Abstract: An assisted flight computer program and method which assist a non-pilot or partially incapacitated pilot to gain control of an aircraft, summon help, and then land the aircraft under the guidance of a tower controller. The assisted flight computer program is integrated into an avionics system and provides a guided, menu-driven user interface that is simple enough for non-pilots and partially incapacitated pilots to understand and follow in distress situations.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 8, 2006
Date of Patent:
May 15, 2012
Assignee:
Garmin International, Inc.
Inventors:
John T. Estabrook, Mitchell S. Trope, Thomas J. Carr
Abstract: A method for operating a navigation system includes the following steps: a) computing a route from a starting point to a destination, wherein the route consists of a sequence of road segments and junctions between the road segments that is selected from a database, in which a geographic area is described in the form of road segments and junctions, with a route computation method, b) computing at least one maneuvering instruction that contains instructions for the user in order to follow the route from the current position, and c) computing and displaying a schematic maneuvering image on a display device, wherein the schematic maneuvering image graphically illustrates the maneuvering instructions in schematic form, wherein adjacent junctions that do not lie along the route and/or adjacent road segments that do not lie along the route and do not converge with a junction along the route are also analyzed during the computation of the schematic maneuvering image, wherein at least part of the adjacent road segmen
Abstract: A portable navigation device operable to present a plurality of operating modes. The device may include a display; a location determining component operable to determine a current geographic location of the navigation device; mount detection circuitry operable to determine a mounting status of the navigation device; and a processor coupled with the location determining component, the mount detection circuitry, and the display. The processor is operable to select one of a plurality of operating modes based on the determined mounting status and present information specific to the selected operating modes on the display.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 16, 2009
Date of Patent:
May 1, 2012
Assignee:
Garmin Switzerland GmbH
Inventors:
Choy Wai Lee, Karen J. Jantz, David C. Zahorsky, Mark D. Tompkins, Ryan T. Moore
Abstract: A planetary drive servo actuator comprises a drive assembly operable to turn an output shaft. The drive assembly includes an outer cylinder configured to rotate within the housing and an inner cylinder configured to rotate within the outer cylinder. A clutch is operable to prevent the outer cylinder from rotating within the housing and to allow the inner cylinder to be rotated within the outer cylinder to turn the output shaft.
Abstract: A method for generating a digital map that can be stored on an electronic storage medium and in which a geographic area is described by a multitude of data sets includes the following steps: a) loading a database, in which the geographic area is described by a multitude of data sets, into an electronic analyzer, wherein the data sets contain several text data sets that describe the text messages (03), particularly street names, to be displayed in the map, b) specifying a resolution for the graphic illustration of at least a section of the digital map with assigned text messages (03) to be displayed on a display unit, c) calculating graphic overlaps (07) of the text messages (03) during the display of the section of the digital map on the display unit in dependence on the specified resolution, d) identifying all text messages (03) that cause graphic overlaps (07), and e) storing text display attributes that are assigned to the text data sets, wherein the text display attributes contain information on which
Abstract: A bicycle computer having position-determining functionality is described. In an implementation, an apparatus includes a housing configured to attach to a bicycle. The apparatus has one or more modules to store training metrics of a user of the bicycle as a function of geographic position.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 27, 2007
Date of Patent:
February 21, 2012
Assignee:
Garmin Switzerland GmbH
Inventors:
Sarah L. Swisher, John H. Lovitt, Claudette D. Stevenson, David J. Downey
Abstract: A mounting assembly for mounting an electronic device to a surface of a vehicle includes a base for coupling with the surface and a socket assembly for supporting the electronic device on the base. The base includes a mounting ball, and the socket assembly includes a socket operable to frictionally engage the mounting ball to removably couple the socket assembly to the base. An electrical connector is attached to the mounting ball and coupled to an electrical system and another electrical connector is mounted within the socket to provide power to the electronic device when the socket assembly is coupled with the base. Structure limits rotation of the socket assembly relative to the base to inhibit the electrical connectors from becoming disconnected due to over-rotation of the socket assembly on the base.
Abstract: A device with an improved user interface and mounting features comprises a sensor operable to detect a mounting configuration of the device, a display, and a processing system coupled with the sensor and the display. The processing system is generally operable to receive an indication of the detected mounting configuration from the sensor and present information on the display according to the detected mounting configuration.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 28, 2011
Date of Patent:
February 14, 2012
Assignee:
Garmin Switzerland GmbH
Inventors:
Matthew L. Callicoat, Paul E. Skelton, Kevin M. Hansen, Brian M. Sandefur, Choy Wai Lee, Mark A. Kelsay, Jr.
Abstract: Techniques are described that allow information to be acquired by an ADS-B system of an aircraft without the installation of ADS-B dedicated flight crew controls or wired data interfaces in the aircraft. In one or more implementations, a receiver is associated with the ADS-B system in the aircraft. The receiver is configured to receive transmissions from a transponder of the aircraft, such as a radar transponder of a Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), or the like. Information used by the ADS-B system is extracted from the received transmissions and furnished to the ADS-B transceiver for broadcast over the ADS-B datalink.
Abstract: A method for operating a navigation system includes the following steps: a) inputting a destination; b) deriving a starting point from the destination being input by utilizing a starting point derivation rule; c) calculating a route from the derived starting point to the destination being input, and d) outputting the simulated route preview from the derived starting point to the destination being input.
Abstract: A method for generating a digital map that can be stored on an electronic storage medium and in which a geographic area is described by a multitude of data sets includes the following steps: a) loading an original database (01), in which the geographic area is described by a multitude of data sets, into an electronic analyzer, wherein each data set describes an object of the map, wherein each data set consists of a defined number of attributes, and wherein each attribute may assume a defined number of different attribute values, b) detecting attribute value combinations or attribute value subcombinations that occur in the data sets of the database, c) assigning a distinct combination characteristic to each attribute value combination or attribute value subcombination, d) storing the attribute value combinations or attribute value subcombinations detected in the database with the respectively assigned combination characteristics as a first partial database (02) of the digital map, e) analyzing all data sets
Abstract: A light accessory is provided for a remotely controlled animal training system, allowing visual tracking of an animal in low ambient light conditions. The light accessory may be a stand-alone accessory or be in conjunction with a wireless receiver. The light accessory may be controlled by an accessory channel that exists in the remotely controlled animal training system, or may be controlled by the presence of a generic proximate radio frequency transmission.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 2, 2009
Date of Patent:
November 29, 2011
Assignee:
Tri-Tronics, Inc.
Inventors:
Timothy T. Duncan, Sean M. Hayes, Francisco J. Napolez, David T. Whetten
Abstract: A method and system for providing a bearing from a vehicle to a transmitting station are described. The method includes accessing a database to obtain transmitter position information for the transmitter, obtaining vehicle position information based on a GPS signal, and generating the bearing from the vehicle to the station utilizing the transmitter position information and the vehicle position information. The system includes a database storing transmitter position information identifying a position of the transmitter, a GPS receiver obtaining vehicle position information identifying a current position of the vehicle based on a GPS signal, and a controller generating a bearing from the vehicle to the transmitter utilizing the transmitter position information and the vehicle position information.
Abstract: A system for estimating motion parameters corresponding to a user. The system may generally include a receiver operable to receive a signal from an external source, an inertial sensor operable to be coupled with the user and arbitrarily oriented relative to the direction of user motion for generation of a signal corresponding to user motion, and a processing system in communication with the receiver and inertial sensor.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 29, 2010
Date of Patent:
November 15, 2011
Assignee:
Garmin Switzerland GmbH
Inventors:
Christopher J. Kulach, Ross G. Stirling, James K. Rooney, Paul R. MacDonald