Determining precise direction and distance to a satellite radio beacon
First Claim
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1. A device for precisely determining the direction and distance to a radio beacon, comprised of:
- a) A first receiver configured to receive said radio beacon signals;
b) A second receiver configured to receive navigation signals from a positioning system;
c) A microcontroller;
d) An output device;
said radio beacon configured to transmit repetitive short messages, said messages having a predefined transmission time and each message transmitted on one of a predefined set of transmission channels, wherein said device is configured to consecutively and cyclically scan said transmission channels, tuning said first receiver to each one of said transmission channels for a period of time not longer than said predefined transmission time divided by the number of said predefined transmission channels, detect a signal transmitted by a radio beacon on one of said channels, decode the message modulated in said signal indicating said radio beacon'"'"'s position, determine self position by means of said second receiver, calculate the direction and distance from said device to said radio beacon by means of said microcontroller and indicate said direction and distance on said output device.
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Abstract
The present invention discloses a device and method for precisely determining the direction and distance to a satellite radio beacon. In one embodiment, the disclosed device is used for SAR (search and rescue) of people in distress, upon activation of an emergency radio beacon, such as a marine EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon) or an airborne ELT (Emergency Locator Transmitter) or a terrestrial PLB (Personal Location Beacon) or a marine SSAS (Ship Security Alert System) beacon, beacons which are part of the Cospas-Sarsat system.
15 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A device for precisely determining the direction and distance to a radio beacon, comprised of:
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a) A first receiver configured to receive said radio beacon signals; b) A second receiver configured to receive navigation signals from a positioning system; c) A microcontroller; d) An output device; said radio beacon configured to transmit repetitive short messages, said messages having a predefined transmission time and each message transmitted on one of a predefined set of transmission channels, wherein said device is configured to consecutively and cyclically scan said transmission channels, tuning said first receiver to each one of said transmission channels for a period of time not longer than said predefined transmission time divided by the number of said predefined transmission channels, detect a signal transmitted by a radio beacon on one of said channels, decode the message modulated in said signal indicating said radio beacon'"'"'s position, determine self position by means of said second receiver, calculate the direction and distance from said device to said radio beacon by means of said microcontroller and indicate said direction and distance on said output device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for precisely determining the direction and distance to a satellite radio beacon configured to transmit repetitive short messages to satellites orbiting around the globe, said messages having a predefined transmission time and each message transmitted on one of a predefined set of transmission channels, comprising the steps of:
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a) Determining said beacon'"'"'s predefined transmission time; b) Determining said beacon'"'"'s predefined transmission channels; c) Providing a device comprising; i) a first receiver configured to receive said radio beacon signals; ii) a second receiver configured to receive navigation signals from a positioning system; iii) a microcontroller; iv) an output device; d) Scanning at said device, consecutively and cyclically, said predefined transmission channels, tuning said first receiver to each of said predefined transmission channels for a time period not longer than said beacon'"'"'s predefined transmission time divided by the number of said predefined transmission channels; e) Detecting at said device a signal transmitted by said radio beacon on one of said channels; f) Decoding at said device the message modulated in said signal indicating said radio beacon'"'"'s position; g) Determining said device self position by means of said second receiver; h) Calculating the direction and distance from said device to said radio beacon by means of said microcontroller; i) Indicating said direction and distance on said output device.
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Specification