Method and apparatus for position identification
First Claim
1. A position identification system comprising:
- an antenna/receiver receiving position signals from a positioning system;
an orientation device configured to rotate about a first axis and a second axis;
a pointing element operating in conjunction with the orientation device to identify a desired, known position; and
a processor coupled to the antenna/receiver to receive the position signals, the processor computing a current position of the position identification system based upon the position signals, and directing the orientation device based upon the current position and the desired, known position.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A position identification system, that employs satellite navigational or similar positioning technology is provided. The position identification system eliminates the need for estimating the location of a desired position and iteratively adjusting the placement of a range pole. In one embodiment, the position identification system includes an antenna/receiver for receiving position signals from a positioning system; an orientation device that is configured to rotate about a first axis and a second axis; a pointing element that operates in conjunction with the orientation device to identify a desired position; and a processor that is coupled to the antenna/receiver to receive the position signals. The processor computes a current position of the position identification system based upon the position signals and directs the orientation device based upon the current position and the desired position. Using the positioning system, a pointing device is used to identify the desired location to the user of the positioning system. The positioning system receives a first position corresponding to the desired location. A second position is determined corresponding to the device'"'"'s current location. Then, when the pointing element is be oriented such that the pointing element is substantially aligned with the first position, the desired location may be identified by activating the pointing element.
147 Citations
35 Claims
-
1. A position identification system comprising:
-
an antenna/receiver receiving position signals from a positioning system; an orientation device configured to rotate about a first axis and a second axis; a pointing element operating in conjunction with the orientation device to identify a desired, known position; and a processor coupled to the antenna/receiver to receive the position signals, the processor computing a current position of the position identification system based upon the position signals, and directing the orientation device based upon the current position and the desired, known position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A method of identifying a desired, known location to the user of a survey device, the method comprising the steps of:
-
receiving a first position corresponding to the desired, known location; determining a second position corresponding to the survey device'"'"'s current location; and orienting a pointing element to an orientation in which the pointing element is substantially aligned with the first position; and identifying the desired, known location by activating the pointing element. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
-
23. A position identification system operated by a user comprising:
-
an antenna/receiver receiving position signals; a pointing element for identifying a point corresponding to a desired, known position; an orientation device configured to align the pointing element with the desired, known position; and a processor coupled to the antenna/receiver to receive the position signals from which a current position is determined, the processor directing the orientation device to a bearing and elevation, the bearing and elevation being calculated based upon the desired, known position and the current position. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
-
-
31. A position identification system comprising:
-
an antenna/receiver receiving position signals; an identification means for identifying a point corresponding to a desired,known position; and a processor coupled to the antenna/receiver and to the identification means, the processor determining a current position based on the position signals and providing to the identification means a bearing and elevation to the desired, known position. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35)
-
Specification