Integrated position and direction system with map display oriented according to heading or direction

• US 6,529,828 B1
• Filed: 02/07/2001
• Issued: 03/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Inventors: Green, James C., Williams, Richard David
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US09/779,015
• Time in Patent Office: 755 Days
• Field of Search: 701/200, 701/207, 701/208, 701/211, 701/213, 701/300, 340/995, 342/357.06, 342/357.13, 342/357.14
• US Class Current: 701/213
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/11 wherein the cooperating elements are pseudolites or satellite radio beacon positioning system signal repeaters
• 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 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. The integrated position and direction system is operable to display, on a display device, map information that is oriented according to a current orientation regardless of whether the system is stationary or moving. The map display is oriented according to either heading determined using the satellite positioning system or direction determined using the digital compass. The integrated position and direction system updates the map display to orient the map display with a current position. Moreover, the integrated position and direction system updates the map display to orient the map display with a current orientation (e.g., heading or direction).

Claims

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

a) determining position using said satellite positioning system;

b) determining orientation, said orientation determined using said satellite positioning system when said IPADS is moving and said orientation determined using said digital compass when said IPADS is not moving;

c) generating said map information using said position determined in said step a);

d) displaying said map information such that said map information is oriented according to said orientation determined in said step b); and

e) indicating whether said orientation is determined using said satellite positioning system or whether said orientation is determined using said digital compass.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of:

updating said map information displayed in step d) upon movement of said IPADS and upon changes in orientation of said IPADS such that said map information displayed in step d) indicates a current position of said IPADS and indicates a current orientation of said IPADS.

3. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said step c) includes reading information stored in a data storage device.

4. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of:

displaying a four-point compass rose that is oriented according to said orientation determined in said step b).

5. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of:

displaying an eight-point compass rose that is oriented according to said orientation determined in said step b).

6. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of:

displaying an indication of degrees from 0 to 360 degrees that is oriented according to said orientation determined in said step b).

7. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said map information displayed in said step d) includes an icon that indicates said position determined in said step a).

8. In a computer system having a processor, a data storage device, a satellite positioning system, and a digital compass, a computer-implemented method of displaying map information comprising the steps of:

a) determining position using said satellite positioning system;

b) determining orientation, said orientation determined using said satellite positioning system when said computer system is moving and said orientation determined using said digital compass when said computer system is not moving;

c) generating said map information using said position determined in said step a);

d) displaying said map information such that said map information is oriented according to said orientation determined in said step b); and

e) indicating whether said orientation is determined using said satellite positioning system or whether said orientation is determined using said digital compass.

9. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 8 further comprising the step of:

updating said map information displayed in step d) upon movement of said computer system and upon changes in orientation of said computer system such that said map information displayed in step d) indicates a current position of said computer system and indicates a current orientation of said computer system.

10. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 8 wherein said step c) includes reading information stored in a data storage device.

11. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 8 further comprising the step of:

displaying a four-point compass rose that is oriented according to said orientation determined in said step b).

12. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 8 further comprising the step of:

displaying an eight-point compass rose that is oriented according to said orientation determined in said step b).

13. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 8 further comprising the step of:

displaying an indication of degrees from 0 to 360 degrees that is oriented according to said orientation determined in said step b).

14. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 8 wherein said map information displayed in said step d) includes an icon that indicates said position determined in said step a).

15. An integrated position and direction system (IPADS) comprising:

a) a satellite positioning system for determining position and for determining heading using satellite position determining signals;

b) a digital compass for determining direction;

c) a data storage device for storing map information;

d) a display device;

e) a processor coupled to said satellite positioning system, coupled to said digital compass, coupled to said display device, and coupled to said data storage device, wherein said processor is operable to generate a display on said display device using said map information and using said position determined by said satellite positioning system, said display oriented according to said heading determined using said satellite positioning system when said IPADS is moving, and wherein said display is oriented according to said direction determined using said digital compass when said IPADS is not substantially moving; and

f) an indicator for indicating whether said display is oriented using said satellite positioning system or whether said display is oriented using said digital compass.

16. An integrated position and direction system as recited in claim 15 wherein said satellite positioning system uses satellites of the U.S. Global Positioning System to determine said position and to determine said heading.

17. An integrated position and direction system as recited in claim 15 further comprising a housing, said satellite positioning system, said digital compass, said data storage device, and said processor disposed in said housing.

18. An integrated position and direction system as recited in claim 17 wherein said housing is palm-sized.

19. An integrated position and direction system (IPADS) comprising:

a) a satellite positioning system for determining position and for determining heading using satellite position determining signals;

b) a digital compass for determining direction;

c) a data storage device for storing map information;

d) a display device;

e) a processor coupled to said satellite positioning system, coupled to said digital compass, coupled to said display device, and coupled to said data storage device, wherein said processor is operable to generate a display on said display device using said map information and using said position determined by said satellite positioning system, said display oriented according to one of said direction determined using said digital compass and said heading determined using said satellite positioning system; and

f) an indicator for indicating whether said display is oriented using said satellite positioning system or whether said display is oriented using said digital compass.

20. An integrated position and direction system as recited in claim 19 wherein said satellite positioning system uses satellites of the U.S. Global Positioning System to determine said position.

21. An integrated position and direction system as recited in claim 19 further comprising a housing, said satellite positioning system, said digital compass, said data storage device, and said processor disposed in said housing.

22. An integrated position and direction system as recited in claim 21 wherein said housing is palm-sized.