Position detection apparatus

• US 6,121,921 A
• Filed: 07/02/1997
• Issued: 09/19/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Ishigaki, Toshihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Issing, Gregory C.
• Application Number:
  US08/887,086
• Time in Patent Office: 1,175 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357, 701/213
• US Class Current: 342/357.74
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/34 Power consumption

Abstract

A position detection apparatus is disclosed which comprises: a GPS receiver for receiving at least a GPS radio wave signal, calculating and outputting position data from at least the GPS signal received; a PWR SUPP for supplying a PWR to the GPS receiver; a SW for controlling supplying the PWR to the GPS receiver; a timer; and a control portion for operating the SW to supply the PWR to the GPS receiver periodically using the timer and the SW, for detecting whether the position data Is outputted by the GPS receiver for a predetermined interval from when the PWR is supplied using the timer, and for operating the SW to stop supplying the PWR to the GPS receiver when the position data is not outputted by the GPS receiver for the predetermined interval. The control portion stores the position data from the GPS receiver and reads and outputs the latest position data in response to a position data request. Scanning a PRN signal in the GPS signal with a PRN signal generated therein with a range determined by a total continuous PWR OFF period. In the cyclic PWR ON operation, the cycle is controlled by an externally input signal. An intermittent receiving operation may be effected when the position data is not outputted by the GPS receiver because more than a predetermined number of GPS signals are not received.

Claims

1. A position detection apparatus comprising:

a GPS receiver, including an antenna, for receiving at least a GPS radio wave signal, calculating and outputting position data from at least said GPS signal received;

a power supply for supplying a power to said GPS receiver;

a switch for controlling supplying said power to said GPS receiver;

a timer; and

control means for operating said switch to supply said power to said GPS receiver periodically using said timer and said switch, for detecting whether said position data is outputted by said GPS receiver for a predetermined interval from when said power is supplied using said timer, and for operating said switch to stop supplying said power to said GPS receiver when said position data is not outputted by said GPS receiver for said predetermined interval at the latest.

2. A position detection apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control means stop supplying said power immediately when said position data is outputted by said GPS receiver.

3. A position detection apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control means comprises a memory for storing said position data from said GPS receiver and said control means reads and outputs the latest position data from said memory in response to a position data requesting signal.

4. A position detection apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said GPS signal includes a first PRN code and said control means generates a storing command just before said control means stops supplying said power, calculates a total period while said power is continuously not supplied to said GPS receiver, and supplies data of said total period to said GPS receiver when said control means supplies said power to said GPS receiver, and wherein said GPS receiver comprises:

a PRN code generator for generating a second PRN code with a phase of said second PRN code controlled in accordance with phase control data;

storing means for storing said phase control data in response to said storing command;

range data generation means for generating scanning range data in accordance with said data of said total period;

correlation detection means for detecting a correlation between said first and second PRN codes; and

phase control means for generating and supplying said phase control data to said PRN code generator and said storing means in accordance with a correlation result from said correlation detection means and for scanning said first PRN code with said second PRN code with said phase control data successively changed in accordance with said correlation result from said correlation detection means with a range determined by said scanning range data and said stored phase data when said power is supplied to said GPS receiver.

5. A position detection apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control means further comprises receiving means for receiving an ON period data and operates said switch to supply power to said GPS receiver at a cycle determined in accordance with said ON period data using said timer.

6. A position detection apparatus comprising:

a GPS receiver for receiving a plurality of GPS signals and for calculating and outputting position data from said received plurality of GPS signals when more than a predetermined number of GPS signals are received;

a power supply for supplying a power to said GPS receiver;

a switch for controlling supplying said power to said GPS receiver;

a timer; and

control means for operating said switch to supply said power to said GPS receiver using said switch, for detecting whether said position data is outputted by said GPS receiver for a predetermined interval from when said power is supplied using said timer, and for effecting an intermittent receiving operation using said timer and said switch when said position data is not outputted by said GPS receiver for said predetermined interval until said GPS receiver outputs said position data.

7. A position detection apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said control means comprises a memory for storing said position data from said GPS receiver and said control means reads and outputs the latest position data from said memory in response to a position data requesting signal.