Integrated position and direction system for determining position of offset feature

• US 6,401,037 B1
• Filed: 10/11/2000
• Issued: 06/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Inventors: Green, James C., Williams, Richard David, Muller, Christopher George
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US09/688,271
• Time in Patent Office: 601 Days
• Field of Search: 701/214, 701/216, 701/220, 701/221, 701/300, 701/213, 342/357.02, 342/357.06, 342/357.08, 342/357.14
• US Class Current: 701/300
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/53 Determining attitude
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver

Abstract

An integrated position and direction system is disclosed that includes a digital compass, wherein the digital compass includes at least three sensors, and a satellite positioning system (SATPOS) having a receiver adapted to receive satellite position determining signals. Direction is determined using the digital compass and heading is determined using the SATPOS. At a first location, the integrated position and direction system is oriented to the offset feature and is operated to determine a first set of measurements relative to the offset feature using the digital compass and the satellite positioning system. At a second location, the integrated position and direction system is oriented to the offset feature and is operated to determine a second set of measurements relative to the offset feature using the digital compass and the satellite positioning system. The integrated position and direction system calculates the position of the offset feature using the first and second sets of measurements.

Claims

1. A method of determining a position of an offset feature using an integrated position and direction system (IPADS) having a satellite positioning system and a digital compass, said method comprising the steps of:

a) aligning said IPADS relative to said offset feature at a first location;

b) determining a first set of measurements at said first location by using said satellite positioning system and said digital compass;

c) aligning said IPADS relative to said offset feature at a second location;

d) determining a second set of measurements at said second location by using said satellite positioning system and said digital compass; and

e) using said first and second sets of measurements to calculate said position of said offset feature.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said IPADS includes a visual alignment mechanism, and wherein said step a) includes aligning said alignment mechanism with said offset feature.

3. A method as recited in claim 2 wherein said step c) includes aligning said visual alignment mechanism with said offset feature.

4. A method as recited in claim 3 wherein said visual alignment mechanism comprises a line on a top surface of said IPADS.

5. A method as recited in claim 3 wherein said visual alignment mechanism comprises a raised surface extending from a top surface of said IPADS.

6. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said first set of measurements includes a first direction indicating orientation of said offset feature relative to said first location, wherein said second set of measurements includes a second direction indicating orientation of said offset feature relative to said second location, wherein said first direction and said second direction are determined by using said digital compass.

7. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said first set of measurements includes a first position determined by using said satellite positioning system, and wherein said second set of measurements includes a second position determined by using said satellite positioning system.

8. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said IPADS includes a user input device for allowing a user to operate said IPADS to determine said position of said offset feature, wherein said step b) is initiated by operation of said user input device, and wherein said step d) is initiated by operation of said user input device.

9. A method as recited in claim 8 wherein said user input device comprises a button.

10. A method as recited in claim 8 wherein said user input device comprises a graphical user interface.

11. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising displaying said position of said offset feature.

12. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said step e) further comprises the steps of:

aligning said IPADS relative to said offset feature at a third location;

determining a third set of measurements at said third location using said satellite positioning system and said digital compass; and

using said first, second and third sets of measurements to calculate said position of said offset feature.

13. A method of determining a position of an offset feature using an integrated position and direction system (IPADS) having a satellite positioning system and a digital compass, said method comprising the steps of:

a) at a first location, determining a first position using said satellite positioning system and determining a first direction to said offset feature using said digital compass;

b) at a second location, determining a second position using said satellite positioning system and determining a second direction to said offset feature using said digital compass; and

c) calculating said position of said offset feature using said first and second positions and said first and second directions.

14. A method as recited in claim 13 wherein said IPADS includes a visual alignment mechanism, and wherein said step a) includes aligning said alignment mechanism with said offset feature.

15. A method as recited in claim 14 wherein said step b) includes aligning said visual alignment mechanism with said offset feature.

16. A method as recited in claim 15 wherein said visual alignment mechanism comprises a line on a top surface of said IPADS.

17. A method as recited in claim 15 wherein said visual alignment mechanism comprises a raised surface extending from a top surface of said IPADS.

18. A method as recited in claim 13 wherein said IPADS includes a user input device for allowing a user to operate said IPADS to determine said position of said offset feature, wherein said step a) is initiated by operation of said user input device, and wherein said step b) is initiated by operation of said user input device.

19. A method as recited in claim 18 wherein said user input device comprises a button.

20. A method as recited in claim 18 wherein said user input device comprises a graphical user interface.

21. A method as recited in claim 13 further comprising displaying said position of said offset feature.

22. A method as recited in claim 13 further comprising the steps of:

d) at a third location, determining a third position using said satellite positioning system and determining a third direction to an offset feature using said digital compass; and

e) using said positions of steps a), b) and d) and said directions of steps a), b), and d) to calculate said position of said offset feature.

23. An integrated position and direction system (IPADS) for determining the position of an offset feature, comprising:

a) a satellite positioning system (SPS) for determining a plurality of positions using satellite position determining signals;

b) a digital compass for determining a plurality of directions;

c) a user input device for receiving user input; and

d) a processor coupled to said SPS, coupled to said digital compass, and coupled to said user input device, wherein said processor is operable in response to operation of said user input device to determine said position of said offset feature using said positions and said directions.

24. An integrated position and direction system as recited in claim 23 wherein said user input device comprises a button.

25. An integrated position and direction system as recited in claim 23 wherein said user input device comprises a graphical user interface.

26. An integrated position and direction system as recited in claim 23 wherein said satellite positioning system uses satellites of the U.S. Global Positioning System to determine said positions.

27. An integrated position and direction system as recited in claim 23 wherein said digital compass includes at least three sensors.

28. An integrated position and direction system as recited in claim 23 further comprising a housing, said SPS, said digital compass, and said processor disposed in said housing.

29. An integrated position and direction system as recited in claim 28 wherein said housing is palm-sized.

30. An integrated position and direction system as recited in claim 28 further comprising a visual alignment mechanism for facilitating aligning said IPADS with said offset feature.

31. An integrated position and direction system as recited in claim 30 wherein said visual alignment mechanism comprises a line on a top surface of said housing.

32. An integrated position and direction system as recited in claim 30 wherein said visual alignment mechanism comprises a raised surface extending from a top surface of said housing.