GPS interface for locating device

• US 7,319,387 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2004
• Issued: 01/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Parkinson, Timothy A., Doany, Ziyad Hanna, Willson, Corey M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pope; Daryl C
• Application Number:
  US10/802,345
• Publication Number:
  US 20050206562A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,399 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.13, 340/539.1, 340/539.11, 340/539.2, 340/825.36, 340/825.49, 342/385, 342/459
• US Class Current: 340/539.13
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 15/00 Tags attached to, or associated with, an object, in order to enable detection of the object record carriers for use with machines having a detectable tag or marker G06K19/00

Abstract

A system for locating a position marker includes a locating device for locating the position marker, and a GPS device communicatively coupled to the locating device that provides GPS coordinate data when the position marker is located by the locating device. Electronic memory is provided in at least one of the locating device and the GPS device for storing a data record associating the GPS coordinate data with the located position marker.

Claims

1. A system for locating a position marker, comprising:

a locating device for obtaining the physical location of the position marker but not GPS coordinates associated with the physical location;

a GPS device communicatively coupled to the locating device, the GPS device providing GPS coordinate data associated with the obtained physical location of the position marker when the position marker is located by the locating device; and

electronic memory in at least one of the locating device and the GPS device for storing a data record associating the GPS coordinate data with the located position marker.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a computer for running a mapping application, the computer being capable of receiving the data record stored in the electronic memory to update the mapping application.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the electronic memory is located in the locating device and the locating device is capable of transmitting the data record to the computer.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the electronic memory is located in the GPS device and the GPS device is capable of transmitting the stored data record to the computer.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the locating device reads marker data from the position marker.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the data record includes GPS coordinate data provided by the GPS device that is associated with marker data read from the position marker.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic memory is a removable memory card.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the GPS device is connected to the locating device by an RS-232 cable.

9. A locating device for locating a position marker, comprising:

a locating system for obtaining the physical location of the position marker but not GPS coordinates associated with the physical location and reading marker data from the position marker;

a GPS system for providing GPS coordinate data associated with the obtained physical location of the position marker when the position marker is located by the locating circuitry; and

electronic memory for storing a data record associating the GPS coordinate data with the marker data.

10. The locating device of claim 9, further comprising:

communication circuitry for transmitting the stored data record to a computer running a mapping application.

11. A system for locating a position marker, comprising:

a locating device for obtaining the physical location of the position marker but not GPS coordinates associated with the physical location;

a GPS device communicatively coupled to the locating device, the GPS device providing GPS coordinate data associated with the obtained physical location of the position marker when the position marker is located by the locating device;

a computer for running a mapping application; and

communication circuitry in at least one of the locating device and the GPS device for transmitting a data record to the computer to update the mapping application, the data record associating the GPS coordinate data with the located position marker.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the locating device reads marker data from the position marker.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the data record includes GPS coordinate data provided by the GPS device that is associated with marker data read from the position marker.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the GPS device and the computer are integrated in the same device.

15. A method of locating a position marker, comprising:

operating a locating device to obtain the physical location of the position marker but not GPS coordinates associated with the physical location;

obtaining GPS coordinate data associated with the obtained physical location of the position marker in the same step as location of the position marker by the locating device; and

storing a data record associating the GPS coordinate data with the located position marker.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

operating a computer to run a mapping application; and

transmitting the data record to the computer to update the mapping application.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

operating the locating device to read marker data from the position marker.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein storing the data record comprises associating the GPS coordinate data with the marker data read from the position marker.