Interbuilding and urban canyon extension solution for global positioning systems

• US 5,990,826 A
• Filed: 10/07/1997
• Issued: 11/23/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Teledyne Scientific & Imaging, LLC (Teledyne Technologies Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Science Center, Inc.
• Inventors: Mitchell, James P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAN, DAO LINDA
• Application Number:
  US08/946,627
• Time in Patent Office: 777 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357, 342/457, 342/417, 342/419, 342/385, 342/463, 342/386
• US Class Current: 342/357.64
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/042 Transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/68 Marker, boundary, call-sign, or like beacons transmitting signals not carrying directional information
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/48 by combining or switching between position solutions derived from the satellite radio beacon positioning system and position solutions derived from a further system
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2609 Arrangements for range control, e.g. by using remote antennas
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 30/60 Planning or developing urban green infrastructure

Abstract

A global positioning system (GPS) and auxiliary receiver receive limited range position signals broadcasted from telemetry transmitters when in an urban canyon environment. The limited range receivers preferably are implemented as part of the lighting infrastructure of the environment. The limited range receivers derive power from light from the lighting infrastructure. The receivers can also include a transmitter for retransmitting the receive position data and an ID code to a central processing center.

Claims

1. A receiver unit for use with a plurality of transmitters, each transmitter emitting a limited range receive position signal indicative of a position of the transmitter, the receiver unit comprising:

a receiver circuit for receiving the limited range receive position signal;

a transmitter circuit; and

a storage buffer coupled to the transmitter circuit, the storage buffer storing an identification code, the transmitter circuit transmitting a transmit position signal indicative of the limited range receive position signal and the identification code.

2. The receiver unit of claim 1, wherein the storage buffer is an EPROM.

3. The receiver unit of claim 1, wherein the storage buffer is a dip switch.

4. The receiver unit of claim 1, wherein the receiver unit is field-programmable to provide the identification code.

5. A unified positioning receiver system, comprising:

a satellite receiver circuit for receiving satellite signals and determining a first position in response to the satellite signals; and

an auxiliary receiver circuit for receiving limited range signals and for determining a second position in response to the limited range signals, the limited range signals including a position code, the auxiliary receiver circuit utilizing the position code to determine the second position.

6. The positioning receiver system of claim 5, wherein the satellite signals are provided in a first frequency band and the limited range signals are provided in a second frequency range.

7. The positioning receiver system of claim 5, wherein the limited range signals have a range of less than 250 feet.

8. The positioning receiver system of claim 5, wherein the limited range signals have a range of less than 15 feet.

9. The positioning receiver system of claim 5, further comprising:

an antenna system coupled to the satellite receiver circuit and to the auxiliary receiver circuit.

10. The positioning receiver system of claim 5, further comprising:

a transmitter circuit; and

a storage buffer coupled to the transmitter circuit, the storage buffer storing an identification code, the transmitter circuit transmitting a transmit position signal indicative of the identification code and the first position or the second position.

11. The positioning receiver system of claim 10 further comprising:

an interface coupled to the storage buffer, the interface providing the identification code to the storage buffer.

12. The positioning receiver system of claim 5 further comprising:

a display for providing an indication of the first position or the second position.

13. The positioning receiver system of claim 5, wherein the limited range signals are RF signals.

14. The positioning receiver system of claim 5, wherein the limited range signals are infrared signals.