Elevation angle estimating device and method for user terminal placement
First Claim
1. A device for estimating an elevation angle of one or more objects surrounding a user terminal, the device comprising:
- a convex image-reflecting surface;
a transparent sighting surface disposed above the convex image-reflecting surface; and
an elevation limit marking formed on or in the transparent sighting surface;
wherein the elevation limit marking generates a reflected image in the convex image-reflecting surface that defines the elevation angle above a horizon of the earth that the one or more objects in a field of view of the convex image-reflecting surface must remain below so that the user terminal has an unobstructed view of the sky in all azimuthal directions.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A device and method for estimating the elevation angle of one or more objects surrounding a user terminal include a convex image-reflecting surface, a transparent sighting surface disposed above the convex image-reflecting surface, and an elevation limit marking formed on or in the sighting surface. The elevation limit marking generates a reflected image in the convex image-reflecting surface that defines an elevation angle above a horizon of the earth that the one or more objects in a field of view of the convex image-reflecting surface must remain below so that the user terminal has an unobstructed view of the sky in all azimuthal directions.
17 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A device for estimating an elevation angle of one or more objects surrounding a user terminal, the device comprising:
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a convex image-reflecting surface; a transparent sighting surface disposed above the convex image-reflecting surface; and an elevation limit marking formed on or in the transparent sighting surface; wherein the elevation limit marking generates a reflected image in the convex image-reflecting surface that defines the elevation angle above a horizon of the earth that the one or more objects in a field of view of the convex image-reflecting surface must remain below so that the user terminal has an unobstructed view of the sky in all azimuthal directions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for estimating an elevation angle of one or more objects surrounding a user terminal, the method comprising:
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placing a convex image-reflecting surface on or adjacent to the user terminal; viewing the convex image-reflecting surface through a transparent sighting surface having an elevation limit marking formed on or in the transparent sighting surface, the elevation limit marking generating a reflected image in the convex image-reflecting surface that defines the elevation angle above a horizon of the earth that the one or more objects in a field of view of the convex image-reflecting surface must remain below so that a user terminal has an unobstructed view of the sky in all azimuthal directions; and observing whether a reflected image of the one or more objects is substantially outside, or a portion thereof is substantially inside, the reflected image of the elevation limit marking, wherein if the reflected image of the one or more objects is substantially outside the reflected image of the elevation limit marking, the one or more objects are estimated to be below the elevation angle, and if a portion of the reflected image of the one or more objects is substantially inside the reflected image of the elevation limit marking, the one or more objects are estimated to be above the elevation angle. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A method for estimating an elevation angle of one or more objects surrounding a user terminal, the method comprising:
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generating a reflected image of an elevation angle limit marking in a convex image-reflecting surface placed on or adjacent to the user terminal, the elevation angle limit marking defining the elevation angle above a horizon of the earth that the one or more objects in a field of view of the convex image-reflecting surface must remain below so that a user terminal has an unobstructed view of the sky in all azimuthal directions; and generating a reflected image of the one or more objects in the convex image-reflecting surface, wherein if the reflected image of the one or more objects is substantially outside the reflected image of the elevation limit marking, the one or more objects are estimated to be below the elevation angle, and if a portion of the reflected image of the one or more objects is substantially inside the reflected image of the elevation limit marking, the one or more objects are estimated to be above the elevation angle. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification