Having Multiple Antennas Or Receivers (e.g., Differential Gps, Etc.) Patents (Class 701/470)
  • Patent number: 10845197
    Abstract: A dead-reckoning guidance system determines a vehicle-speed of the host-vehicle based on wheel-signals from the one or more wheel-sensors; determines a distance-traveled by the host-vehicle during a time-interval since prior-coordinates of the host-vehicle were determined; determines a heading-traveled of the host-vehicle during the time-interval since the prior-coordinates of the host-vehicle were determined; determines present-coordinates of the host-vehicle based on the distance-traveled and the heading-traveled; determines when the vehicle-speed is greater than a speed-threshold; determines when the heading-traveled differs from a cardinal-direction by both greater than a noise-threshold and less than an angle-threshold; and in response to a determination that both the vehicle-speed is greater than the speed-threshold and that the heading-traveled differs from the cardinal-direction by both greater than the noise-threshold and less than the angle-threshold, determines a coordinate-correction to apply to t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Aptiv Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Eric P. Knutson, David M. Spell, Linh N. Pham
  • Patent number: 10816669
    Abstract: A reinforcement information adjustment unit reduces an amount of information in reinforcement information by combining: update cycle adjustment processing to set an update cycle of the reinforcement information to be an integer multiple of a predetermined update cycle; geographic interval error value adjustment processing to reduce the number of geographic interval error values by selecting from among a plurality of the geographic interval error values each of which is an error at every predetermined geographic interval out of a plurality of error values, a geographic interval error value at every geographic interval that is an integer multiple of the predetermined geographic interval; and bit count adjustment processing to reduce a bit count of the error value for each error value. A reinforcement information output unit outputs, to an output destination, reinforcement information after being reduced in the amount of information by the reinforcement information adjustment unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Masayuki Saito, Masakazu Miya, Yoshihiro Shima, Hisao Sone, Kazuhiro Terao, Seigo Fujita
  • Patent number: 10726510
    Abstract: A technologically improved system and corresponding method of operation tracks and manages activities and tasks occurring at an activity venue. In particular, the system operates to track locations and pace of play or participation of the patrons at the activity venue and through various improved technological processes and interactions enabled by the unique hardware of the system, provide the patrons with feedback to manage their locations for an improved participation experience. Furthermore, the system leverages collected information and data to enable live traffic control of the patrons, provide predictive analytics related to gameplay and flow of traffic, and provide operators and patrons with information necessary to maximize a pace of place while optimally maintaining the venue around the patrons without interruption to the patrons and thereby improve the experience of the patrons at the activity venue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: FairwayIQ, Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Vanslette, James K. B. Nunn, Lucius Riccio, Miro Jelicic
  • Patent number: 10670734
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method carried out by a navigation satellite system (NSS) receiver or a processing entity receiving data therefrom, for estimating parameters useful to determine a position. The NSS receiver observes NSS signals from NSS satellites over multiple epochs. A first filter, called “timely estimator”, and second filter, called “precise estimator” and delayed with respect to the timely estimator, are operated. The estimators use state variables, and make use of NSS signals observed by the NSS receiver or information derived therefrom. The precise estimator further computes its state variable values based on observations that are not derived from NSS signals observed by the NSS receiver. The values of some of the state variables computed by the timely estimator are recurrently replaced by values from the precise estimator. A corresponding system is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Trimble Inc.
    Inventors: Markus Glocker, Nicholas Charles Talbot, Bruno Scherzinger
  • Patent number: 10641892
    Abstract: Method for acquiring transverse-position information of a motor vehicle (10) on a roadway (16), wherein radar data describing at least part of the roadway (16) are acquired by at least one radar sensor (1) of the motor vehicle (10), environmental features describing the location of a roadway boundary are detected and localized in the radar data by evaluation, from these, a course of the roadway boundaries of the roadway (16) and lateral distances (24) of the motor vehicle (10) with respect to the lane boundaries are determined, and the transverse-position information is determined as, or as a function of, the lateral distances (24) of the motor vehicle (10) from the roadway boundaries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventor: Rachid Khlifi
  • Patent number: 10627238
    Abstract: The present invention provides an integrated navigation system and its positioning method, and it pertains to the technical field of satellite navigation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: COMNAV TECHNOLOGY LTD.
    Inventors: Yongquan Wang, Liduan Wang
  • Patent number: 10613230
    Abstract: A space based or aeronautical augmentation system comprises space based or aeronautical broadcasting means adapted for retransmitting streams of messages NOF m.j transmitted by broadcasting ground stations, one or more observation and reception ground stations for signals transmitted by the satellites of the GNSS global navigation system and by the N space based or aeronautical broadcasting means. The space based or aeronautical augmentation system further comprises K computation centres, located on geographically remote sites, and each configured to formulate i-th streams of messages NOF i.j, j varying from 1 to j, such that all the data streams NOF i.j, independently of the computation centre CPF#i which formulate them, comprises one and the same sequence of types MTs of messages, which is independent of the space based or aeronautical broadcasting means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: THALES
    Inventors: Eric Chambre, Céline Benassy Foch, Bernard Charlot
  • Patent number: 10542370
    Abstract: According to an example embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus comprising at least one receiver configured to receive sensor information and indoor positioning information, at least one processing core configured to select information from a group comprising the sensor information and the indoor positioning information based at least in part on a determination concerning the sensor information, and at least one transmitter configured to cause transmission of either the selected information, or of information derived from the selected information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: ROVIO ENTERTAINMENT LTD
    Inventors: Mika Pesonen, Johannes Rajala
  • Patent number: 10457300
    Abstract: In a normal operating mode, track-bound vehicles report their respective position to a track-side device and the track-side device determines a respective movement authority taking into account the reported positions for the track-bound vehicles and transmits the movement authorities to the respective track-bound vehicle. If a track-bound vehicles is faulty and cannot ensure its integrity, and it is consequently not able to report a valid or reliable position, a switch-over into a fault mode takes place without interrupting the travel operation of the track-bound vehicles. In the fault mode the faulty track-bound vehicle determines a position of one of its vehicle ends and reports the position together with information that it cannot ensure its integrity, to the track-side device. Movement authorities are then determined by the track-side device, taking into account the reported position of the one vehicle end and track vacancy information of a track-side track vacancy system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Siemens Mobility GmbH
    Inventor: Karsten Rahn
  • Patent number: 10156630
    Abstract: A method for passively locating a non-movable transmitter on the ground implemented by a group of at least one receiving station, each of the receiving stations comprising a detector of radars and a time reference, the set of time references being mutually synchronized, the transmitter transmitting a set of periodic pulses, wherein a first estimation of the position of the transmitter is carried out by the Bancroft scheme on the basis of the mean arrival times of the pulses transmitted by the transmitter at the level of each station of the group of at least one receiving station, the result obtained being used thereafter as point for initializing a maximum likelihood scheme so as to converge toward the position of the transmitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: THALES
    Inventors: Cyrille Enderli, Jean-François Grandin, Hugo Seute
  • Patent number: 10038239
    Abstract: An antenna adjusting apparatus comprises a sensor that acquires attitude information; a movable axis acquiring unit that acquires a plurality of vectors corresponding to the plurality of axes respectively by acquiring a change in output of the sensor for each of the axes; a first direction acquiring unit that acquires a first direction corresponding to a directional axis of the antenna; a second direction acquiring unit that acquires a second direction, which is a direction with which the directional axis of the antenna is to be aligned; and a calculating unit that calculates, for each of the axes, a correction angle, using the plurality of vectors, wherein the first direction and the second direction are expressed by an Earth-based coordinate system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Uchiyama
  • Patent number: 10009846
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure provide a method for wireless communications that may be performed (e.g., by a user equipment) for location information reporting. The method generally includes determining one or more properties of the UE and adjusting one or more parameters of location information reporting based on the determined one or more properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: QUALCOMM, Incorporated
    Inventors: Seyed Ali Ahmadzadeh, Aziz Gholmieh, Kiran Patil, Venkata Sampath Kumar Mummadi, Vijay Venkataraman
  • Patent number: 9869557
    Abstract: Computer program products, methods, systems, apparatus, and computing entities are provided for determining the accuracy of map information/data. In one embodiment, map information/data and collected telematics information/data can be compared. The difference between the map information/data and the telematics information/data can be used to determine the accuracy of the map information/data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED PARCEL SERVICE OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Mark J. Davidson
  • Patent number: 9656134
    Abstract: A handheld apparatus for displaying a graphic representation of a golf course including a location measuring device configured to generate location information corresponding to a location of the handheld apparatus. The apparatus includes a memory configured to store location information corresponding to each of a plurality of features of the golf course. The apparatus includes a computing device connected to the location measuring device and the memory, and configured to retrieve a subset of the plurality of features of the golf course based on the measured location information generated by the location measuring device. The apparatus includes a display connected to the computing device and configured to display a graphic representation of the retrieved subset of the plurality of features of the golf course.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: SKYHAWKE TECHNOLOGIES, LLC.
    Inventors: James W. Meadows, Richard L. Root, Dallas L. Nash, II, Richard C. Edmonson
  • Patent number: 9600609
    Abstract: A first moving state at a given time including any of a position, a velocity, and a moving direction of a moving object moving in a space is estimated. A constraint condition for calculating a second moving state at the given time is set using the first moving state and a previously-calculated second moving state including any of a position, a velocity, and a moving direction of the moving object moving in the space. The first moving state is corrected using the constraint condition to calculate the second moving state at the given time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshitaka Yamagata
  • Patent number: 9429640
    Abstract: The cellular device accesses a GPS/GNSS chipset embedded within the cellular device. The GPS/GNSS chipset calculates pseudorange information for use by the GPS/GNSS chipset. The cellular device extracts the pseudorange information from the GPS/GNSS chipset for use elsewhere in the cellular device outside of the GPS/GNSS chipset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: Richard Rudow, Venkateswaran Kasirajan, Robert Wold, James M. Janky
  • Patent number: 9423509
    Abstract: A moving platform INS range corrector (“MPIRC”) module and its method of operation for providing navigation and positioning information. The module comprises: means, such as a receiver, for receiving a first set of absolute navigational information from an external source (such as satellites in case of GNSS); an inertial sensor unit for generating a second set of navigational information at the module; and a transceiver, for receiving and/or transmitting signals and estimating distance measurement from a known position and receiving position coordinates. The navigational information is used by a processor programmed with a core algorithm, to produce a navigation solution (which comprises position, velocity and attitude). The system has the following attributes: the solution is produced seamlessly, even if one source of navigational information is temporarily out of service; the accuracy of the solution is assisted by use of distance and position coordinate measurement from a known position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Trusted Positioning Inc.
    Inventors: Jacques Georgy, Zainab Syed, Chris Goodall, Naser El-Sheimy, Aboelmagd Noureldin
  • Patent number: 9367065
    Abstract: Models can be generated of a vehicle's view of its environment and used to maneuver the vehicle. This view need not include what objects or features the vehicle is actually seeing, but rather those areas that the vehicle is able to observe using its sensors if the sensors were completely un-occluded. For example, for each of a plurality of sensors of the object detection component, a computer may generate an individual 3D model of that sensor's field of view. Weather information is received and used to adjust one or more of the models. After this adjusting, the models may be aggregated into a comprehensive 3D model. The comprehensive model may be combined with detailed map information indicating the probability of detecting objects at different locations. The model of the vehicle's environment may be computed based on the combined comprehensive 3D model and detailed map information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Dmitri A. Dolgov, Christopher Paul Urmson
  • Patent number: 9369843
    Abstract: Pseudorange information is extracted by a cellular device from a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) chipset of the cellular device. The cellular device accesses the GNSS chipset embedded within the cellular device where the GNSS chipset calculates pseudorange information for use by the GNSS chipset. The cellular device extracts the pseudorange information from the GNSS chipset for use elsewhere in the cellular device outside of the GNSS chipset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: Richard Rudow, Robert Wold, Venkateswaran Kasirajan, Nicholas C. Talbot, Peter Van Wyck Loomis, James M. Janky
  • Patent number: 9369835
    Abstract: An estimated location of an access point is generated based on identification of indoor and outdoor locations and the presumption that most access points are in an indoor location. The estimated location may be produced using location information for the access point and the identification of the indoor and outdoor locations while prioritizing the indoor location to produce the estimated location on or within a boundary of the indoor location. The location information may be, e.g., a preliminary estimated location or wireless signal measurements and associated position fixes for the access point. For example, a preliminary estimated location may be shifted to be on or within the nearest boundary of an indoor location or may be adjusted based on the location information. The estimated location may be calculated directly using weights to bias the calculation of the estimated location to be on or within the boundary of the indoor location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Ravi Palanki, Ayman Fawzy Naguib, Ashok Bhatia
  • Patent number: 9354321
    Abstract: A mobile communications device uses a method for determining position that involves a positioning filter, such as a Kalman filter, which is initialized with measurements from reference stations such as satellite vehicles and/or base stations which may be acquired during different epochs. Accordingly, the positioning filter may be used for position estimation without the need to first acquire at least three different signals during the same measurement epoch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Wyatt Thomas Riley, John R. Blackmer, Dominic Gerard Farmer, Rayman Wai Pon
  • Patent number: 9278712
    Abstract: A method for determining a cutting trajectory that enables a curve section of a lane to be cut by a vehicle. In the method, information about the curve section is received, and the curve section is divided into at least one curve segment having a segment length and a start curvature, the curve segment being a straight-line segment or a circular arc segment or a curve segment whose curvature is a function of an arc length of the curve segment. This is followed by determination of a cutting trajectory from the at least one curve segment, so that, at a specific point of the curve section, the cutting trajectory has a predetermined offset relative to a center of the lane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Lutz Buerkle, Michael Fischer, Thomas Maurer
  • Patent number: 9218368
    Abstract: A system for determining a time that a file was created and associating an ID with the file based on the file creation time is disclosed. The system adjusts the creation time by a time zone offset. In the case of image files, the file creation time may be based on information associated with the image: (1) by the camera that took the picture (exchangeable image file data); (2) when the photo was last modified in memory (file modification time data); (3) based on the raw date and time the photo file was created (file date-time data); and (4) when the photo was imported onto a client device. The system may rename the file with this adjusted creation time to create a standardized name. As a result, the standardized name provides a filename nomenclature that is based on the actual or estimated time of when the file was created.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Dropbox, Inc.
    Inventor: Ramesh Balakrishnan
  • Patent number: 9184786
    Abstract: System and methods are provided for clock calibration. A satellite navigation system includes: a timing component configured to determine a counting period for clock calibration; a counter network configured to determine a first number of local clock periods associated with a local clock of the satellite navigation system during the counting period and determine a second number of external clock periods associated with an external clock during the counting period; and a processor configured to perform calibration for the local clock based at least in part on the first number of the local clock periods and the second number of the external clock periods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: MARVELL WORLD TRADE LTD.
    Inventors: Jiangping Deng, Zhike Jia, Jian Cheng, Hongquan Liu, Mengxin Liao
  • Patent number: 9170115
    Abstract: A method and a system for generating a map using data of a position sensor of a vehicle are provided which are used to generate a map by collecting data of a position sensor disposed within a vehicle. The method includes collecting, by a controller, data from the position sensor disposed within the vehicle to sense the position of the vehicle and analyzing the collected data of the position sensor. In addition, the method includes automatically generating, by the controller, the map using the analyzed data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Min Suk Kim
  • Patent number: 9154920
    Abstract: A vehicle system and method is provided for detecting the location of a portable wireless device. The vehicle system includes the portable device and a plurality of base stations positioned about a vehicle. The portable device is configured to transmit a first wireless signal and a second wireless signal indicative of motion data of the portable device. A main base station of the plurality of base stations is configured to determine a first final position of the portable device in response to each of the plurality of base stations successfully receiving the first wireless signal. The main base station is further configured to determine a second final position of the portable device using the first final position and the motion data of the second wireless signal as received at the first base station and after determining that the second base station has not successfully received the second wireless signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas O'Brien, Hilton W. Girard, III, Jason Bauman, Jian Ye
  • Patent number: 9140777
    Abstract: An ultrasonic locationing method and system for ultrasonic locationing of a mobile device within an environment includes a plurality of fixed ultrasonic emitters to transmit an instruction to listen for an enrollment tone to at least one communication device, and to sequentially emit an enrollment tone from each emitter at specific times to be received by those communication devices that implemented the instruction. A controller receives a response from each of those communication devices, the respective response including an identity of the communication device, a time the enrollment tone was received, and an indication of a hardware platform of the communication device. The controller can then assign a locationing mode to each communication device in accordance with its hardware platform. The communication device provides locationing information using its assigned locationing mode and locationing tones from active emitters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Russell E. Calvarese
  • Patent number: 9127946
    Abstract: A computer implemented method for determining a yaw angle estimate or vehicle heading direction is presented. A data server may receive a plurality of telematics data originating from a client computing device and determine a first primary movement window from the telematics data. The data server may also determine a potential range of yaw angles from the plurality of telematics data from the first primary movement window and generate an equality that evaluates the potential range of yaw angles. The data server may further maximize the count of acceleration events of the telematics data from the first primary movement window to further generate one or more refined yaw angle estimates. The data server stores the one or more yaw angle estimates on a memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Sunish Shreenarayan Menon, David James Dosher, Scott Thomas Christensen
  • Patent number: 9128183
    Abstract: A machine navigation system and method for estimating velocity of a machine is disclosed. The method may include receiving, from an odometer, a first signal indicative of a distance traveled by the machine and calculating a scale factor to compensate for an error associated with the first signal. The method may further include determining whether a second signal indicative of a location of the machine is received by the machine and selectively adjusting the scale factor using machine parameters to generate an adjusted scale factor, where selectively adjusting may be performed based on whether the second signal is received by the machine. The method may further include estimating the velocity of the machine based on the first signal and the adjusted scale factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Russell Friend, Frank Arthur Willis
  • Patent number: 9123034
    Abstract: A method/system of wireless payment of parking fees for a vehicle, applicable to both open street and closed garage parking, wherein the user and checker experiences are enhanced relative to the prior art by a number of means, including: autonomous sensing of the user's/vehicle's location and allowing the user to correct the indicated location if required; enabling a handset to automatically sense the ID of the vehicle in which it is located; enabling rapid and facile enforcement by providing the Checker with information about the location, parking session status and other attributes of parked vehicles and displaying the information on a portable terminal in a manner facilitating rapid validation; and further facilitating the identification of vehicles with expired sessions by a method/system of RF interrogation involving RF tags located in/on the vehicles and the checking terminal querying the RF tags.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: TRANSPARENT WIRELESS SYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventors: Nils Rydbeck, Santanu Dutta
  • Patent number: 9066207
    Abstract: A mobile device can be in multiple states of location determination. In each state, the mobile device can use a distinct subsystem to determine a location. A state machine of the mobile device can manage the states, including determining which state the mobile device is in and whether a transition between the states has occurred. A transition can be triggered by a sensor of the mobile device and confirmed by another sensor of the mobile device. When the state machine detects a transition, the mobile device can switch location determination from one subsystem to another subsystem, and change a map user interface to one that is best suited for the new subsystem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Lukas M. Marti, Robert Mayor, Shannon M. Ma
  • Patent number: 9063582
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products are herein provided for retrieving views extending a user's line of sight. A method includes determining a line of sight based at least in part on a user's location and orientation. The line of sight defines a first portion of a map representing information that is within the user's sight and a second portion of the map representing information that is out of the user's sight. The method further includes determining at least one image associated with at least one location within the second portion of the map. The method further includes causing the image associated with the at least one location to be presented to the user. Corresponding apparatuses and computer program products are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
    Inventors: Jerome Beaurepaire, Maguy Jamain
  • Patent number: 9043131
    Abstract: A collision avoidance system (CAS) is described that includes one or more sensor technologies, including, for example, an Ultra Wideband (UWB) sensing technology. The collision avoidance system is designed to reliably track the location and speed of vehicles and the distance between vehicles over a wide variety of track and terrain. The collision avoidance system may utilize information from a variety of sensor technologies to determine whether one or more vehicles violate speed and/or separation criteria, and may generate a warning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Metrom Rail, LLC
    Inventors: Richard C. Carlson, Kurt A. Gunther, Marc W. Cygnus
  • Patent number: 9020755
    Abstract: A method of determining a position of a moving vehicle. A global position is detected by a global positioning device of at least one parked vehicle in a vicinity of the moving vehicle. The global position is determined as a function of signals broadcast by a plurality of satellites. Errors associated with the broadcast signals are determined. A correction error that provides a solution for eliminating the errors associated with the broadcast signals is determined. The correction error is transmitted to the moving vehicle. The correction error is applied to a received global positioning signal received by the moving vehicle. A global position of the moving vehicle is determined as a function of the correction error. The determined global position of the moving vehicle is applied in a vehicle application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Ran Y. Gazit, Kobi J. Scheim
  • Patent number: 9014974
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems, apparatus, devices, methods, computer program products, and other implementations, including a method of controlling navigation tasks on a mobile device that includes obtaining data representative of a route of travel for the mobile device, obtaining a list of navigation tasks associated with the route of travel for the mobile device, and performing one or more navigation tasks in accordance with the list of navigation tasks based, at least in part, on proximity of the mobile device to one or more points on the route of travel. Performing the one or more navigation tasks includes one or more of, for example, obtaining satellite positioning assistance data in response to a determination that the mobile device is transitioning from an indoor area to an outdoor area, and/or establishing a communication link with an access point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: QUALCOMM, Incorporated
    Inventors: Sai Pradeep Venkatraman, Lionel Jacques Garin, Gengsheng Zhang
  • Patent number: 8954269
    Abstract: Methods and systems consistent with the present invention provide a host based positioning system. The host based positioning system includes a tracker hardware interface that connects to a dedicated hardware space vehicle tracker. The tracker hardware interface receives positioning information from the space vehicle tracker. The host based positioning system also includes a memory that includes a GPS library having a user interface, a tracker interface, and an operating system interface. A processor runs functions provided by the interfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: CSR Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Clifford Yamamoto, Sebastian Nonis, Ashutosh Pande, Nikola Bulatovic, Stefan Witanis
  • Patent number: 8949024
    Abstract: Described are a method and a system for localization of a vehicle. The method includes the acquisition of SPR images of a subsurface region along a vehicle track. Acquired SPR images are compared to SPR images previously acquired for a subsurface region that at least partially overlaps the subsurface region along the vehicle track. In some embodiments, the comparison includes an image correlation procedure. Location data for the vehicle are determined based in part on location data for the SPR images previously acquired for the second subsurface region. Location data can be used to guide the vehicle along a desired path. The relatively static nature of features in the subsurface region provides the method with advantages over other sensor-based navigation systems that may be adversely affected by weather conditions, dynamic features and time-varying illumination. The method can be used in a variety of applications, including self-driving automobiles and autonomous platforms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Byron McCall Stanley, Matthew Tyler Cornick, Charles Michael Coldwell, Jeffrey Charles Koechling, Beijia Zhang
  • Patent number: 8942923
    Abstract: Method of determining navigation parameters for a carrier by a hybridization device comprising a Kalman filter (3) formulating a hybrid navigation solution on the basis of inertial measurements calculated by a virtual platform (2) and of raw measurements of signals emitted by a constellation of satellites delivered by a satellite positioning system (GNSS), characterized in that it comprises, the steps of: —determination, for each satellite, of at least one likelihood ratio (Ir, Ir?) between a hypothesis regarding a fault of a given nature of the satellite and a hypothesis regarding an absence of fault of the satellite, —declaration, of a fault of a given nature on a satellite as a function of the likelihood ratio (Ir, Ir?) associated with this fault and of a threshold value, —estimation of the impact of the declared fault on the hybrid navigation solution, and ?correction of the hybrid navigation solution as a function of the estimation of the impact of the declared fault.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Sagem Defense Securite
    Inventors: Didier Riedinger, Houcine Chafouk
  • Publication number: 20140379255
    Abstract: A medical device capable of determining its location is provided. The medical device comprises a memory, one or more antennas, one or more processors coupled with the memory and the one or more antennas, a location manager component executable by the one or more processors. The location manager component is configured to receive first location information from a first location information source and second location information from a second location information source, to rank the first location information source and the second location information source according to a hierarchy of location information sources, the hierarchy of location information sources specifying that the first location information source is of higher rank than the second location information source, determine an approximate location of the medical device based on the first location information, and improve the accuracy of the approximate location based on the second location information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventor: Guy Johnson
  • Patent number: 8909471
    Abstract: A position determining voting system that uses Doppler information from an on-board weather radar to improve the system's accuracy and/or fault tolerance includes a comparison function and an error integration function. The comparison function is used to monitor the independent position sources for correct operation, comparing and identifying a position source that should not be used based on its relative error compared with the other position sources and their characteristics. The integration function provides corrections to relative position sources by integrating the data from multiple absolute position sources when they are mutually consistent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard D. Jinkins, Richard M. Rademaker, Daniel L. Woodell, James H. Doty, Keith L. Kerley, James Alva Young, Jr., Shih-Yih Young
  • Patent number: 8892331
    Abstract: A drive assist system includes: wireless communication devices on first and second vehicles. The wireless communication device on the first vehicle includes: a distance calculation device for calculating a satellite positioning distance between the first and second vehicles; and a difference calculation device for calculating a distance difference between the satellite positioning distance and a distance to the second vehicle obtained by a ranging sensor in the first vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Seigou Kumabe, Takahisa Yamashiro
  • Publication number: 20140336929
    Abstract: A method for determining a spatial orientation of a body, including receiving, by receiving equipment located with the body, at least three electromagnetic signal sets, each of the received signal sets having been transmitted by a different one of at least three separate transmitters at different locations, detecting, for each one of the received signal sets, information that partially defines a direction from the body to the transmitter from which the signal set was received, the detected information including one of two angles that fully define an arrival direction from which the body received the signal set in relation to a body frame, the detected information not including a second of the two angles, and determining the spatial orientation of the body, including yaw, pitch, and roll angles relative to a navigation frame, using the detected information for each one of the received signal sets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Inventor: Robert J. Wellington
  • Patent number: 8862394
    Abstract: A system and method for estimating the position of an object, such as a person, animal, or machine. The system includes first and second inertial measurement units, a first and second originator antennas, and a first and second transponder antennas. The system uses data from the inertial measurement units to estimate a position of the object. The system also calculates a range measurement between the first originator antenna and first transponder antenna. The system calculates a first CPD measurement between the second transponder antenna and the first originator antenna, and a second CPD measurement between the second originator antenna and the first transponder antenna. The range measurement and at least one CPD measurement are used to update a Kalman filter for estimating the position of the object. The system determines also updates the Kalman filter when one of the inertial measurement units is in a zero-velocity condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Ensco, Inc.
    Inventors: David W. A. Taylor, Jr., Bradley David Farnsworth, William Todd Faulkner, Christopher Matthew Foster, Robert Barlow Alwood
  • Patent number: 8843313
    Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus are disclosed for multipath isolation through the combined use of antenna diversity and frequency diversity. In particular, the present disclosure utilizes antenna diversity and frequency diversity to combat the deleterious effects of reflected signals on the positioning accuracy of satellite navigation systems. In at least one embodiment, the present disclosure uses two antennas and two frequencies for operation with a satellite navigation system. The present disclosure segregates the antennas and frequencies into two classes: references and monitors. The reference measurements are used for estimating the state of the vehicle, and the monitor measurements are used to detect faults that might degrade the reference estimation. Thus, the present disclosure enables an improvement in the positioning error experienced by roving users in downtown and indoor environments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Per K. Enge, Bart Ferrell, Gregory M. Gutt, James C. Lassa, Michael A. Rizzo, David A. Whelan
  • Publication number: 20140257690
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems, methods, and computer program products for providing improved augmentation for GPS calculations. In general, various embodiments of the invention involve using a plurality of GPS devices associated with stationary objects associated with a common carrier's delivery network and the common carrier's delivery fleet to calculate error corrections and to communicate these error corrections to a number of GPS enable devices to be used by these devices to augment GPS calculations to correct errors associated with GPS signals. Further, various embodiments of the invention involve collecting GPS data for a plurality of delivery routes traveled by the common carrier's delivery fleet. In particular embodiments, this collected data may be used to provide more accurate address information for locations along these delivery routes and more accurate renderings of various landscapes along these delivery routes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: UNITED PARCEL SERVICE OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: MARC DAVID SIRIS
  • Patent number: 8793037
    Abstract: An antenna having at least a directional mode of operation is mounted onto an aircraft for transmission of avionics waveforms. An orientating module minimizes the power requirements of the antenna by directing an orientation of transmission at least substantially toward a receiver. A processor is coupled with the orientating module for controlling the orientation of transmission. Control programming operates the processor to determine the orientation of transmission and activate the orientating module to direct the antenna to transmit in the determined orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark M. Mulbrook, Michael L. Hageman
  • Patent number: 8792910
    Abstract: A method and service-related nodes for providing a deferred distance notification for at least two user devices. A Location-based gateway receives a request for a deferred distance notification for user devices, and sends a request to a Location enabler for the location of the user devices. The gateway receives location data from the Location enabler, and monitors the fulfillment of user device distance-related event criteria. When a user device distance-related event criterion is fulfilled, the gateway triggers the deferred distance notification, and sends the notification of the user device distance event to an application node. The application node sends a location request after which the Application node receives the notification. Distance notification can thus be provided to a user requesting a location-deferred service, such that the location of entire groups of users can be revealed to the requesting party.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (Publ)
    Inventors: Kermit Qiu, Bjorn Andersson, Vitomir Ilic, Johan Bolin, Ake Busin
  • Publication number: 20140207374
    Abstract: A system and method for estimating the position of an object, such as a person, animal, or machine. The system includes first and second inertial measurement units, a first and second originator antennas, and a first and second transponder antennas. The system uses data from the inertial measurement units to estimate a position of the object. The system also calculates a range measurement between the first originator antenna and first transponder antenna. The system calculates a first CPD measurement between the second transponder antenna and the first originator antenna, and a second CPD measurement between the second originator antenna and the first transponder antenna. The range measurement and at least one CPD measurement are used to update a Kalman filter for estimating the position of the object. The system determines also updates the Kalman filter when one of the inertial measurement units is in a zero-velocity condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Inventors: David W.A. TAYLOR, JR., Bradley David Farnsworth, William Todd Faulkner, Christopher Matthew Foster, Robert Barlow Alwood
  • Patent number: 8768558
    Abstract: A vehicle control system having a controller and a spatial database adapted to provide spatial data to the controller at control speed. The spatial data provided from the spatial database to the controller includes images collected from an optical sensor subsystem in addition to other data collected by a variety of sensor types, including a GNSS or inertial measurement system. The spatial data received by the controller from the database forms at least part of the control inputs that the controller operates on to control the vehicle. The advantage provided by the present invention allows control system to “think” directly in terms of spatial location. A vehicle control system in accordance with one particular embodiment of the invention comprises a task path generator, a spatial database, at least one external spatial data receiver, a vehicle attitude compensation module, a position error generator, a controller, and actuators to control the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: AgJunction LLC
    Inventors: David R. Reeve, Andrew John Macdonald, Campbell Robert Morrison
  • Patent number: RE47648
    Abstract: A GNSS integrated multi-sensor guidance system for a vehicle assembly includes a suite of sensor units, including a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) sensor unit comprising a receiver and an antenna. An inertial measurement unit (IMU) outputs vehicle dynamic information for combining with the output of the GNSS unit. A controller with a processor receives the outputs of the sensor suite and computes steering solutions, which are utilized by vehicle actuators, including an automatic steering control unit connected to the vehicle steering for guiding the vehicle. The processor is programmed to define multiple behavior-based automatons comprising self-operating entities in the guidance system, which perform respective behaviors using data output from one or more sensor units for achieving the behaviors. A GNSS integrated multi-sensor vehicle guidance method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: AGJUNCTION LLC
    Inventors: David R. Reeve, Malcolm B. Jones, Andreas F. Ramm, Aaron C. Stichter, Joshua M. Gattis