Patents Assigned to Trimble Navigation
  • Publication number: 20140209676
    Abstract: A system for managing kinematic assets is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system comprises an electronic identification device associated with an asset. The system further comprises a container comprising a reader disposed within the container for receiving a unique identification of the identification device. The container further comprises a reader node for maintaining an inventory record comprising the asset and for generating a report when the asset is not detected by said reader. The report further comprises a location of the container when said report is generated. The system further comprises a kinematic asset management platform comprising an asset registry for storing data conveyed by the report and a reports engine for generating a second report conveying the location of said container when the report is generated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: TRIMBLE NAVIGATION LIMITED
    Inventors: James C. Reynolds, Gary Dennis
  • Patent number: 8791806
    Abstract: A system is disclosed which provides real-time detection of hazardous driving behavior. The system collects information about the motion of a vehicle along a path, for example, using a global positioning satellite system receiver. Roadside signs along the path are detected and their content determined. That information is compared with information about the motion of the vehicle to provide information with regard to potentially hazardous driving behavior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventor: Michael D. Granruth
  • Patent number: 8788496
    Abstract: In a method of organizing information, a plurality of diverse data items is accessed. The diverse data items are related to a physical location. The diverse data items that are accessed comprise at least a non-visual data item and a visual imagery data item, and include geospatial data associated with the individual accessed data items. The diverse data items are parsed by data type and stored in a data store such that the diverse data items are accessible by one or more of the geospatial data associated with the individual data items. Diverse data items related to the physical location are processed to produce an integrated image displayable via a web viewer. The processing occurs in response to receiving a request regarding the physical location. The integrated image comprises an integration of at least two of the stored diverse data items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: George Derrick Darby, Jr., Mark Smith, William Quintrell
  • Patent number: 8782564
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention recite a method for collaborative display of geographic data. In one embodiment, a configuration file is created which defines how geographic data collected by a geographic data collection device is to be displayed by an office application. The configuration file is used to create a geographic data file in which collected geographic data is formatted to visually convey information about a geographic feature. The office application then accesses the geographic data file and automatically displays the geographic feature in a manner which is consistent with the configuration file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventor: Peter Cornelius Kistler
  • Patent number: 8773303
    Abstract: The present application relates to tracking a position of a device, e.g. for detecting slow and rapid earth deformation, by making use of a recursive filter having the filter characteristic adapted to a detected type of motion. If the motion of the position tracking device is rapid, the filter characteristic is set such that the rapid motion can be tracked with the necessary speed. On the other hand, if the motion is slow, e.g. during times of a normal tectonic drift, the filter characteristic is set such that the motion is slowly tracked with the advantage of efficient noise reduction, i.e. noise in the input signal is effectively barred and does not pass through the filter to the output signal. Thus, in times of rapid motion the convergence speed of the filter output signal to the input signal is set high for fast convergence and in times of slow motion the convergence speed of the filter output signal to the input signal is set low for a slow convergence. The filter may be a Kalman filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: Ken Doucet, Ulrich Vollath
  • Patent number: 8773465
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing navigational information associated with locations of objects includes an imaging device configured to acquire image data, a visual display coupled to the imaging device and configured to display the image data, a position measuring device configured to determine position information associated with the imaging device, and an orientation device configured to determine orientation information associated with the imaging device. The apparatus may also include a rendering system coupled to the visual display, the position measuring device, and the orientation device. The rendering system may be configured to determine image coordinates associated with a location of an object and provide a navigational graphic on the visual display oriented relative to the image coordinates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: Peter France, Kevin Sharp, Stuart Ralston
  • Publication number: 20140184443
    Abstract: A low noise amplifier (LNA) assembly comprising a filter circuit for receiving signals from a Mobile Satellite Service (MSS) band and a Radio Navigation Satellite Service (RNSS) band; and an alternative filter circuit configured to filter out a jammer signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: TRIMBLE NAVIGATION LIMITED
    Inventors: Stuart Riley, Eric Krantz
  • Patent number: 8768667
    Abstract: A method of water erosion management comprises receiving a topographic datum indicating the topography of a defined area. Data is received indicating a soil composition found at the defined area. A model is created predicting a water runoff pattern for said defined area based upon the topography of the defined area and the soil composition of the defined area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventor: Robert J. Lindores
  • Patent number: 8768609
    Abstract: A sensor unit system is disclosed. In one embodiment, the sensor unit comprises a sensor unit comprising a first global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver which is configured for determining a position of the sensor unit in three dimensions. The sensor unit system further comprises a display unit comprising a second GNSS receiver. The display unit is communicatively coupled with the sensor unit via a wireless Personal Area Network (PAN) connection. The display unit and the sensor unit are physically separate entities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: Kurt Maynard, John Cameron
  • Publication number: 20140172149
    Abstract: A system for assisting in the use by an operator of the operating element of a tool at desired locations at a worksite, includes a stationary control and a position sensor secured to the tool. The stationary control is located at the worksite, and has data stored therein specifying one or more desired locations for operation of the operating element of the tool at the worksite. A position sensor is mounted on the tool. The position sensor determines the position of the operating element of the tool. The position sensor includes a communication device for communicating with said stationary control, a sensor for determining its relative position with respect to said stationary control, and a display for providing indications to the user of the tool of the desired location for the operating element of the tool and of the actual location of the operating element of the tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2014
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventor: Kent Kahle
  • Publication number: 20140168009
    Abstract: Multi-IMU INS for vehicle control allows GNSS-derived position and velocity to be measured at an antenna and applied to the estimation of position, velocity and attitude at a separate control point even when the spatial relationship between antenna and control point is not constant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: Trimble Navigation Ltd.
    Inventor: John W. Peake
  • Patent number: 8754805
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for image based positioning comprising capturing a first image with an image capturing device. Wherein said first image includes at least one object. Moving the platform and capturing a second image with the image capturing device. The second image including the at least one object. Capturing in the first image an image of a surface; capturing in the second image a second image of the surface. Processing the plurality of images of the object and the surface using a combined feature based process and surface tracking process to track the location of the surface. Finally, determining the location of the platform by processing the combined feature based process and surface based process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: Sy Bor Wang, Hongbo Teng, Omar P. Soubra, Bruno M. Scherzinger, Peter G. France, James M. Janky, Gregory C. Best
  • Patent number: 8754545
    Abstract: Disclosed are novel interconnections of a coupling circuit and an energy storage device which enables the storage device to provide back-up power for a switching power supply without requiring the device to store or output high voltage, and which enables full utilization of the energy stored in the device. In exemplary embodiments, the combination of the coupling circuit and the energy storage device may be coupled between the input and output of the switching power supply (e.g., between the non-ground terminals of the input and output ports of the switching power supply). The coupling circuit is configured to couple power from the energy storage device to the input of the switching power supply when the input power source is not provided to the switching power supply, and optionally to couple power from the input power source to the energy storage device when the input power source is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: Peter Wai, Robert Puckette
  • Patent number: 8755161
    Abstract: An overvoltage protection circuit is based on replacing the bias resistor in a conventional overvoltage protection circuit with a self-biased latch. The new circuit automatically survives both overvoltage and overcurrent events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventor: John J James
  • Patent number: 8750899
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses and methods for monitoring wireless communication performance. A fleet of moving vehicles equipped with communication devices communicate data call records, including a geographic location of the vehicle when the communication was attempted, to a central office. Indications of successful and unsuccessful call record communications attempts are aggregated by geographic area using the geographic location data from the vehicles. Call success rate levels for the geographic areas are determined based on the aggregated indications of successful and unsuccessful call record communication attempts. These levels may be presented on geographical maps or otherwise, and/or used for network analysis purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: James Russell Lowell, Ronald Edward Konezny, Andrew Johnson
  • Patent number: 8745884
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with three-dimensional laser position systems are described. In one embodiment, a system includes first and second vertical laser plane transmitters and a horizontal laser plane transmitter. The first and second vertical laser plane transmitters are configured to emit first and second vertical laser planes, respectively, that are each rotatable about rotational axes. The horizontal laser plane transmitter has a fixed position relative to the rotational axis of the second vertical laser plane transmitter and emits a horizontal laser plane that is rotatable to position the horizontal laser plane at a pitch angle. The system is configured to translate between a three dimensional coordinate and positions of the first and second vertical laser transmitters and the horizontal laser transmitter, respectively, that will cause the first and second vertical laser planes and the horizontal laser plane to intersect at a the three dimensional coordinate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventor: James N. Hayes
  • Patent number: 8749628
    Abstract: Systems and methods that improve farmers' ability to measure quantities of dry agricultural materials and rates of change of those quantities are disclosed. Also disclosed are systems and methods to rapidly and effectively communicate materials quantities and rates between farm equipment operators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: Eric A Wuestefeld, Gurcan Aral, Michael F Cash, Arthur F Lange, Gregory C Best
  • Publication number: 20140152528
    Abstract: A ruggedized electronic enclosure for in-ground installation is disclosed. In one embodiment, the ruggedized electronic enclosure comprises a top cover which is exposed above a top surface of the ground and a cylindrical base portion which is embedded within the ground. The top cover and the cylindrical base portion are configured to create a channel conveying an adhesive toward the center of the ruggedized enclosure when the top cover and the cylindrical base portion are coupled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: TRIMBLE NAVIGATION LIMITED
    Inventors: John F. Cameron, Larry Collins, Daniel Shane Fitzgibbons
  • Publication number: 20140156219
    Abstract: A method of determining a tilt angle and a tilt direction of a survey instrument includes capturing first images at a first location that include features from an environment around the survey instrument and capturing second images at a second location that include a portion of the features. A pose of the imaging device is determined at the second location using observed changes in location of a common portion of the features between the first images and the second images. The tilt angle and the tilt direction of the survey instrument at the second location are determined using the pose of the imaging device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: Omar Pierre Soubra, James M. Janky, Christian Graesser, Shawn D. Weisenburger
  • Patent number: 8743376
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a surveying system including a surveying instrument and method for detecting light of fan shaped laser beam. The surveying instrument includes a detector for detecting light of the fan shaped laser beam rotating around a propagation axis with a direction of rotation and having two detector elements arranged in a known spatial relation for outputting a detection signal when irradiated. A position determining unit is used to obtain a first set of detection signals from the detector elements, to determine a first time relation between the detection signals of the first set, and to determine a positional relation between the detector and the propagation axis based on the first time relation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: Lars Schumacher, Robert G. Conner