Abstract: An operator controllable machine is retrofitted to be operator controlled or to be automatically controlled. An electrical joystick output is provided by a manually actuated joystick control, including a joystick, to a machine control in the manually controlled machine. An interface is added between the joystick control and the machine control to permit an external source, such as a GPS receiver or a laser receiver, to apply an electrical automatic control output to the machine control, as well. The interface includes a number of optical isolation circuits and a microprocessor. The isolated microprocessor output is supplied to the machine control, which produces valve control signals to control the hydraulic valves of the machine. The application of hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic cylinders of the machine is then controlled by either the joystick control output or the automatic control output.

Abstract: An apparatus and method using GPS for dynamically adjusting side-to-side positioning of a farm implement along a geographical path. The apparatus includes a global positioning system (GPS) antenna disposed on the farm implement, a GPS receiver coupled to the GPS antenna for determining a location of the GPS antenna, and a dual guidance computer for comparing the location to stored geographical coordinates of a desired path for providing a guide signal for offsetting the lateral position of an adjustable hitch or angling a wheel or ground rudder in a steerable implement for guiding the implement along the path; and a range extent signal for maintaining the offset of the hitch or steering angle of the implement within its dynamic range.

Abstract: A positioning system for tracking the location of a first responder emergency worker. The system includes mobile enabler units and a personnel badge having a ranging transponder. Two enabler units can use two-way ranging signals, a prescribed turn around time and differential altitude for automatically tracking the location of the badge.

Abstract: A device and method detect a moving, relatively thin beam of laser light, and distinguishing between illumination of photodetectors by the beam, and illumination of the photodetectors by an omnidirectional pulse of light. A plurality of photodetector arrays are arranged in a generally vertical row, with each array having a generally vertical row of photodetector elements. Weighting circuits associated with the arrays provide first and second reference signals for each array related to the elements illuminated in the array. The ratio of sum of the reference signals to the difference between the largest and smallest of the reference signals is determined and interpreted as indicating illumination by a relatively thin beam of laser light when the ratio is less than a predetermined level, and as indicating illumination by an omnidirectional pulse of light when the ration is greater than the predetermined level.

Abstract: A GPS receiver having a fast method for determining GPS clock time. The GPS receiver includes a signal processor for receiving GPS signals from GPS satellites and detecting current GPS data bits carried by the respective GPS signals, a chapter memory for storing a block of expected GPS data bits for the respective GPS satellites, and a GPS time detector for detecting a successful match when a chunk of the expected data bits within a selected search range within the block matches a chunk of the current data bits, and using the successful match for determining the GPS clock time. In an anytime embodiment the GPS receiver enters an operation mode at any time in order to minimize user request latency. In a focused embodiment the GPS receiver enters the operation mode at a prescribed time-of-entry in order to minimize power consumption for cycles of standby and operation modes.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention recite a method and system for determining the path of a mobile machine. In one embodiment, a control component accesses a first path which comprises at least one curved portion. The control component then determines a second path which is substantially parallel with the first path and which comprises a second curved portion that corresponds to the at least one curved portion of the first path. The control component then amends said second path wherein a radius of the second curved portion is at least equal to a minimum turning radius of the mobile machine.

Abstract: A method of acquisition a signal having a low signal to noise ratio (SNR). The method comprises the steps of: (A) detecting a non-zero power in the signal having the low SNR during a power detect process; (B) receiving the signal having the low SNR by using a signal receiver having an antenna; (C) accumulating a plurality of digital samples of the signal within a predetermined period of time; and (D) employing an algorithm to correct defects in reception of the signal having the low SNR by minimizing a set of parameters selected from the group consisting of: {a carrier frequency offset; a code phase offset; and a data bit misalignment}.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention recite a method and system for controlling steering dead band in a mobile machine. In one embodiment, a first dead band value for actuating a steering mechanism in a first direction is determined. Then, a second dead band value for actuating the steering mechanism in a second direction is determined. The first dead band value and the second dead band value are then stored as discrete values.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention recite a motor assembly comprising a lower motor mount and an upper motor mount. The lower motor mount is mechanically coupled with a steering column of a mobile machine. The upper motor mount is coupled with the lower motor mount and with a drive motor. The upper motor mount maintains pressure when in a first position such that a drive wheel coupled with the drive motor stays in contact with a steering wheel of a vehicle of a mobile machine. When the upper motor mount is locked in a second position, the drive wheel is kept away from the steering wheel of the mobile machine.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed to provide power management for a mobile communication device having a location determination function. The frequency of the location determination function may be adjusted based on whether the mobile communication device is moving and may be further adjusted based on battery voltage or expected battery life.

Abstract: A GPS receiver having a fast method for determining GPS clock time. The GPS receiver includes a signal processor for receiving GPS signals from GPS satellites and detecting current GPS data bits carried by the respective GPS signals, a chapter memory for storing a block of expected GPS data bits for the respective GPS satellites, and a GPS time detector for detecting a successful match when a chunk of the expected data bits within a selected search range within the block matches a chunk of the current data bits, and using the successful match for determining the GPS clock time. In an anytime embodiment the GPS receiver enters an operation mode at any time in order to minimize user request latency. In a focused embodiment the GPS receiver enters the operation mode at a prescribed time-of-entry in order to minimize power consumption for cycles of standby and operation modes.

Abstract: A positioning system or synthetic phase processor or rover station for providing high integrity positions with graduated accuracies. The positioning system includes one or more real time kinematic (RTK) reference stations for receiving GPS signals at established reference positions and measuring reference phases. The positioning system or the rover station selects a synthetic offset vector and uses the synthetic offset vector for inferring synthetic reference phases to a synthetic position. The rover station uses the synthetic reference phases with actual or virtual reference positions for determining a rover position having an added positional error controlled by the synthetic offset vector. For another embodiment a secure rover station dithers a secure position with a synthetic offset vector for providing an unsecure rover position having the added positional error.

Abstract: One embodiment in accordance with the invention can include a controller that can be coupled with a position determining component, and a motion detecting component. In one embodiment, the motion detecting component detects motion of a valuable movable item and generates a signal to the controller indicating the motion. The controller, in response to the signal, causes the position determining component to determine the geographic location of the valuable movable item. A determination is made as to whether the geographic location is within a pre-defined zone. In response to the determination, a command can be generated for controlling the valuable movable item.

Abstract: Three new methods are presented to improve floating solutions and ambiguity resolution for multiple global satellite navigation systems (GNSS), one of which may be an FDMA-based GNSS such as GLONASS: (1) modeling of the hardware-related differential clock error between two (or more) different GNSS, (2) modeling the frequency-dependent biases present in frequency-division multiple access (FDMA) GNSS, and (3) an ambiguity resolution method called Scoreboard Partial Fixing (SPF). The methods presented are independent of the number of carrier frequencies tracked for each satellite navigation system. Their application results in quicker and more reliable ambiguity resolution. The benefits of combining observations of multiple GNSS are exploited in a very efficient way, in contrast to known algorithms which often result in degraded performance with multiple GNSS. The frequency-dependent bias method has been found effective with GNSS observations from a combination of substantially dissimilar hardware, e.g.

Abstract: A self-surveying laser transmitter comprising a laser transmitter configured to generate at least one rotating laser beam and a radio positioning system integrated with the laser transmitter. The radio positioning system is configured to obtain the precise coordinate measurements of the laser transmitter. by utilizing the differential corrections transmitted from the Base Station by using the wireless communication link.

Abstract: A method of augmenting a mobile radio positioning system (Mobile_RADPS) by using a stationary fan laser transmitter. A rover comprises the mobile radio positioning system (Mobile_RADPS) integrated with a mobile laser detector. The stationary fan laser transmitter is integrated with a stationary radio positioning system (Stationary_RADPS). The method comprises the following steps: (A)generating a single sloping fan beam by the stationary fan laser transmitter; (B) detecting the single sloping fan beam generated by the stationary fan laser transmitter by using the mobile laser detector; and (C) timing the fan laser beam strike at the rover's location and using the timing of the fan laser beam strike at the rover's location to improve an accuracy in determination of position coordinates of the rover.

Abstract: The invention relates to a surveying system, comprising at least one total station unit (210, 220), and at least one target (201, 203), said targets having wireless communication means, each unit provided with a unique wireless communication address for wireless communication, the wireless communication to be used to activate a selected total station (210, 220) to identify and measure the location of a chosen target (201, 203) in relation to a relative reference system, each target having identification means to be used by the total station for identification of the chosen target, each total station having identifying means used for identification of the chosen target to be measured. The invention also relates to a target and a method for surveying using the total stations and the targets according to the system.

Abstract: A mobile GPS location system. The location system includes a mobile radio transceiver for transmitting a radio positioning signal and receiving a responsive radio system signal having a radio positioning system (RPS)-based time and position derived from the radio positioning signal; a mobile global positioning system (GPS) receiver; and a code range selector using the RPS-based time and position for selecting a code search range. The mobile GPS receiver uses the code search range for focusing a code phase search to a narrow range for rapidly acquiring a GPS signal. The RPS-based time and position are derived from a plurality of radio signal times-of-arrival (TOA)s determined by a plurality of system units from the radio positioning signal.

Abstract: A positioning system or synthetic phase processor or rover station for providing high integrity positions with graduated accuracies. The positioning system includes one or more real time kinematic (RTK) reference stations for receiving GPS signals at established reference positions and measuring reference phases. The positioning system or the rover station selects a synthetic offset vector and uses the synthetic offset vector for inferring synthetic reference phases to a synthetic position. The rover station uses the synthetic reference phases with actual or virtual reference positions for determining a rover position having an added positional error controlled by the synthetic offset vector. For another embodiment a secure rover station dithers a secure position with a synthetic offset vector for providing an unsecure rover position having the added positional error.