GPS receivers and garments containing GPS receivers and methods for using these GPS receivers

• US 6,259,399 B1
• Filed: 08/11/1998
• Issued: 07/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Snaptrack Incorporated (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Snaptrack Incorporated (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Inventors: Krasner, Norman F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Dao
• Application Number:
  US09/132,573
• Time in Patent Office: 1,064 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357.06, 342/357.09, 342/196, 701/213, 701/215, 375/208
• US Class Current: 342/357.57
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1112 Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6805 Vests
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7232 involving compression of the physiological signal, e.g. to extend the signal recording period
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/09 providing processing capability normally carried out by the receiver
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/235 Calibration of receiver components
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/252 Employing an initial estimate of location in generating assistance data
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/254 relating to Doppler shift of satellite signals
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/256 relating to timing, e.g. time of week, code phase, timing offset
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/258 relating to the satellite constellation, e.g. almanac, ephemeris data, lists of satellites in view
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/34 Power consumption
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/37 Hardware or software details of the signal processing chain
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/008 using a mobile telephone network
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0036 of measured values, i.e. measurement on mobile and position calculation on base station
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0045 Transmission from base station to mobile station G01S5/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2111 Location-sensitive, e.g. geographical location, GPS
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/273 Adaptation for carrying or wearing by persons or animals
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/28 Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems multiple beam H01Q25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H03D 7/163 the local oscillations of at least two of the frequency changers being derived from a single oscillator
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 2200/11 Cellular receiver, e.g. GSM, combined with a GPS receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 7/04 : where the frequency control is accomplished by varying the electrical characteristics of a non-mechanically adjustable element or where the nature of the frequency controlling element is not significant
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 7/06 : using counters or frequency dividers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/00 : Details of transmission systems, not covered by a single one of groups H04B3/00 - H04B13/00; Details of transmission systems not characterised by the medium used for transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/0007 : wherein the AD/DA conversion occurs at radiofrequency or intermediate frequency stage
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/28 : the receiver comprising at least one semiconductor device having three or more electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3805 : with built-in auxiliary receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/3894 : Waterproofing of transmission device

Abstract

A GPS receiver having multiple GPS antennas. Also described is a method of tracking employing the GPS receiver and a communication transmitter. Also described is a garment having a GPS receiver and a GPS antenna and a communication antenna and a communication transmitter.

Claims

1. A garment comprising:

a first GPS antenna attached to said garment;

a communication antenna attached to said garment;

a GPS receiver coupled to said first GPS antenna;

a communication transceiver coupled to said communication antenna and to said GPS receiver wherein said communication transceiver is configured to transmit a position information from said GPS receiver through said communication antenna to a remote site in response to an activation signal received by said communication transceiver.

8. A garment as in claim 1 wherein said GPS receiver comprises:

a digital memory coupled to said first GPS antenna to receive digitized signals obtained through said first GPS antenna;

a digital processor coupled to said digital memory to process said digitized signals to provide a first position information.

9. A garment as in claim 8 wherein said first position information comprises a pseudorange which is transmitted by said communication transceiver through said communication antenna.

10. A garment as in claim 9 wherein said digital processor processes said digitized signals to provide said pseudorange by performing fast convolutions.

11. A garment as in claim 10 wherein said communication transceiver comprises a communication receiver coupled to said GPS receiver, said communication receiver receiving GPS positioning commands and causing said GPS receiver to determine said pseudorange.

12. A garment as in claim 11 wherein said communication receiver also receives satellite data information.

13. A garment as in claim 12 wherein said satellite data information is used to determine said pseudorange.

14. A garment as in claim 11 wherein said first GPS antenna and said communication antenna are flexible.

15. A garment as in claim 14 further comprising a power management circuit coupled to said GPS receiver, said power management circuit reducing power consumed by said GPS receiver.

16. A garment as in claim 14 wherein said communication receiver comprises said digital processor which processes communication signals received through said communication antenna.

17. A garment as in claim 1 further comprising an amplifier coupled to said first GPS antenna and to said GPS receiver, said amplifier amplifying GPS signals received through said first antenna.

18. A garment as in claim 17 further comprising a flexible conductor coupling said amplifier to said GPS receiver, wherein said first GPS antenna is flexible and is located adjacent to said amplifier on said garment and said GPS receiver is located a distance away from said first GPS antenna.

19. A garment as in claim 11 wherein said first GPS antenna and said communication antenna are concealed on said garment.

27. A garment as in claim 1 wherein said garment is not a belt or a backpack.

2. A garment comprising:

a first GPS antenna attached to said garment;

a communication antenna attached to said garment;

a GPS receiver coupled to said first GPS antenna;

a communication transmitter coupled to said communication antenna and coupled to said GPS receiver;

a second GPS antenna attached to said garment, wherein said second GPS antenna is coupled to said GPS receiver.

5. A garment as in claim 2 wherein said first GPS antenna and said second GPS antenna each comprises an antenna which is substantially coplanar with a surface of said garment.

6. A garment as in claim 5 wherein said first GPS antenna and said second GPS antenna are attached to said garment by sewing.

7. A garment as in claim 5 wherein said first GPS antenna and said second GPS antenna are flexible.

3. A garment comprising:

a first GPS antenna attached to said garment;

a communication antenna attached to said garment;

a GPS receiver coupled to said first GPS antenna;

a communication transmitter coupled to said communication antenna and coupled to said GPS receiver;

wherein said first GPS antenna is an antenna which is substantially coplanar with a surface of said garment.

4. A garment as in claim 3 wherein said garment encircles and encloses a body part when said garment is worn.

28. A garment as in claim 3 wherein said first GPS antenna is substantially flat.

20. A garment comprising:

a first GPS antenna attached to said garment;

a GPS receiver coupled to said first GPS antenna;

a communication transceiver coupled to said GPS receiver and coupled to a communication antenna wherein said communication transceiver is configured to transmit a position information from said GPS receiver through said communication antenna to a remote site in response to an activation signal received by said communication transceiver.

21. A garment as in claim 20 wherein said communication antenna is attached to said garment.

22. A garment as in claim 20 wherein said GPS receiver is attached to a belt located near said garment.

23. A garment as in claim 20 wherein said communication transceiver is attached to a belt located near said garment.

24. A garment as in claim 20 further comprising a second GPS antenna attached to said garment.

25. A garment as in claim 20 wherein said first GPS antenna is attached to said garment by a zipper.

26. A garment as in claim 20 wherein said first GPS antenna is attached to said garment by velcro.

29. A garment as in claim 20 wherein said first GPS antenna is substantially flat.