PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE WITH RADIOFREQUENCY SIGNAL RECEIVER AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING THE POSITION OF THE SAME

• US 20060274605A1
• Filed: 05/18/2006
• Published: 12/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Asulab SA (The Swatch Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Asulab SA (The Swatch Group AG)
• Inventors: Montheard, Anne, Gauthey, Darryl
• Granted Patent: US 7,414,921 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 368/47
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/28 Satellite selection
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/35 Constructional details or hardware or software details of the signal processing chain

Abstract

The portable electronic device, preferably a wristwatch, includes a radiofrequency signal receiver for receiving, in particular, GPS signals via an antenna, a magnetic compass, a microprocessor data processing unit for processing data provided by the receiver and the compass, and storage means in which almanac and ephemeredes data relating to satellites is stored. The compass is arranged for provide an orientation signal to the data processing device. In this manner, the unit can control means for indicating a direction to indicate a preferred orientation for searching for satellites visible to the user in a reading position of the watch. These indicating means can be formed by the time indicating hands moved above a watch dial. The preferred orientation is calculated by the processing unit on the basis of the almanac and ephemeredes data, time data and the orientation signal.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device to be worn on a user'"'"'s wrist, the device comprising:

(a) a radiofrequency signal receiver that includes

i. means for receiving and shaping radiofrequency signals from satellites and several correlation channels for searching for and tracking several visible satellites;

ii. a magnetic compass;

iii. a microprocessor data processing unit for processing data provided by the receiver and the compass; and

iv. storage means in which almanac and ephemeredes data relating to satellites are stored, wherein the compass is arranged to provide an orientation signal to the data processing unit that controls means for indicating a direction for indicating to the user a preferred orientation for searching for visible satellites when the device is in a reading position on the basis of processing, by the processing unit, of almanac and ephemeredes data, time data and the orientation signal.

2. The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit is adapted to automatically configure the receiver on the basis of the orientation signal from the compass for searching for, and tracking, visible satellites that are not concealed by the user'"'"'s body in the data reading position of the device.

3. The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit is adapted to detect a change in the orientation signal provided by the compass so as to configure or alter the configuration of the receiver for searching for, and tracking, visible satellites that are not concealed by the user'"'"'s body as a function of change in the orientation signal.

4. The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the compass comprises a magnetic flux detector.

5. The portable electronic device as an electromechanical wristwatch with a time display using hands according to claim 1, wherein in a position determining mode, the means for indicating a direction are formed by at least one of the time indicating hands of the device which is moved to indicate the preferred orientation for the receiver to search for visible satellites.

6. The portable electronic device according to claim 5, wherein in the position determining mode, two time indicating hands are controlled by the processing unit to superpose each other or to be in opposition to indicate a preferred orientation, or to indicate the direction of a satellite or geographical north.

7. The portable electronic device according to claim 5, wherein the direction indicating means include a liquid crystal display module controlled by the processing unit in order to display various data relating to orientation or positioning in a position determining mode, and wherein the device includes a control button that is activated manually to pass from a time display mode into a position determining mode.

8. The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein touch type keys are arranged on a watch glass for controlling the various functions of the device in a position determining mode, said touch type keys being controlled by the processing unit.

14. The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the device is a wristwatch.

9. A method for determining a position using an electronic device worn on a user'"'"'s wrist, the device comprising a radiofrequency receiver that includes means for receiving and shaping radiofrequency signals from satellites and several correlation channels for searching for and tracking visible satellites, a magnetic compass, a microprocessor data processing unit for processing data provided by the receiver and the compass, and storage means in which almanac and ephemeredes data relating to satellites is stored, wherein the method includes steps of:

(a) providing an orientation signal from the compass to the processing unit;

(b) processing the orientation signal in the processing unit with the almanac and ephemeredes data of the storage means, and time data; and

(c) indicating on direction indicating means that is controlled by the processing unit, a preferred orientation for searching for satellites visible to the user when the device is in a reading position on the basis of data processed by the processing unit.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising a step consisting in automatically configuring the radiofrequency signal receiver via the processing unit on the basis of the orientation signal provided by the compass, so that the receiver is able to search for and track visible satellites that are not concealed by the user'"'"'s body when the device is in the reading position.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the processing unit detects a change in orientation of the device worn by the user on the basis of a change in the orientation signal provided by the compass, so as to configure or alter the configuration of the receiver for searching for, and tracking, visible satellites that are not concealed by the user'"'"'s body.

12. The method according to claim 9, wherein the device is an electromechanical wristwatch with a time display using hands, wherein when a position determinating mode is selected by actuating a control button of the device, the hands operate to indicate a direction by moving to indicate a preferred orientation for the receiver to search for visible satellites.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein in the position determining mode, the hands are superposed or in opposition to indicate the preferred orientation, and the device worn by the user is rotated at a determined angle corresponding to the preferred orientation in order to bring at least one of the hands to the 12 o'"'"'clock indication of a watch dial so that the processing unit configures the receiver to search for and track a maximum number of visible satellites.