Integrated guidance system

• US 7,729,853 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2003
• Issued: 06/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Inventors: Price, Gregory Robin, Wallace, Gregory Craig
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Dalena
• Application Number:
  US10/735,576
• Publication Number:
  US 20050131640A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,363 Days
• Field of Search: 701/209, 701/3, 701/200, 701/213, 701/202, 701/28, 701/50, 701/208, 701/207, 701/23, 701/224, 701/93, 340/974, 340/988, 340/461, 340/525, 340/684, 340/815.45, 342/47, 180/168, 180/204
• US Class Current: 701/209
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0278 using satellite positioning signals, e.g. GPS

Abstract

An integrated guidance system is disclosed. The integrated guidance system includes a position determination system adapted for determining a current position. Additionally, the integrated guidance system further includes a lightbar device adapted for providing a visual representation of the deviation of the current position from a desired path to guide movement along the desired path. Furthermore, the integrated guidance system has a data input device, and a display device for displaying text and graphics. Moreover, the integrated guidance system includes a user interface system adapted for facilitating user interaction by integrating operation of the position determination system, the lightbar device, the data input device, and the display device. In an embodiment, the user interface system comprises a processor and processor-executable instructions for implementing a user interface.

Claims

1. An integrated guidance system comprising:

a position determination system adapted for determining a current position;

a differential global position determination system adapted for using a differential correction process to correct errors, wherein a differential correction may be stored in an electronic file and accessed later or said differential correction may be applied in real time;

a lightbar device adapted for providing a visual representation of a deviation of said current position from a desired path to guide movement along said desired path;

a data input device for scrolling, selecting, and editing operations, including configuring said position determining system with a menu, and wherein said data input device comprises a first button, a second button, and a third button;

a display device for displaying text, said menu and graphics, said text, said menu, and said graphics adapted to be viewable under various light conditions, wherein an operator is able to vary the contrast and brightness of said text, said menu, and said graphics by using buttons to interact with a user interface of said integrated guidance system, and wherein said first button, said second button, and said third button facilitate interacting with a plurality of available functions displayed on said display device, and wherein said display device is configured for presenting a perspective view graphic to assist in guidance along with first text that describes said desired path and second text that describes deviation from said desired path;

a processor adapted for facilitating user interaction by integrating operation of said position determination system, said lightbar device, said data input device, and said display device; and

a housing enclosing said position determination system, said lightbar device, said data input device, said display device and said processor, wherein said housing has a first wing-shaped portion and a second wing-shaped portion configured to protect a cable connector extending from said housing, wherein said light bar and said display device are positioned on a front of said housing, and wherein said first button, said second button, and said third button of said data input device are positioned on a top surface of said housing for convenient access by an operator of said integrated guidance system, wherein said top surface of said housing is substantially orthogonally adjacent to said front of said housing, and wherein said first button is larger than said second button and said third button to reduce the need for visual assistance by said operator to distinguish said first button, said second button, and said third button.

2. The integrated guidance system as recited in claim 1 wherein said position determination system comprises:

a Global Positioning System (GPS) antenna; and

a GPS receiver.

3. The integrated guidance system as recited in claim 2 wherein said GPS antenna is positioned externally and separately relative to said GPS receiver.

4. The integrated guidance system as recited in claim 1 wherein said lightbar device comprises a plurality of lights that are adapted to emit a light pattern that indicates said deviation.

5. The integrated guidance system as recited in claim 4 wherein said plurality of lights are spaced apart and are aligned in a row, and wherein said light pattern if formed selectively illuminating particular ones of said plurality of lights.

6. The integrated guidance system as recited in claim 4 wherein said plurality of lights comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs).

7. The integrated guidance system as recited in claim 1 wherein said display device displays said available functions in a menu-driven manner that is user friendly.

8. The integrated guidance system as recited in claim 1 wherein said display device comprises a liquid crystal display (LCD).

9. An integrated guidance system comprising:

a position determination system adapted for determining a current position;

a differential global position determination system adapted for using a differential correction process to correct errors, wherein a differential correction may be stored in an electronic file and accessed later or said differential correction may be applied in real time;

a lightbar device adapted for providing a visual representation of a deviation of said current position from a desired path to guide movement along said desired path;

a data input device for scrolling, selecting, and editing operations, including configuring said position determining system with a menu, and wherein said data input device comprises a first button, a second button, and a third button;

a display device for displaying text, said menu and graphics, said text, said menu, and said graphics adapted to be viewable under various light conditions, wherein an operator is able to vary the contrast and brightness of said text, said menu, and said graphics by using buttons to interact with a user interface of said integrated guidance system, and wherein said first button, said second button, and said third button facilitate interacting with a plurality of available functions displayed on said display device, and wherein said display device is configured for presenting a perspective view graphic to assist in guidance along with first text that describes said desired path and second text that describes deviation from said desired path;

a user interface system adapted for facilitating user interaction by integrating operation of said position determination system, said lightbar device, said data input device, and said display device; and

a housing enclosing said position determination system, said lightbar device, said data input device, said display device, and said user interface, wherein said housing has a first wing-shaped portion and a second wing-shaped portion configured to protect a cable connector extending from said housing, wherein said light bar and said display device are positioned on a front of said housing, and wherein said first button, said second button, and said third button of said data input device are positioned on a top surface of said housing for convenient access by an operator of said integrated guidance system, wherein said top surface of said housing is substantially orthogonally adjacent to said front of said housing, and wherein said first button is larger than said second button and said third button to reduce the need for visual assistance by said operator to distinguish said first button, said second button, and said third button.

10. The integrated guidance system as recited in claim 9 wherein said position determination system comprises:

a Global Positioning System (GPS) antenna; and

a GPS receiver.

11. The integrated guidance system as recited in claim 10 wherein said GPS antenna is positioned externally and separately relative to said GPS receiver.

12. The integrated guidance system as recited in claim 9 wherein said lightbar device comprises a plurality of lights that are adapted to emit a light pattern that indicates said deviation.

13. The integrated guidance system as recited in claim 12 wherein said plurality of lights are spaced apart and are aligned in a row, and wherein said light pattern is formed by selectively illuminating particular ones of said plurality of lights.

14. The integrated guidance system as recited in claim 12 wherein said plurality of lights comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs).

15. The integrated guidance system as recited in claim 9 wherein said user interface system comprises:

a processor; and

processor-executable instructions for implementing a user interface.

16. The integrated guidance system as recited in claim 9 wherein said user interface system displays on said display device said available functions in a menu-driven manner that is user friendly.

17. The integrated guidance system as recited in claim 9 wherein said display device comprises a liquid crystal display (LCD).

18. A method of interacting with a guidance system, said method comprising:

displaying on a display device of said guidance system a plurality of available functions in a menu-driven manner that is user friendly, wherein said display device is adapted for displaying text and graphics, including configuring said guidance system with said menu, said text, said menu, and said graphics adapted to be viewable under various light conditions, wherein an operator is able to vary the contrast and brightness of said text, said menu, and said graphics by using buttons to interact with a user interface of said guidance system;

displaying on said display device a perspective view graphic to assist in guidance, first text that describes a desired path, and second text that describes deviation from said desired path; and

providing said guidance system with a data input device adapted for accessing and interacting with any one of said available functions with a minimum number of inputs and with minimum use of said inputs, wherein said data input device enables scrolling, selecting, and editing operations, said data input device comprising a first button, a second button, and a third button that facilitate interacting with a plurality of available functions displayed on said display device, and wherein said display device, said guidance system, and said data input device are integrated in a housing, wherein said housing has a first wing-shaped portion and a second wing-shaped portion configured to protect a cable connector extending from said housing, wherein said display device is positioned on a front of said housing, wherein said first button, said second button, and said third button of said data input device are positioned on a top surface of said housing for convenient access by an operator of said integrated guidance system, wherein said top surface of said housing is substantially orthogonally adjacent to said front of said housing, and wherein said first button is larger than said second button and said third button to reduce the need for visual assistance by said operator to distinguish said first button, said second button, and said third button.

19. The method as recited in claim 18 wherein said guidance system further comprises:

a position determination system adapted for determining a current position; and

a lightbar device adapted for providing a visual representation of a deviation of said current position from said desired path to guide movement along said desired path.

20. The method as recited in claim 19 wherein said position determination system comprises:

a Global Positioning System (GPS) antenna; and

a GPS receiver.

21. The method as recited in claim 20 wherein said GPS antenna is positioned externally and separately relative to said GPS receiver.

22. The method as recited in claim 19 wherein said lightbar device comprises a plurality of lights that are adapted to emit a light pattern that indicates said deviation.

23. The method as recited in claim 22 wherein said plurality of lights are spaced apart and are aligned in a row, and wherein said light pattern is formed by selectively illuminating particular ones of said plurality of lights.

24. The method as recited in claim 22 wherein said plurality of lights comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs).

25. The method as recited in claim 18 wherein said display device comprises a liquid crystal display (LCD).