for said dual positioning location system; and a controller, coupled to said gyroscope and said receiver, for computing a compensation factor in response to said receiver signals when said receiver signals define a current heading and when said speed is greater than a predetermined minimum speed, and for determining a position in response to said gyroscope signals and in response to said compensation factor when said receiver signals do not define a current heading. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification