GPS signal driven sensor positioning system

• US 6,690,978 B1
• Filed: 07/07/1999
• Issued: 02/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jerry Kirsch
• Original Assignee: Jerry Kirsch
• Inventors: Kirsch, Jerry
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo
• Assistant Examiner(s): Garland, Steven R.
• Application Number:
  US09/348,486
• Time in Patent Office: 1,679 Days
• Field of Search: 700/56, 700/60, 700/59, 700/61-66, 700/57, 700/58, 700/141, 700/83-85, 382/141, 382/103, 356/5.01, 356/139-4-1, 346/12, 346/13, 346/58, 348/64, 348/135, 348/211, 348/2, 348/169-172, 250/203--20, 701/25, 701/213, 701/3, 701/216, 701/300
• US Class Current: 700/56
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0072 Transmission between mobile stations, e.g. anti-collision systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0284 Relative positioning
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/80 Analysis of captured images to determine intrinsic or extrinsic camera parameters, i.e. camera calibration

Abstract

The subject of the invention relates to a positioning system having a control that integrates a GPS receiver for determining the system'"'"'s operating coordinates. The control can interface with either radio or cellular telephone transceivers, or receivers for receiving GPS coordinate data via remote radio or cellular transceivers or senders, in order to process the local GPS coordinate data using logarithms for solving triangles with various geometrical propositions to establish and control the sensor positioner and to automatically maintain a sensor fix on remote objects or vehicles transmitting their GPS coordinates. The positions control is configured with a target operating mode that permits an operator to manually steer the positioner to desired positions at which information is desired, and to engage the control to make use of, at targeted time, positioner angular data stemming from the positions dive assemblies encoders to automatically maintain a sensor fix on desired targeted positions. In addition, the positions control is configured with a coordinate entry mode that permits an operator to engage the controller to automatically position the positioner in order to maintain a sensor fix on the entered coordinates. The positioning system functions to either maintain a sensor fix on stationary or moving objects from either a stationary position or a moving object or vehicle.

Claims

1. A positioning system comprising:

at least one processor;

memory operably associated with said processor;

a global positioning system (GPS) receiver capable of receiving GPS position information, and transferring said position information to said at least one processor;

a wireless communications receiver capable of receiving information transmitted from wireless transmitters and transferring said received information to said at least one processor, said information transmitted from said wireless transmitters including information associated with a position of a remote object;

a positioner, said positioner comprising a yaw table rotatably coupled to a mounting base, a pitch wheel rotatably coupled to said yaw table, a yaw drive assembly, and a pitch drive assembly; and

a program of instructions capable of being stored in said memory and executed by said processor, said program of instructions enabled to calculate a relative position of said remote object, based at least in part on said GPS position information and said information associated with a position of said remote object, said program of instructions further enabled to control said positioning system based on said calculated relative position.

2. The positioning system as in claim 1, further comprising a roll assembly, said roll assembly enabled to maintain said positioning system in a generally horizontal relationship with the horizon.

3. The positioning system as in claim 1, wherein said program of instructions is further enabled to provide autopilot control for a vehicle in which said positioning system is mounted, based at least in part on said calculated relative position of said remote object.

4. The positioning system as in claim 1, further comprising an altimeter interface, and wherein said program of instructions is further configured to control said positioning system based, at least in part, on information received via said altimeter interface.

5. The positioning system as in claim 1, further comprising a range finder, and wherein said program of instructions is further configured to control said positioning system based, at least in part, on information acquired from said range finder.

6. The positioning system as in claim 1, further comprising an elevating mast, said program of instructions further configured to raise and lower said mast in response to said calculated relative position of said remote object.