Integrated position determination system and radio transceiver incorporating common components

• US 6,072,429 A
• Filed: 01/31/1997
• Issued: 06/06/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Inventors: Crothall, George, Maniscalco, Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Blum, Theodore M.
• Application Number:
  US08/791,190
• Time in Patent Office: 1,222 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357, 342/357.1, 342/357.03, 364/449.7, 364/449.9, 701/213, 701/214, 701/215
• US Class Current: 342/357.57
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 15/00 Surveying instruments or accessories not provided for in groups G01C1/00 - G01C13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/36 relating to the receiver frond end
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/41 Differential correction, e.g. DGPS [differential GPS]
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/43 using carrier phase measurements, e.g. kinematic positioning; using long or short baseline interferometry
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0063 of measured values, i.e. measurement on base station and position calculation on mobile

Abstract

A integrated position determination network including a position determination system and a radio relay system is disclosed which locates the precise location of the position determination system. The position determination system incorporates the radio, the power source and the GPS receiver and all necessary electronics into a single housing. Similarly, all of the components of the radio relay are integrated into a single housing. Many of the components of the position determination system and the radio relay system are interchangeable. Thus, a position determination system and radio relay system which use common components is obtained. The use of common components lowers the cost of manufacture and the cost of maintenance. In addition, interchange ability of components allows for great flexibility in designing a GPS network and in performing real time kinematics operations.

Claims

1. An integrated position determination and radio system comprising:

a housing;

a receiver including an antenna disposed within said housing for receiving position determination signals from satellites;

a first radio disposed within said housing for transmitting information to and receiving data from other position determination systems;

position signal processing circuitry disposed within said housing adapted to analyze position determining signals so as to determine the position of said housing, said position signal processing circuitry adapted to be removed from said housing and replaced with a relay circuit board and a housing top having provision for mounting a second radio therein;

radio signal processing circuitry disposed within said housing and adapted to demodulate radio signals received from other position determination systems and deliver them to said position signal processing circuitry so as to more accurately determine the position of said housing, and

wherein, upon replacing said position signal processing circuitry with said relay circuit board and said housing top having provision for mounting a second radio therein, and upon placing a second radio therein, said integrated position determination system is adapted to relay radio signals received from other position determination systems.

2. The integrated position determination and radio system of claim 1 wherein said radio further comprises:

a radio antenna disposed within said housing for transmitting and receiving radio signals.

3. The integrated position determination and radio system of claim 1 further comprising:

a post attached to said housing; and

a battery, said battery disposed within said post and electrically connected to said position signal processing circuitry and electrically connected to said radio signal processing circuitry and electrically connected to said radio and electrically connected to said receiver so as to provide power to said position signal processing circuitry and to said radio circuitry and to said radio and to said receiver.

4. The integrated position determination and radio system of claim 1 wherein said signal processing circuit boards is adapted to be removed from said housing and replaced with a relay circuit board and wherein said receiver is adapted to be removed from said housing and replaced with a housing top having a provision for mounting a radio therein such that, upon the placement of a second radio within said housing top, said integrated position determination system may relay radio signals received from other global positioning units.

5. The integrated position determination and radio system of claim 1 wherein said position signal processing circuitry and said radio signal processing circuitry further comprise:

a first circuit board which performs power transfer and management functions and input and output functions;

a second circuit board which performs radio reception and transmission functions; and

a third circuit board which analyzes signals received from satellites and from other position determination systems so as to determine the position of said integrated position determination system.

6. The integrated position determination and radio system of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of connector receptacles disposed within said housing for connecting other devices and components to said position determination system.

7. The integrated position determination and radio system of claim 5 further comprising:

an internal housing disposed within said housing for shielding said first circuit board and said second circuit board and said third circuit board from electronic and magnetic interference.

8. The integrated position determination and radio system of claim 1 further comprising:

a tripod connected to said housing, said tripod including provision for storing said battery therein.

9. The integrated position determination and radio system of claim 8 further comprising a battery, said battery disposed within said tripod.

10. The integrated position determination and radio system of claim 8 further comprising:

a optical position finder connected to said tripod such that said housing may be accurately positioned over a specific location.

11. The integrated position determination and radio system of claim 10 further comprising:

a low noise amplifier connected to said receiver.

12. An integrated position determination and radio transceiver system comprising:

a housing;

a low noise amplifier housing connected to said housing and adapted to be removed;

a receiver disposed within said housing for receiving telemetry data signals from satellites, said receiver adapted to be removed;

a plurality of patch antennas disposed within said housing;

at least one circuit board for processing said satellite signals and for transmitting and receiving radio signals so as to determine the location of said housing and for transmitting data to other position determination systems;

an internal housing disposed within said housing for shielding said circuit board from magnetic and electrical interference; and

a pole connected to said housing including provision for a battery to be mounted within said pole;

a radio relay circuit board adapted to replace said circuit board;

a housing cover adapted to replace said low noise amplifier housing and said receiver, said housing cover having provision for mounting a second radio thereto; and

wherein, upon the removal of said low noise amplifier housing and said receiver and said circuit board, said radio relay circuit board is adapted to be placed into said housing and said housing cover is adapted to be placed on said housing such that when a second radio is placed into said housing cover radio signals are received and relayed.

13. The integrated position determination and radio transceiver system of claim 12 further comprising:

a pole connected to said housing including provision for a battery to be mounted within said pole.

14. The integrated position determination and radio transceiver system of claim 13 further comprising;

a low noise amplifier housing connected to said housing onto which at least one low noise amplifier is mounted; and

a radome connected to said low noise amplifier housing, said receiver mounted over said low noise amplifier housing and below said radome such that said receiver and said low noise amplifier and said radome may be easily removed from said housing by detaching said low noise amplifier housing from said housing.

15. The integrated position determination and radio transceiver system of claim 13 further comprising a housing cover having provision for mounting a second radio to said housing cover such that said low noise amplifier may be removed from said housing and replaced with said housing cover such that a second radio may be placed into said housing cover so as to receive and relay radio signals.

16. The integrated position determination and radio transceiver system of claim 12 further comprising;

a second radio attached to said housing cover and connected to said circuit boards so as to receive and relay radio signals.

17. The integrated position determination and radio transceiver system of claim 15 further comprising:

a radio relay circuit board connected to said second radio for receiving and broadcasting radio signals such that said circuit board may be removed and replaced with said radio relay circuit board.

18. The integrated position determination and radio transceiver system of claim 12 further comprising a tripod connected to said housing.

19. A integrated position determination system network comprising:

a first housing including provision for attachment of an optical location finder thereto for precisely locating said housing over a known reference point;

a first position determination system receiver mounted within said first housing;

a first radio antenna mounted within said first housing;

a first circuit board disposed within said first housing and connected to said first position determination system receiver and connected to said first radio antenna;

a second housing;

a second position determination system receiver mounted within said second housing;

a second radio antenna mounted within said second housing;

a second circuit board disposed within said second housing and connected to said second position determination system receiver and connected to said second radio antenna;

a third housing;

a third circuit board disposed within said third housing;

a third radio disposed within said third housing and connected to said third circuit board;

a housing top attached to said third housing so as to enclose said third circuit board within said third housing; and

a removable radio disposed within said housing top and connected to said third circuit board such that radio signals may be received and relayed by said removable radio.

20. The position determination system network of claim 19 further comprising:

a fourth housing;

a fourth circuit board disposed within said fourth housing;

a second housing top attached to said fourth housing so as to enclose said fourth circuit board within said fourth housing;

a fourth radio disposed within said fourth housing and connected to said fourth circuit board; and

a second removable radio disposed within said second housing top and connected to said fourth circuit board such that radio signals may be received and relayed between said first removable radio and said second removable radio.