Abstract: An apparatus and method for efficiently generating a visible line of light on a surface such as a wall or a floor for the purpose of facilitating the layout process used in construction. Reference marking elements on the instrument correspond to the light beam's position. One or more level vials may be included for indicating vertical and horizontal, as well as a magnet for mounting and a reference bracket for a stud-finder instrument. In one embodiment the instrument is self-leveling on one axis only and is useful for projecting one or more orthogonal lines on a wall surface. The instrument, self-leveling or not, can be combined with a stud finder.

Abstract: An electronic processing boot up system and method are presented. The electronic processing boot up system and method can utilize ROM emulation to store bootstrap instructions and to facilitate reduction of relatively expensive ROM. For example, a ROM emulation system and method utilizes minimal or no ROM. An electronic processing boot up system can include a bus, a processor, and a ROM emulation system for making bootstrap information available to the processor. The processor can issue an initial memory fetch request and the ROM emulation system can perform a ROM emulation process in response to the memory fetch request. The ROM emulation process can include receiving a fetch request for information, translating the fetch request into memory compatible commands for retrieving the information, holding off the processor while the information is retrieved, and forwarding the information in a format compatible with a reply to the memory fetch.

Abstract: A system for standard positioning service (SPS) and precise positioning service (PPS) cooperative operation is disclosed. In one embodiment, a PPS receiver is utilized to process a PPS data portion of a positioning signal. In addition, an SPS receiver is utilized to process an SPS data portion of the positioning signal. Furthermore, the PPS receiver and the SPS receiver are communicatively coupled such that the PPS data portion from the PPS receiver is cross-validated with the SPS data portion from the SPS receiver thereby corroborating the accuracy of the positioning signal.

Abstract: A mobile location system. The GPS location system includes a radio positioning system (RPS) for determining times-of-arrival at several locations for a radio positioning signal transmitted from a mobile unit and then using the times-of-arrival for determining an RPS-based position and time for the mobile unit. The mobile unit uses the RPS-based position and time for focusing a code phase search to a narrow range for rapidly acquiring a GPS signal.

Abstract: A shock resistant device. A printed circuit board comprising electronics and a frequency reference is rigidly mounted to a central support member. The electronics can be mounted to both surfaces of the printed circuit board. The central support member is mounted to an enclosure via wire rope isolators. The central support member is designed to maximize rigidity at minimum mass. The central support member can comprise a thin wall metal mesh or honeycomb. At least a portion of the central support member directly contacts the printed circuit board beneath the frequency reference.

Abstract: A method and a system for navigating a vehicle around a real site. The method comprises the following steps: (A) creating a database of Positional Reality Images (PRI) that substantially accurately represents the real site, and (B) accessing the database of Positional Reality Images (PRI) that substantially accurately represents the real site in order to navigate a vehicle around said real site. The integrated Positional Reality System (PRS) comprising a positioning system integrated with a plurality of optical systems is used to create the database of Positional Reality Images (PRI) that substantially accurately represents the real site. The PRS utilizes a laser-diode-based optical scanning system if a range between the PRS and a selected real site object comprises a short range distance and a pulse-type-microlaser-based optical system if a range between the PRS and a selected real site object comprises a short-to-medium range distance.

Abstract: A method for performing system characterization in situ for a system comprising a actuator controlled by a proportional controller. The system includes a quasi-linear region characterized by a slope of the system response and by a delay in the quasi-linear region of the system. The system includes at least one dead zone (DZ).

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention recite system for controlling an agricultural vehicle. In one embodiment the system comprises a vehicle guidance system for determining a course correction for the agricultural vehicle based upon position data received from a position determining component. The system further comprises a steering controller coupled with the vehicle guidance system and comprising an electric steering output and a hydraulic steering output. The steering controller is for generating a steering command based upon the course correction determined by the vehicle guidance system. The steering controller is further for automatically determining whether it is coupled with either of a steering component or a hydraulic steering component which is coupled with the steering mechanism of the agricultural vehicle.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and system for controlling an electronic device. In one embodiment, a controller is coupled with a position determining component, and a motion detecting component. In one embodiment, the motion detecting component detects motion of the electronic device 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 electronic device. The geographic location is compared with a pre-defined zone and, in response to the comparing, a command is generated for controlling the electronic device.

Abstract: A laser level with a sensorless DC motor controller having a feedback sampling circuit connected in parallel with the coil to sense back EMF. An integrator provides a feedback signal from the sensed back EMF, which the amplified difference from a reference level is used as a pulse width control signal. A pulse width modulation generator uses the control signal to generate variable “on” time pulse widths for each motor drive pulse such that high resolution is provided to the DC motor, permitting accurate rotor position at low rotational speeds. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract to allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that is will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Abstract: A shock resistant device. A printed circuit board comprising electronics and a frequency reference is rigidly mounted to a central support member. The electronics can be mounted to both surfaces of the printed circuit board. The central support member is mounted to an enclosure via wire rope isolators. The central support member is designed to maximize rigidity at minimum mass. The central support member can comprise a thin wall metal mesh or honeycomb. At least a portion of the central support member directly contacts the printed circuit board beneath the frequency reference.

Abstract: A method of decoding a received phase modulated carrier signal comprising the following steps: (A) computing a total probability of a current data bit being “one” or “zero” at a time epoch by computing a plurality of probabilities of phase transitions at a plurality of time epochs, each probability of a phase transition at one time epoch being a probability of a phase transition between a current phase of the received phase modulated signal and a phase corresponding to a previously computed data bit; and (B) outputting the current data bit as being “one” or “zero” at the time epoch based on the computed in step (A) total probability.

Abstract: A construction machine for automatically receiving selected project data files based on the geographical location and identification of the machine. The machine includes an auto-start transceiver for transmitting the local location and identification of the machine and receiving project data files from a project data distributor that are selected for the local location and identification for operation of the machine.

Abstract: The level device includes a level body having a pair of orthogonal reference surfaces. A vial carrier on the level body holds the level vial such that it can be calibrated with respect to the reference surfaces by rotation about a pair of orthogonal axes, each of the orthogonal axes being perpendicular to the direction of elongation of the level vial. Adhesive fixes the position of the level vial with respect to the vial carrier and fixing the position of the vial carrier with respect to the level body. The vial carrier includes a vial support and a pivot for engaging the level body. When the vial is calibrated, it is rotated about a first axis perpendicular to the direction of elongation of the level vial, and about a second axis perpendicular to the direction of elongation of the level vial and perpendicular to the first axis.

Abstract: Vehicle maintenance-related services are provided from a server over a wide area network, such as the Internet. Under one method, a server that is accessible over the wide area network through a wireless communication link is provided. Then, in a vehicle, an apparatus is provided to collect, over a data bus in the vehicle, data relating to an operation of the vehicle. The data received from the data bus is then communicated to the server over the wireless communication link. Based on the data received at the server, the maintenance-related services is then initiated. The operation data of the vehicle can be collected from various subsystems of the vehicle, such as a brake sub-system, an engine sub-system and various sensors located at various subsystems of the vehicle. Under one mode of operation, the data collected from these subsystems are reported to the server at pre-determined time intervals.

Abstract: A global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver using phase lock loops for strong GNSS signals and automatic frequency control (AFC) loops for weak GNSS signals on a satellite-by-satellite basis. The phase lock loops or the AFC loops associated with particular GNSS satellites generate frequency feedback adjustments for tracking the carrier frequencies of the incoming GNSS signals in order to determine pseudoranges for calculating a location fix. The transition from an AFC loop to a phase lock loop is controlled for each GNSS signal depending on location quality parameters including a history of previous loop transitions, knowledge of whether a transition is in-progress, and a conditional PDOP. The conditional PDOP is the calculated PDOP where the pseudorange from the particular GNSS signal is removed from the computation of the location fix.

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: A laser beam receiver with non-interdigitated photosensors arranged in a repeating pattern of “n” channels of photosensors in each of “m” sectors is disclosed. The photocurrent from both the anode and cathode terminals of the photosensor is used to determine laser beam position. The repeating patterns connect one set of “n” channel amplifier channels with the corresponding set of “m” sector amplifier channels. The position of the laser beam is determined by its position relative to the sector and channel the laser beam impinges on. The laser beam position relative to sector boundaries is determined by the distribution of photosensor current into the “n” channels of amplifiers from the “n” photosensors within each sector. The sector of the photosensor the laser beam impinges on is determined by the distribution of photosensor current into the “m” channels of sector amplifiers from the “m” groups of “n” photosensors.

Abstract: A location-relevant service system provides location-relevant information to, or performs location-relevant service for, a first mobile unit based on the location of a second mobile unit. In one instance, the first mobile unit is fixed on a vehicle, while the second mobile unit can be provided as a cellular phone. In another instance, the first mobile unit is provided with a display panel, so that authentication can be achieved through providing the displayed location information to a location-relevant service server using the second mobile unit.

Abstract: A laser receiver detects a thin beam of laser light and distinguishes between the beam of laser light and an omni-directional pulse of light from a strobe by the use of an additional photo-detector. The device takes into account the possibility that the additional photo-detector could be illuminated simultaneously with the main photo-detectors at the end of the main photo-detectors closest to the additional photo-detector.