Controllable external to internal antenna switching algorithm and circuit for position reporting device

• US 7,742,874 B1
• Filed: 05/06/2006
• Issued: 06/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Inventors: Workman, Dennis Lee, Mayfield, Douglas B., Jackson, Brian Abraham
• Primary Examiner(s): Camby; Richard M.
• Application Number:
  US11/418,558
• Time in Patent Office: 1,508 Days
• Field of Search: 701207-213, 342/357.01, 342/357.06, 342/357.08, 340989-993, 4554561-4566
• US Class Current: 701/213
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1436 with motion detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0269 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect the exact location of child or item using a navigation satellite system, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence

Abstract

A method for configuring an electronic device comprising: (A) substantially continuously detecting motion of the electronic device using an initiating device disposed within the electronic device, the electronic device further comprising a position determining component, and a wireless communications component; (B) substantially continuously receiving at least one external radio signal by using an initially selected antenna of the position determining component; (C) if reception of at least one external radio signal is not optimized, using the antenna/power supply switch to switch radio signal path between the initially selected antenna and a subsequently selected antenna to optimize the reception of at least one external radio signal; and (D) using the wireless communications component to transmit the current status of the external/internal antenna to the position tracking station.

Claims

1. A method for configuring an electronic device comprising:

(A) substantially continuously detecting motion of an electronic device by using an initiating device disposed within said electronic device, said electronic device comprising said initiating device, a position determining component, and a wireless communications component;

said initiating device further comprising;

a motion detecting component, a controller, a memory including a switch algorithm, and a processor;

said position determining component further comprising an internal antenna, a port for an external antenna, an antenna/power supply switch; and

an external antenna;

said wireless communications component further comprising a wireless modem, and a wireless antenna;

(B) substantially continuously receiving at least one external radio signal by using an initially selected antenna of said position determining component;

said at least one external radio signal being used by said position determining component to determine position location of said electronic device; and

(C) if reception of said at least one external radio signal is not optimized, using said antenna/power supply switch to switch radio signal path between said initially selected antenna and a subsequently selected antenna to optimize the reception of said at least one external radio signal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said step (B) further comprises:

(B1) if motion of said device is detected in said step (A), substantially continuously receiving at least one external radio signal by using said initially selected antenna of said position determining component;

said at least one external radio signal being used by said position determining component to determine position location of said electronic device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said step (B1) further comprises:

(B1,

     1) checking whether an external antenna attached to said external antenna port is functioning within a predetermined range of parameters, wherein said set of parameters is selected from the group consisting of;

{current consumption; and

voltage level}.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said step (B1, 1) further comprises:

(B1, 1,

     1) if said external antenna is functioning within said predetermined range of parameters, selecting said external antenna as said initially selected antenna.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein said step (B1, 1) further comprises:

(B1, 1,

     2) if said external antenna is not functioning within said predetermined range of parameters, selecting said internal antenna as said initially selected antenna.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein said step (B1) further comprises:

(B1,

     2) if power of said received at least one external radio signal is less than a first predetermined threshold, selecting said external antenna as said initially selected antenna.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein said step (B1) further comprises:

(B1,

     3) if power of said received at least one external radio signal is greater than a second predetermined threshold, selecting said internal antenna as said initially selected antenna.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said step (C) further comprises:

(C1) selecting said initially selected antenna by using said antenna/power supply switch; and

(C2) supplying power to said initially selected antenna by using said antenna/power supply switch.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said step (C) further comprises:

(C3) switching said initially selected antenna to said subsequently selected antenna by using said antenna/power supply switch; and

(C4) supplying power to said subsequently selected antenna by using said antenna/power supply switch.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said step (C) further comprises:

(C5) programming said processor to switch power supply between said external antenna and said internal antenna based on said switch algorithm; and

(C6) using said processor to execute the steps of said switch algorithm.

11. The method of claim 2, wherein said step (B1) further comprises:

(B1,

     4) if motion of said device detected in said step (A) is substantially continuous within a predetermined time period, checking whether said initially selected antenna is functioning within said predetermined range of parameters, wherein said predetermined set of parameters is selected from the group consisting of;

{current consumption; and

voltage level}; and

(B1,

     5) if said initially selected antenna is not functioning within said predetermined range of parameters, switching said initially selected antenna to said subsequently selected antenna by using said antenna/power supply switch, and using said antenna/power supply switch to switch radio signal path between said initially selected antenna and subsequently selected antenna to optimize the reception of said at least one external radio signal.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

(D) using said controller automatically to cause said wireless communications component to transmit a message conveying a set of parameters to a position tracking station, wherein said set of parameters is selected from the group consisting of;

{geographic locations of said electronic device determined within a pre-determined time parameter; and

external/internal status of said currently selected antenna}.