Audio information apparatus for providing position information

• US 5,552,993 A
• Filed: 12/05/1994
• Issued: 09/03/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Buchwitz, Guy R., Muskat, David H.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US08/349,757
• Time in Patent Office: 638 Days
• Field of Search: 342/386, 342/357, 364/450, 364/443, 364/361, 364/449, 340/996, 379/59, 395/2.1
• US Class Current: 701/213
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3629 Guidance using speech or audio output, e.g. text-to-speech text to speech systems per se G10L13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile

Abstract

An audio information apparatus for providing position information as to theocation of a target comprising a global positioning system receiver affixed to the target for generating a string of fifty nine ASCII characters representing the latitude and longitude spherical coordinates of the global positioning receiver affixed to the target. The ASCII characters are supplied to a microprocessor, which in response to the ASCII characters, formulates a position message indicating the current location of the global positioning system receiver. A pair of voice recorder/playback circuits, coupled to the microprocessor, have a message table which includes 27 messages or words which when assembled in a predetermined sequence form a longitude and latitude coordinate position message. When the voice recorder/playback circuits are in a message cueing mode, the microprocessor provides a predetermined number of active low chip enable pulses to a selected one of the pair of voice recorder/playback circuits to select the desired word from the table. The microprocessor then disables the message cueing mode which, in turn, enables an audio amplifier of the selected one of the voice recorder/playback circuits. When the microprocessor provides a subsequent chip enable pulse the message is output from the voice recorder/playback circuit to a transmitter for transmission to a ground station. The microprocessor continues this process of utilizing the message cueing mode followed by audio playback addressing mode to output each word of the longitude and latitude coordinate position message from the voice recorder/playback circuits to the transmitter.

Claims

1. An audio information system for determining a present location, said audio information system comprising:

a global position system receiver for providing electrical signals representative of a plurality of ASCII data characters, said ASCII data characters including latitude and longitude spherical coordinates indicative of the present location of said global position system receiver;

a microprocessor coupled to said global position system receiver for receiving said plurality of ASCII data characters, said microprocessor, responsive to said plurality of ASCII characters, generating a voice playback signal and a logic signal having a first logic state and a second logic state;

a voice recorder/playback circuit coupled to said microprocessor, said voice recorder/playback circuit having a message table comprising a plurality of position indicating words;

said voice recorder/playback circuit, responsive to said voice playback signal, sequencing a predetermined number of said plurality of position indicating words to form a position message signal, said position message signal including said latitude and longitude spherical coordinates;

a programmed crystal oscillator for generating a square wave signal having a first predetermined frequency;

a sinewave oscillator having an input connected to said programmed crystal oscillator for receiving said square wave signal and an output, said sinewave oscillator, responsive to said square wave signal, generating a modulated sinewave signal having a second predetermined frequency;

a demultiplexer having a first input connected to the output of said sinewave oscillator for receiving said modulated sinewave signal, a second input connected to said microprocessor for receiving said logic signal and a third input connected to said voice recorder/playback circuit for receiving said position message signal;

said demultiplexer passing said position message signal to the output of said demultiplexer when said logic signal is at said first logic state;

said demultiplexer passing said modulated sinewave signal to the output of said demultiplexer when said logic signal is at said second logic state;

a transmitter having an input connected to the output of said demultiplexer for receiving said position message signal when said logic signal is at said first logic state and said modulated sinewave signal when said logic signal is at said second logic state;

said transmitter having an antenna, said antenna transmitting said position message signal at a third predetermined frequency when said logic signal is at said first logic state, said position message signal providing an indication of the present location of said global position system receiver;

said antenna transmitting said modulated sinewave signal when said logic signal is at said second logic state; and

a speaker coupled to said voice recorder/playback circuit for receiving said position message signal, said speaker, responsive to said position message signal, broadcasting an oral voice report, said oral voice report including said latitude and longitude spherical coordinates indicative of the present location of said global position system receiver.

2. The audio information apparatus of claim 1 wherein said third predetermined frequency is a radio frequency between about 150 kilohertz and 3000 gigahertz.

3. The audio information apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

an inverter having an input connected to said microprocessor and an output; and

a light emitting diode connected to the output of said inverter.

4. The audio information system of claim 1 wherein said second predetermined frequency is about one kilohertz.

5. The audio information system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of ASCII data characters comprises fifty nine ASCII data characters.

6. The audio information apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of said latitude and longitude spherical coordinates broadcast by said speaker has a direction, said direction being north or south for each of said latitude spherical coordinates and east or west for each of said longitude spherical coordinates.

7. The audio information system of claim 1 wherein said first predetermined frequency is about one hertz.

8. An audio information system for determining a present location, said audio information system comprising:

a global position system receiver for providing electrical signals representative of a plurality of ASCII data characters, said ASCII data characters including latitude and longitude spherical coordinates indicative of the present location of said global position system receiver;

a microprocessor coupled to said global position system receiver for receiving said plurality of ASCII data characters, said microprocessor, responsive to said plurality of ASCII characters, generating a voice playback signal, a transmitter on signal, a transmitter off signal and a logic signal having a first logic state and a second logic state;

a voice recorder/playback circuit coupled to said microprocessor, said voice recorder/playback circuit having a message table comprising a plurality of position indicating words;

said voice recorder/playback circuit, responsive to said voice playback signal, sequencing a predetermined number of said plurality of position indicating words to form a position message signal, said position message signal including said latitude and longitude spherical coordinates;

a programmed crystal oscillator for generating a square wave signal having a first predetermined frequency;

a sinewave oscillator having an input connected to said programmed crystal oscillator for receiving said square wave signal and an output, said sinewave oscillator, responsive to said square wave signal, generating a modulated sinewave signal having a second predetermined frequency;

a demultiplexer having a first input connected to the output of said sinewave oscillator for receiving said modulated sinewave signal, a second input connected to said microprocessor for receiving said logic signal and a third input connected to said voice recorder/playback circuit for receiving said position message signal;

said demultiplexer passing said position message signal to the output of said demultiplexer when said logic signal is at said first logic state;

said demultiplexer passing said modulated sinewave signal to the output of said demultiplexer when said logic signal is at said second logic state;

a transmitter having a first input connected to the output of said demultiplexer for receiving said position message signal when said logic signal is at said first logic state and said modulated sinewave signal when said logic signal is at said second logic state;

said transmitter having an antenna, said antenna transmitting said position message signal at a third predetermined frequency when said logic signal is at said first logic state, said position message signal providing an indication of the present location of said global position system receiver;

said antenna transmitting said modulated sinewave signal when said logic signal is at said second logic state;

relay means connected to said microprocessor for receiving said transmitter on signal and said transmitter off signal, said relay means being coupled to said transmitter, said relay means responsive to said transmitter on signal providing a direct current voltage signal to said transmitter turning on said transmitter allowing said antenna to transmit said position message signal, said relay means responsive to said transmitter off signal turning off said transmitter by preventing said direct current voltage signal from being supplied to said transmitter; and

a speaker coupled to said voice recorder/playback circuit for receiving said position message signal, said speaker, responsive to said position message signal, broadcasting an oral voice report, said oral voice report including said latitude and longitude spherical coordinates indicative of the present location of said global position system receiver.

9. The audio information apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a normally open record button having a first terminal connected to ground and a second terminal connected to said microprocessor.

10. The audio information apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a microphone connected to said voice recorder/playback circuit.

11. The audio information apparatus of claim 8 wherein said third predetermined frequency is a radio frequency between about 150 kilohertz and 3000 gigahertz.

12. The audio information apparatus of claim 8 wherein said relay means comprises:

a NAND gate having an input connected to said microprocessor for receiving said transmitter on signal, and an output;

an inverter having an input for receiving said transmitter off signal and an output;

a first voltage source for providing said direct current voltage signal;

a second voltage source for providing about plus twelve volts;

a first field effect transistor having a gate connected to the output of said inverter, a source connected to ground and a drain;

a second field effect transistor having a gate connected to the output of said NAND gate, a source connected to ground and a drain; and

a relay having a SET coil, a RESET coil and a contact;

said SET coil of said relay having a first terminal connected to said second voltage source and a second terminal connected to the drain of said first field effect transistor;

said RESET coil of said relay having a first terminal connected to said second voltage source and a second terminal connected to the drain of said second field effect transistor;

said contact of said relay having a first terminal connected to said first voltage source and a second terminal connected to said transmitter.

13. The audio information system of claim 8 wherein said plurality of ASCII data characters comprises fifty nine ASCII data characters.

14. The audio information apparatus of claim 8 wherein each of said latitude and longitude spherical coordinates broadcast by said speaker has a direction, said direction being north or south for each of said latitude spherical coordinates and east or west for each of said longitude spherical coordinates.

15. The audio information system of claim 8 wherein said first predetermined frequency is about one hertz.

16. The audio information system of claim 8 wherein said second predetermined frequency is about one kilohertz.

17. The audio information apparatus of claim 8 further comprising:

an inverter having an input connected to said microprocessor and an output; and

a light emitting diode connected to the output of said inverter.