Homing display system and method
First Claim
1. A homing display method comprising:
- connecting to a user a portable, self-contained apparatus moving with the user, the apparatus comprising a processor executing relative positioning software, an array of accelerometers operably connected to the processor and detecting acceleration of the user in at least two of transverse, longitudinal, and lateral directions, and a display;
positioning the array and user in an environment comprising a fluid moving with respect to the earth;
moving the array and user through and within the environment along an indirect path from a starting point, fixed in space with respect to the earth, through a series of locations to a current position;
providing, by the array in response to the moving, a first signal to the processor;
operating the relative positioning software to receive updates to the first signal;
calculating, by the processor based exclusively on the first signal, a vector pointing directly back from the current position to the starting point;
substantially continually, by the relative positioning software, altering the vector to reflect the relative position of the starting point with respect to the current position of the user;
providing by the processor to a display a second signal corresponding to the vector;
displaying to the user a sensible signal directing the user directly along the vector toward the starting point; and
updating substantially continually the sensible signal to point directly toward the starting point with respect to the current position of the user.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A relative positioning system enabling a user to return to a starting position or some other point on the user'"'"'s path. The system may include an array of accelerometers. The output from the accelerometers may be integrated to quantify movement of the array. The various movements of the array may be reconstructed to determine a net two or three dimensional translation. The current location of the array may be compared to a reference point to derive at trajectory directing the user to the reference point, such as an originating point. The trajectory may be continuously or periodically updated. Applications may include various displays presenting images, numbers, pointers, paths, vectors, or data by digital screens, watch faces, or other devices integrated with or remote from the processor calculating the vector back to the point of origin.
49 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A homing display method comprising:
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connecting to a user a portable, self-contained apparatus moving with the user, the apparatus comprising a processor executing relative positioning software, an array of accelerometers operably connected to the processor and detecting acceleration of the user in at least two of transverse, longitudinal, and lateral directions, and a display; positioning the array and user in an environment comprising a fluid moving with respect to the earth; moving the array and user through and within the environment along an indirect path from a starting point, fixed in space with respect to the earth, through a series of locations to a current position; providing, by the array in response to the moving, a first signal to the processor; operating the relative positioning software to receive updates to the first signal; calculating, by the processor based exclusively on the first signal, a vector pointing directly back from the current position to the starting point; substantially continually, by the relative positioning software, altering the vector to reflect the relative position of the starting point with respect to the current position of the user; providing by the processor to a display a second signal corresponding to the vector; displaying to the user a sensible signal directing the user directly along the vector toward the starting point; and updating substantially continually the sensible signal to point directly toward the starting point with respect to the current position of the user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of guiding a user back toward an origin of a trip, the method comprising:
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providing an apparatus, self contained and connected to the user, the apparatus comprising a processor and an array of accelerometers, the array of accelerometers detecting acceleration of the apparatus in at least two of transverse, longitudinal, and lateral directions; positioning the array of accelerometers and user in a fluid moving with respect to the earth; moving, during the trip, the entire apparatus with the user through and within the fluid along a path from the origin to a current position; providing, by the array of accelerometers, data and updates to the data to the processor; calculating, by the processor, based exclusively on the data and updates to the data, a future trajectory of the user, the future trajectory pointing directly back from the current position to the origin; substantially continually, by the processor, altering the future trajectory to reflect the relative position of the origin with respect to the current position of the user; displaying to the user a sensible signal communicating the direction of the future trajectory; and updating substantially continually the sensible signal to point directly toward the origin with respect to the current position of the user. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method comprising:
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providing an apparatus, self-contained, connected to a user, and comprising a processor, display, and an array of inertial sensors, all operably connected; positioning the array and user in a fluid moving with respect to the earth; sending by the array to the processor first signals reflecting motion of the user, beginning at an origin; moving by the user away from the origin through and within the fluid along a path comprising translations and rotations with respect to the earth; executing, by the processor, an executable comprising a relative positioning system calculating substantially continuously a current position of the user based exclusively on the first signals; sending to the display from the processor second signals reflecting a vector pointing directly back to the origin from the current position; substantially continually, by the processor, altering the vector to reflect the relative position of the origin with respect to the current position of the user; displaying by the display a third signal sensible to the user and pointing to the origin substantially regardless of the current position of the user and changes thereof; and updating substantially continually the third signal to point directly toward the origin with respect to the current position of the user.
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Specification