Balanced integrated position determination system and communication system

• US 6,670,917 B1
• Filed: 10/19/2000
• Issued: 12/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Inventors: Warner, Jack S., Maniscalco, Charles, Serksnis, Anthony W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Blum, Theodore M.
• Application Number:
  US09/693,298
• Time in Patent Office: 1,167 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357.17, 342/357.09, 342/357.1
• US Class Current: 342/357.57
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 15/00 Surveying instruments or accessories not provided for in groups G01C1/00 - G01C13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/36 relating to the receiver frond end
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/41 Differential correction, e.g. DGPS [differential GPS]
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/43 using carrier phase measurements, e.g. kinematic positioning; using long or short baseline interferometry
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0063 of measured values, i.e. measurement on base station and position calculation on mobile

Abstract

An integrated position determination system and communication system is disclosed that includes an antenna and that includes position signal processing circuitry for determining position. The integrated position determination system and communication system also includes a radio for communicating with other position determination systems that is coupled to the position signal processing circuitry and a power supply. The integrated position determination system and communication system also includes a range pole to which the other components of the integrated position determination system and communication system are attached. The components of the integrated position determination system and communication system are located such that the system is both horizontally balanced and vertically balanced. More particularly, the integrated position determination system and communication system is horizontally balanced about the centerline of the range pole and is vertically balanced about a carrying point.

Claims

1. An integrated position determination system and communication system comprising:

a position determination system antenna coupled to a pole having a carrying point and a centerline;

position signal processing circuitry coupled to said pole and electrically coupled to said position determination system antenna, said position signal processing circuitry for analyzing position determining signals to determine position;

a communications antenna coupled to said pole;

radio signal processing circuitry coupled to said pole and electrically coupled to said communications antenna; and

a power supply coupled to said pole, said power supply electrically coupled to said position signal processing circuitry and electrically coupled to said radio signal processing circuitry, wherein said position determination system antenna, said position signal processing circuitry, said communications antenna, said radio signal processing circuitry, and said power supply are vertically balanced about said carrying point to minimize the vertical moment at said carrying point and are also horizontally balanced about said centerline to minimize the horizontal moment at said centerline.

2. The integrated position determination system and communication system of claim 1 further comprising a first housing coupled to the top of said pole, said position determination system antenna disposed in said first housing.

3. The integrated position determination system and communication system of claim 2 further comprising:

a second housing disposed proximate said top of said pole, said communications antenna disposed in said second housing.

4. The integrated position determination system and communication system of claim 3 further comprising:

a third housing coupled to said pole below said carrying point, said position signal processing circuitry, said radio signal processing circuitry and said power supply disposed in said third housing.

5. The integrated position determination system and communication system of claim 1 wherein said position determination system antenna, said position signal processing circuitry, said communications antenna, said radio signal processing circuitry, and said power supply are horizontally balanced about said centerline by locating each of them as close to said centerline of said pole as possible.

6. The integrated position determination system and communication system of claim 1 wherein said pole has a centerline and wherein said position determination system antenna, said position signal processing circuitry, said communications antenna, said radio signal processing circuitry, and said power supply have a horizontal moment of less than three inch-pounds at said centerline.

7. An integrated position determination system and communication system comprising:

a pole having a carrying point and a centerline;

an antenna for receiving signals from satellites, said antenna disposed in a first housing that is coupled to said pole;

position signal processing circuitry coupled to said antenna and for analyzing position determining signals for determining position;

a radio for communicating with other position determination systems, said radio including a communication antenna and including radio signal processing circuitry; and

a power supply for providing power, wherein said position signal processing circuitry, said radio, said first housing, and said power supply positioned along said pole to be vertically balanced about said carrying point to minimize the vertical moment at said carrying point and also to be horizontally balanced about said centerline to minimize the horizontal moment at said centerline.

8. The integrated position determination system and communication system of claim 7 wherein said radio transmits and receives correction data for more accurately determining position.

9. The integrated position determination system and communication system of claim 7 further comprising:

a second housing disposed proximate said top of said pole, said communications antenna disposed in said second housing.

10. The integrated position determination system and communication system of claim 9 further comprising:

a third housing coupled to said pole below said carrying point.

11. The integrated position determination system and communication system of claim 10 wherein said radio signal processing circuitry and said battery are disposed in said third housing.

12. The integrated position determination system and communication system of claim 11 wherein said position signal processing circuitry is disposed in said third housing.

13. The integrated position determination system and communication system of claim 12 further comprising a data logger, said data logger including a data input device and including a display, said data logger coupled to said pole above said carrying point, said data logger, said position signal processing circuitry, said radio, and said power supply positioned along said pole so as to vertically balance said pole about said carrying point.

14. The integrated position determination system and communication system of claim 13 further comprising a level device.

15. The integrated position determination system and communication system of claim 13 wherein said data logger is positioned immediately above said carrying point and wherein said third housing is positioned immediately below said carrying point so as to define a gripping region therebetween.

16. The integrated position determination system and communication system of claim 7 wherein said first housing, said position signal processing circuitry, said radio, and said power supply are horizontally balanced about said centerline by locating each of them as close to said centerline of said pole as possible.

17. The integrated position determination system and communication system of claim 7 wherein said pole has a centerline and wherein said first housing, said position signal processing circuitry, said radio, and said power supply have a horizontal moment of less than three inch-pounds at said centerline.

18. A method for forming an integrated position determination system and communication system that includes a plurality of components and that is easy to carry, said method comprising:

a) utilizing a pole having a centerline;

b) defining a carrying point along said pole; and

c) positioning said plurality of components along said pole so as to vertically balance said integrated position determination system and communication system about said carrying point to minimize the vertical moment at said carrying point and to horizontally balance said integrated position determination system and communication system about said centerline of said pole to minimize the horizontal moment at said centerline.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein c) further comprises locating each of said plurality of components as close to said centerline of said pole as possible to horizontally balance said integrated position determination system and communication system about the centerline of said pole.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein c) further comprises:

c1) positioning a GPS antenna proximate the top of said pole;

c2) positioning a communications antenna proximate said top of said pole;

c3) positioning position signal processing circuitry along said pole such that said radio signal processing circuitry is disposed below said carrying point, said position signal processing circuitry electrically coupled to said GPS antenna;

c4) positioning radio signal processing circuitry along said pole such that said radio signal processing circuitry is disposed below said carrying point, said radio signal processing circuitry electrically coupled to said communications antenna;

c5) positioning a power supply along said pole such that said power supply is disposed below said carrying point; and

c6) wherein said GPS antenna, said communications antenna, said position signal processing circuitry, said radio signal processing circuitry and at least one battery are positioned along said pole so as to distribute weight along said pole so as to vertically balance said integrated position determination system and communication system about said carrying point.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

c7) positioning a data logger along said pole such that said data logger is disposed above said carrying point, said data logger electrically coupled to said position signal processing circuitry; and

c8) positioning a level device along said pole.